Water stress effects on maize: Carbohydrate metabolism of resistant and susceptible cultivars ofZea mays L.

Carbohydrate changea in drought resistant and susceptible cultivars of Zea mays L. were studied at two different stages under imposed water stress in water culture experiments. The gradual decline in total carbohydrates with increasing stress levels was observed. At the 1st leaf stage starch content of the resistant cv. Agati-76 was lower than that of susceptible cv. Vijay but the reducing and non-reducing sugar content was much higher. At the 3rd leaf stage starch content was similar in two cultivars but sugar content was higher in the resistant cv. Agati-76. Differential changes in root and shoot carbohydrates as affected by increasing levels of stress were noticed. Carbohydrate changes have been discussed in relation to drought resistance.