Physiological Ecology and Regulation of High-Yield Maize Cultivation

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Crop Physiology and Crop Production".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 466

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Agriculture, College of Agriculture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150006, China
Interests: crop chemical regulation; maize stress physiology; maize high-yield cultivation and regulation

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agriculture, College of Agriculture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150006, China
Interests: maize stress physiology; maize high-yield cultivation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Currently, the high-yield cultivation of maize faces challenges in terms of physiological and ecological aspects, such as poor soil fertility, compaction, and pH levels; difficulty in controlling planting density, unreasonable water and fertilizer regulation, and easy nutrient imbalance; improper chemical control that an affect plant growth and nutrient allocation; an increase in the variety of pests and diseases, as well as an increase in drug resistance; and insufficient innovation in high-yield cultivation techniques. Therefore, systems are used to carry out the optimization of maize canopy light energy distribution and utilization; master the development of root systems, efficient nutrient utilization, and understand the mechanisms of interaction with microorganisms; clarify responses to multiple environmental stresses and the defense mechanisms against pests and diseases; and analyze the mechanism of grain development and promote yield formation. In the field of maize cultivation, it is necessary to innovate and optimize cultivation modes, apply precision agriculture technologies, improve yield and resource utilization efficiency, evaluate ecosystems, and explore sustainable development and the path to creating a good ecological environment.

This Special Issue of Plants is open to research articles on all aspects of the growth and development laws of maize, environmental adaptability and resource utilization, optimization and innovation of cultivation techniques, and mechanisms of yield and quality formation, and focuses on ecological environmental factors such as soil, water resources, and biodiversity.

Prof. Dr. Wanrong Gu
Dr. Jing Li
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • crop chemical regulation
  • water and fertilizer regulation
  • maize stress physiology
  • maize high-yield cultivation

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

20 pages, 2375 KiB  
Article
Mitigating Drought Stress in Maize: Synergistic Effects of Zinc Sulfate and Pseudomonas spp. on Physiological and Biochemical Responses
by Fahimeh Khaledi, Hamidreza Balouchi, Mohsen Movahhedi Dehnavi, Amin Salehi and Beata Dedicova
Plants 2025, 14(10), 1483; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14101483 - 15 May 2025
Viewed by 304
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the synergistic effects of zinc sulfate and Pseudomonas spp. in terms of mitigating drought stress in maize (Zea mays L.) by analyzing physiological, biochemical, and morphological responses under field conditions. A two-year (2018–2019) field experiment investigated two [...] Read more.
This study aimed to evaluate the synergistic effects of zinc sulfate and Pseudomonas spp. in terms of mitigating drought stress in maize (Zea mays L.) by analyzing physiological, biochemical, and morphological responses under field conditions. A two-year (2018–2019) field experiment investigated two irrigation levels (optimal and moderate stress) and twelve treatment combinations of zinc sulfate application methods (without fertilizer, soil, foliar, and seed priming) with zinc-solubilizing bacteria (no bacteria, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). Drought stress significantly reduced chlorophyll content, increased oxidative damage, and impaired membrane stability, leading to a 42.4% increase in electrolyte leakage and a 10.9% reduction in leaf area index. However, the combined application of zinc sulfate and P. fluorescens, and P. aeruginosa mitigated these effects, with seed priming showing the most significant improvements. Specifically, seed priming with zinc sulfate and P. fluorescens increased catalase activity by 76% under non-stress conditions and 24% under drought stress. Principal component analysis revealed that treatments combining zinc sulfate and P. fluorescens, and P. aeruginosa were strongly associated with improved chlorophyll content, carotenoid content, and grain yield while also enhancing osmotic adjustment and antioxidant enzyme activity. These findings highlight the potential of the use of zinc sulfate and P. fluorescens as well as P. aeruginosa as sustainable strategies for enhancing maize drought tolerance, mainly through seed priming and soil application methods. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiological Ecology and Regulation of High-Yield Maize Cultivation)
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