Waterlogging strongly affects maize (Zea mays L.) growth. It is necessary to find the screening method of waterlogging tolerant maize lines. This study was to investigate the growth characters at V3 stage of maize, when is very sensitive to waterlogging. Six Korean maize inbred lines were subjected to waterlogging at V3 stage for 30 days. The 30 days waterlogging treatment significantly reduced plant height, number of expanded leaves, and SPAD value, compared with the control plants. SPAD values were significantly different among the six inbred lines, KS140 was the highest. The dry matter accumulation of aerial and root part were significantly decreased by 30 days waterlogging. KS140 was the weightiest among inbred lines. The dry matter of adventitious root showed same trend. Waterlogging treatment significantly reduced to ear length and thickness, grains filling length, grain number per ear, and maize grain. Plant height, SPAD value, and number of fully-expanded leave showed high correlation with maize grain yield, but number of senescent leaves, dry matter of adventitious root and TR ratio did not, suggesting that the former three traits may be good indicator for evaluating 30-day waterlogging tolerance of maize inbred lines. KS164 was the highest yield by increasing of grains filling length and grain number per ear of among waterlogging inbred lines. According to the results, evaluation of maize waterlogging should be consider both early growth characteristics and resilience in the later growth stages.

In monsoon climates, persistent shade is a troublesome weather condition with an impact on the growth and yield of corn (Zea mays L.). We imposed 7, 14, 21, and 28 days of consecutive shade (CS) on Gwangpyeongok and P3394 corn hybrids at the beginning of the kernel filling stages. Shade had little impact on leaf area and dry matter accumulation in the stem and leaves. However, dry matter accumulation in the ear was severely reduced by approximately 28% and 53% after 14 and 28 days of CS, respectively. For the components of grain yield, 7 and 14 days of shade did irreparable damage to the number of filled kernels, the kernel number per ear row, and the percent of filled kernels, but did little damage or reversible damage after removal of the shade to the 100-grain weight and the row number per ear. Shade significantly reduced the relative growth rate (RGR) due to a decrease in the net assimilation rate (NAR). These results suggest that source activity limitation by shade during the kernel filling stages leads to the inhibition of sink activity and size. The yield of biomass, ear, and grain logistically declined as the length of CS increased. Probit analysis revealed that the number of days of CS needed to cause 25% and 50% reductions in grain yield were 3.7 and 23.1, respectively. These results suggest that the plant yield loss induced by shade at the beginning of the kernel filling stages is mainly achieved within the first 7 days of consecutive shade.