Table 2 Effect of chilling treatment on leaf pigment content in two maize hybrids

chl a + b [μg.cm⁻²]

64 ± 14 b

49 ± 12 b

43 ± 8 a

32 ± 9 a

chl a / b

4.1 ± 0.1 b

4.3 ± 0.1 c

3.8 ± 0.2 a

4.1 ± 0.2 b

GG-chl a / chl a [‰]

0.8 ± 0.1 b

3.2 ± 0.4 c

0.2 ± 0.1 a

4.8 ± 0.3 d

total carotenoids / chl a + b [%]

10.6 ± 0.3 b

11.8 ± 1.6 b

9.1 ± 0.4 a

12.5 ± 1.8 ab

β carotene / chl a + b [%]

3.5 ± 0.2 c

3.2 ± 0.1 b

2.6 ± 0.2 a

2.8 ± 0.2 a

lutein / chl a + b [%]

4.0 ± 0.2 b

4.6 ± 0.7 b

3.3 ± 0.2 a

4.4 ± 0.8 ab

total xanthophylls / chl a + b [%]

2.2 ± 0.2 a

3.3 ± 0.9 a

2.3 ± 0.3 a

4.3 ± 0.9 b

de-epoxidation index

[A+Z/V+A+Z, %]

1.3 ± 0.5 a

19.2 ± 4.9 c

3.3 ± 0.8 a

15.7 ± 4.4 b