The researchers aimed to develop a system to evaluate how well different types of maize can withstand drought conditions. They tested various traits of maize plants under different levels of drought stress to identify key indicators of drought resistance. They found that factors like seed germination energy, leaf water potential, and grain weight were strongly linked to drought resistance. By analyzing these traits, they created a reliable equation to assess the drought resistance of maize plants. This system can help identify maize varieties that are better equipped to survive drought conditions.