Maize physiology under waterlogging: shoot and root adaptive responses to mitigate low oxygen stress.

Maize (Zea mays L.) responds to waterlogging low-oxygen stress with root lysigenous aerenchyma formation, which is promoted by hypoxia, ethylene, and reactive oxygen species signaling.

• Why it matters: Waterlogging increasingly limits maize productivity in regions facing extreme precipitation, and current knowledge needs synthesis to guide breeding and management for low-oxygen stress.
• What they did: The review summarizes physiological and molecular mechanisms in roots and shoots, including ethylene-auxin control of adventitious roots and raffinose-linked fine lateral root development.
• The result: Flooding-linked shoot changes—reduced stomatal conductance, impaired photosynthesis, and premature senescence with persistent leaf damage—suggest limited recovery, while cytokinins may mitigate oxidative damage and delay senescence.

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