A study was conducted to evaluate the water relations of two corn (Zea mays L.) hybrids in a greenhouse experiment: IAC 8222 (hybrid adapted to environmental stress) and DINA 10 (common hybrid), under one or two cycles of water stress applied at 30 and 46 days after sowing. During the first water deficit cycle, and at the second cycle for plants submitted to both cycles, the leaf water potential (psihf) of IAC 8222 was higher than the psihf of DINA 10, at the 6th and last day of water stress, with no difference for the relative water content (CHR) between the hybrids. The soluble sugars and amino acids accumulated during the water stress, but no differences between the hybrids were observed on the first cycle, and it was showed a difference on amino acids concentration for DINA 10 with hardening, on the 6th and last day of the second cycle. The K+ concentration did not change neither during the water stress nor between the hybrids. These results showed only differences on the capacity of solute accumulation of DINA 10, for amino acids on the second water stress cycle. However, IAC 8222 maintained a higher psihf, accentuated by the hardening. This response can be due to an adjustment in the coefficient of cell wall extensibility.
Zea mays; leaf water potential; relative water content
