Yield components of maize as affected by short shading periods and thinning

2013 ◽  
Vol 64 (6) ◽  
pp. 580 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Cerrudo ◽  
J. Di Matteo ◽  
E. Fernandez ◽  
M. Robles ◽  
L. Olmedo Pico ◽  
...  

Maize (Zea mays) grain yield has been described to be particularly susceptible to environmental conditions around silking; however, a better temporal description of the effect of resource deprivation during this period is needed. Additionally, yield progress and the subsequent increase in the demand of assimilates may result in source limitation during the grain-filling period in current hybrids. This work assessed the effect of (i) short (~5 days) and intense shading stresses imposed at different times, and (ii) thinning during the effective grain-filling period, on yield components of an Argentinean, widespread hybrid. Grain yield was affected by resource availability during an extended period from ~300 growing degree-days (GDD) before silking to ~780 GDD after silking (base temperature = 8°C). Kernel number (KN) was reduced by shading treatments imposed within a relatively extended period of ~700 GDD centred on silking. Within this period, we establish a critical period of ~30 days around silking (i.e. –200 to 250 GDD after silking), in which KN susceptibility was maximal. The variation in KN during this period of 450 GDD was mainly accounted for by resource availability and not by timing of treatment imposition within this window. A direct relationship between KN and weight per kernel (KW) for shading treatments imposed from 0 to 200 GDD after silking indicated that compensation of KN reduction by KW increase might not be expected when stress occurred immediately after silking. Kernel number and KW presented an inverse relationship when shading took place after 200 GDD after silking. In addition, thinning after the onset of the effective grain-filling period increased KW. The results indicate that, even in the undisturbed crop, KW was limited by source capacity during grain filling. It is suggested that there is a need to reconsider current agronomic practices and breeding strategies, focusing on the source capacity during the grain-filling period.

1988 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 947-955 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. K. WALKER ◽  
M. H. MILLER ◽  
M. TOLLENAAR

Experiments were conducted from 1983 to 1985 to test the hypothesis that rate of dry matter accumulation by maize (Zea mays L.) during grain filling can be enhanced by an increase in assimilate demand for grain filling (i.e., sink strength).The sink strength of maize plants grown in an outdoor hydroponic system was varied independently of the source strength by manipulating the plant spacing during the period in which final kernel number is established. The crop growth rate during grain filling, the dry matter of leaves, stems, ears and roots, and grain yield components were determined. In all 3 yr the crop growth rate during grain filling of plants that had been growing at a 20 000 plants ha−1 spacing for variable periods and were returned to the control density of 80 000 plants ha−1 at the start of the grain-filling period was lower than that of plants grown continuously at a spacing of 80 000 plants ha−1. In 1985, plants grown at 20 000 plants ha−1 from 3 wk preanthesis until 2 wk postanthesis and at 80 000 plants ha−1 thereafter had 50% more kernels per plant than the control plants. However, the net photosynthesis during grain filling was not increased; in fact it was somewhat lower. Final grain yield was not significantly different, mainly due to greater translocation from the stems to the grain in the spaced plants than in the controls. These studies indicate that maize growing in a nonlimiting below-ground environment is not sink limited. Hence adding sink capacity by maintaining kernel number while increasing plant density or by adding more kernels per plant would not appear to be a promising route for raising the yield potential.Key words: Sink strength, hydroponics, plant spacing, kernel number, yield components


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (14) ◽  
pp. 5610
Author(s):  
Alireza Pour-Aboughadareh ◽  
Reza Mohammadi ◽  
Alireza Etminan ◽  
Lia Shooshtari ◽  
Neda Maleki-Tabrizi ◽  
...  

Durum wheat performance in the Mediterranean climate is limited when water scarcity occurs before and during anthesis. The present research was performed to determine the effect of drought stress on several physiological and agro-morphological traits in 17 durum wheat genotypes under two conditions (control and drought) over two years. The results of analysis of variance indicated that the various durum wheat genotypes responded differently to drought stress. Drought stress significantly reduced the grain filling period, plant height, peduncle length, number of spikes per plot, number of grains per spike, thousand grains weight, grain yield, biomass, and harvest index in all genotypes compared to the control condition. The heatmap-based correlation analysis indicated that grain yield was positively and significantly associated with phenological characters (days to heading, days to physiological maturity, and grain filling period), as well as number of spikes per plant, biomass, and harvest index under drought conditions. The yield-based drought and susceptible indices revealed that stress tolerance index (STI), geometric mean productivity (GMP), mean productivity (MP), and harmonic mean (HM) were positively and significantly correlated with grain yields in both conditions. Based on the average of the sum of ranks across all indices and a three-dimensional plot, two genotypes (G9 and G12) along with the control variety (G1) were identified as the most tolerant genotypes. Among the investigated genotypes, the new breeding genotype G12 showed a high drought tolerance and yield performance under both conditions. Hence, this genotype can be a candidate for further multi-years and locations test as recommended for cultivation under rainfed conditions in arid and semi-arid regions.


1995 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 495 ◽  
Author(s):  
RG Flood ◽  
PJ Martin ◽  
WK Gardner

Total crop dry matter (DM) production and its components, remobilisation of stem reserves, and the relation of these to grain yield were studied in 10 wheat cultivars sown at Walpeup, Boort, and Horsham in the north-western Victorian wheatbelt. Between sites, all DM components decreased in the order Horsham > Boort > Walpeup. Differences between Boort and Walpeup were not always significant. Total DM at anthesis for Walpeu,p and Boort was in a similar range, and less than that for Horsham. Yields increased in the order Walpeup < Boort < Horsham. When data from the 3 sites were combined, leaf, stem (excluding cv. Argentine IX), and total DM were related to grain yield. Within sites, ear DM at anthesis was related to grain yield. Grain yield for all cultivars at Horsham and Walpeup and 5 cultivars at Boort was greater than the increases in crop DM from anthesis to maturity, indicating that pre-anthesis stored assimilates (stem reserves) were used for grain filling. Post-anthesis decrease in stem weight was inversely related to grain yield only at Horsham, which supports the view of utilisation of stem reserves for grain filling at this site. At Boort and Walpeup there was a similar negative trend, but values for 2 cultivars at each site were outliers, which weakened the trend. The wide adaptability of the Australian cultivars used in this study may be related to the differential remobilisation of stem reserves at each site. A measure of yield stability, however, was not related to stem weight loss during the grain-filling period.


2003 ◽  
Vol 83 (2) ◽  
pp. 275-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. E. Juskiw ◽  
J. H. Helm

Seeding date is an important factor influencing productivity of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). When conditions are conducive to early seeding or result in delayed seeding, producers need to know how cultivars will respond to these seeding situations. In this study, five cultivars (Abee, Harrington, Jackson, Noble and Virden) registered for western Canada were studied for 4 yr (1990 to 1993) when seeded early (late April or early May), in mid-May, in late-May, or late (mid-June) at Lacombe, AB. For all cultivars, early seeding resulted in grain yield advantages of 113 to 134% of the mean site yield, while with late seeding, grain yields were reduced to 54 to 76% of the mean site yield. The reduction in yield was least for Jackson, the earliest maturing cultivar tested. Late seeding reduced the period from sowing to emergence, vegetative period, grain-filling period, time from emergence to physiological maturity, test weight, grain yield, kernel weight, and tillers per plant; and increased plant height and percent thins. Late seeding had no significant effect on phyllochron, stand establishment, scald, lodging, protein content of the grain, kernel number per spike, and spikelet number per spike. Barley responded positively to early seeding in central Alberta, but when seeding was delayed (in this study to mid-June) the early and mid-maturing six-rowed cultivars with short phyllochrons performed better than the two-rowed and late six-rowed cultivars. Key words: Hordeum vulgare L., seeding rate, phenological development, grain quality, grain yield, components


1991 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Fukai ◽  
L. Li ◽  
P. T. Vizmonte ◽  
K. S. Fischer

SummaryThe objective of this study was to identify whether grain yield in four contrasting rice cultivars is limited by supply of assimilate to fill the grains or by sink capacity to accept the assimilate. Grain yield was limited mostly by sink capacity, with little variation in single grain weight among cultivars, but an old cultivar showed some ability to adjust single grain weight. Sink capacity was very sensitive to variation in assimilate supply immediately after anthesis. Reduction in assimilate supply in the anthesis to early grain filling period reduced filled grain percentage and grain yield, particularly in high yielding cultivars with a large number of grains per panicle.


2006 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel F. Calderini ◽  
M. P. Reynolds ◽  
G. A. Slafer

Source limitation during grain filling is important for both management and breeding strategies of grain crops. There is little information on the sensitivity of grain weight of temperate cereals to variations in source–sink ratios, and no studies are available on the comparative behaviour of temperate cereals growing together in the same experiment. The objective of the current study was to evaluate, under field conditions, the response of grain weight to different source–sink ratios during grain filling in high-yielding cultivars of bread wheat, durum wheat, and triticale at 2 contrasting locations. Two experiments were carried out at C. Obregon and El Batan in Mexico. In each location, 6 genotypes (2 bread wheat, 2 durum wheat, 2 triticale) were evaluated. A week after anthesis, 2 source–sink (control and halved spikes) treatments were imposed. Location and genotype significantly (P < 0.01) affected grain yield and components. Significant grain weight increases (P < 0.05) were found only in 2 cases in El Batan. The highest response of 17% was found in triticale, with less than 10% in most of the other genotypes. The effect of genotype and location is discussed.


1992 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. T. Weiland

Recent studies have shown that pollen from a long-season maize (Zea mays L.) hybrid increased yield of a short-season hybrid by lengthening the effective grain-filling period, while the reciprocal cross did not alter this period or yield. This effect (metaxenia) was evaluated further in the studies reported here with hybrids of more diverse maturity and under both high and low N fertility. In the first year of this study (1989), sib- and cross-pollinations were made among B73Ht × Mo17 (B × 7) and two early-silking hybrids, LH59 × LH146 (L × 6) and Pioneer 3732 (3732) under N-sufficient (275 kg ha−1) and two lower N regimes (17 and 67 kg ha−1). Only a few significant effects were observed and these were noted at high N with one exception. With 3732 pollen, grain yield of B × 7 was decreased at 275 kg N ha−1, and physiological maturity occurred 3 d earlier. Yield of 3732 was increased by L × 6 pollen in comparison with B × 7 pollen. Kernel number and average kernel weight were not altered by pollen source. Pollen type did not affect yields under low N fertility, except for a reduction when B × 7 was pollinated by L × 6 at the 67-kg N ha−1 rate. In 1990, under N-sufficient fertility, B73Ht × LH156 (B × 6), a late-silking hybrid, and LH146 × LH82 (L × 2), an earlier hybrid, were sib- and cross-pollinated with B × 7 and 3732. The only significant effect observed was that L × 2 pollen increased B × 6 yield. Thus with the hybrids used, yields of early-season types were not altered by cross-pollination with long-season types. Previous results showing increased yields when 3732 was pollinated by B × 7 were not duplicated in either year, suggesting metaxenia effects are highly dependent upon environment.Key words: Metaxenia, xenia, cross-pollination, maize, yield, N levels


2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 826-832
Author(s):  
Ramesh Ramesh ◽  
Shailesh Marker ◽  
S. Muniswamy ◽  
Yamanura Yamanura

Correlation and path coefficient analysis were studied in 22 heat tolerant Recombinant Inbred Lines (RILs) of wheat. Analysis of variance revealed the significant difference among genotypes for all the characters. Suggested that there was ample scope for selection of promising RILs for yield improvement. A wide range of variability was exhibited by most of the traits. The results of correlation studies indicated that genotypic correlation coefficients were higher in magnitude than their corresponding phenotypic correlation coefficients for all the traits which indicated that association among these characters was under genetic control and indicating the preponderance of genetic variance in expression of characters. Grain yield per plant had high, significant and positive association with number of grains per spike, spike weight, spike length, canopy temperature depression, tillers per plant, grain filling period and chlorophyll content both at genotypic and phenotypic levels indicating that these traits were main yield attributing traits. Path analysis revealed that grains per spike, tillers per plant, spike length, had the highest positive direct effect on grain yield followed by flag leaf length, flag leaf width, days 50% heading, plant height, grain filling period, membrane stability and days to maturity at genotypic level. The selection of characters such as grains per spike, tillers per plant, spike length and spike weight would be helpful for further improvement in RILs of wheat.


PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e1708 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenny Paul ◽  
János Pauk ◽  
Zsuzsanna Deák ◽  
László Sass ◽  
Imre Vass

We report a case study of natural variations and correlations of some photosynthetic parameters, green biomass and grain yield in Cappelle Desprez and Plainsman V winter wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) cultivars, which are classified as being drought sensitive and tolerant, respectively. We monitored biomass accumulation from secondary leaves in the vegetative phase and grain yield from flag leaves in the grain filling period. Interestingly, we observed higher biomass production, but lower grain yield stability in the sensitive Cappelle cultivar, as compared to the tolerant Plainsman cv. Higher biomass production in the sensitive variety was correlated with enhanced water-use efficiency. Increased cyclic electron flow around PSI was also observed in the Cappelle cv. under drought stress as shown by light intensity dependence of the ratio of maximal quantum yields of Photosystem I and Photosystem II, as well by the plot of the Photosystem I electron transport rate as a function of Photosystem II electron transport rate. Higher CO2uptake rate in flag leaves of the drought-stressed Plainsman cv. during grain filling period correlates well with its higher grain yield and prolonged transpiration rate through spikes. The increase in drought factor (DFI) and performance (PI) indices calculated from variable chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of secondary leaves also showed correlation with higher biomass in the Cappelle cultivar during the biomass accumulation period. However, during the grain filling period, DFI and PI parameters of the flag leaves were higher in the tolerant Plainsman V cultivar and showed correlation with grain yield stability. Our results suggest that overall biomass and grain yield may respond differentially to drought stress in different wheat cultivars and therefore phenotyping for green biomass cannot be used as a general approach to predict grain yield. We also conclude that photosynthetic efficiency of flag and secondary leaves is correlated with grain yield and green biomass, respectively. In addition, secondary trait associated mechanisms like delayed senescence and higher water-use efficiency also contribute to biomass stability. Our studies further prove that photosynthetic parameters could be used to characterize environmental stress responses.


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