Conclusions and Summary

Abstract

Drought is major abiotic stress which hinders crop productivity across the world. Drought affects numerous crop plants at different levels of growth and development. Maize is important cereal crop and grown in large number of countries across the world. Effects of drought stress on maize are prevalent from germination to harvest maturity. Germination percent, germination potential, germination rate, seedling establishment, and seedling vigor are disturbed by drought at early growth stages. Growth and development of vegetative parts of maize are seriously affected by diminished cell division and cell proliferation which clarified that cell cycle is critically dependent on water status of plants. Plant height, stem diameter, plant biomass, leaf area, and root development are disturbed in maize by drought stress. Reproductive stage in maize is more critically impaired by drought stress. Development of tassel and ear, pollination, fertilization, embryo development, endosperm development, and grain filling are seriously affected by drought stress in maize.