Grain yield and micronutrient concentrations of maize parental lines of new hybrid genotypes affected by the foliar application of micronutrients

It is important for the breeders to find how genetic differences may affect crop grain yield and nutrient uptake affected by micronutrient fertilization. Accordingly, with respect to our published research, the foliar application of the most deficient micronutrients (Fe, Zn and Mn) in the arid and semi-arid areas of the world affecting grain yield and nutrient concentration of maize parental lines of new hybrid genotypes was tested in a two-year experiment (2016-2017). A split plot experiment (randomized complete block design) with seven maize parental lines (G1-G7, sub-plots), and eight micronutrients treatments (main plots) including control (without spraying, M1), Zn (M2), Mn (M3), and Fe (M4) at 3 g L-1, Mn + Zn (M5), Fe + Zn (M6), Fe + Mn (M7), and Fe + Mn + Zn (M8) at 1.5 g L-1, sprayed at the growth stages of V8 and the full appearance of the plant organs (R1) was conducted. Plant height, cob height, 1000 grain weight, grain yield, number of rows per cob, number of grains per row, grain crude protein content, and micronutrient (Zn, Fe and Mn) concentrations were determined. Micronutrients significantly affected Fe (27.68-62.55 mg. kg-1) and Zn (33.34-55.73 mg. kg-1) concentrations. A3 (12,600 kg. ha-1) and A5 (8900 kg. ha-1) resulted in the highest and least grain yield, respectively. M7 (11,470 kg. ha-1) had the highest grain yield significantly different from control (5510 kg. ha-1). Interestingly, just Mn significantly affected grain crude protein (9.63-12.92%). Correlation coefficients indicated Mn and Fe as the least and the most correlated micronutrients with the growth of maize parental lines.The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-022-01160-0.