Integrated Morphological, Physiological, and Biochemical Responses of Maize Genotypes under Drought Stress

Drought stress is a major obstacle to maize productivity in areas with water scarcity. This experiment examined maize genotypes to study drought resistant materials using combined morphological, biochemical, and physiological traits. Fourteen genotypes of maize were grown using RCB Design with three replications under drought and normal conditions. Phenology, growth, chlorophyll content, leaf area index, cell membrane thermostability, and yield-related characteristics were all measured. Drought stress caused obvious yield losses, slowed flowering, decreased plant growth, and lowered membrane stability and chlorophyll concentration. The most accurate indicators of drought resistance, according to multivariate analysis, were yield attributes, cell membrane thermostability, leaf area index, and chlorophyll content. Under stress, genotypes ML-02, ML-07, and ML-01 demonstrated reduced yield decline and improved physiological performance. These genotypes show promise as parental lines for breeding that can withstand drought. The results show the value of integrated trait-based screening for selecting climate-resilient maize and provide practical guidance for future breeding and multi-environment validation studies.