EFFECTS OF GENOTYPE, PLANTING PATTERN, AND PLANT DENSITY ON PLANT-TO-PLANT VARIABILITY AND GRAIN YIELD OF CORN

1974 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 323-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. B. GLENN ◽  
T. B. DAYNARD

Three experiments were conducted near Guelph in 1971 and 1972 with the objectives of studying (1) the effect of planting pattern, plant density, and genotype on plant-to-plant variability in corn (Zea mays L.), and (2) the effect of this variability on grain yield. All three studies entailed detailed measurements of the height of individual plants at various times during vegetative development, and of per plant grain yields. Frequency distributions of individual plant height and grain yield were normal; a coefficient of variability was used to characterize the variation within each treatment. In the first experiment, plant density was found to have a significant effect on plant-to-plant variability in grain yield; row spacing did not affect variation among individuals in either plant height or yield. The second experiment involved study of five double-cross hybrids, five single-cross hybrids, and the 10 possible 50:50 mixtures of the single-cross hybrids. Single-cross hybrids were more uniform and higher yielding than their double-cross counterparts. Mixtures did not vary in yield or variability from the mean of their pure-stand components. In the third experiment, corn was over-planted and differentially thinned in early July (when plants were approximately 60 cm tall) to produce two treatments: uniformly and non-uniformly thinned. Uniformly thinned plots were higher yielding, particularly at a high plant density (103,000 plants/ha). The results lend support to the hypothesis that variability per se can have a significant effect on the grain yield of corn. Reduced variability may represent a partial explanation of the generally higher yield of elite single-cross hybrids over their double-cross counterparts.

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guangzhou Liu ◽  
Wanmao Liu ◽  
Yunshan Yang ◽  
Xiaoxia Guo ◽  
Guoqiang Zhang ◽  
...  

Abstract Marginal superiority is a common phenomenon in crops, and is caused by the competitiveness of individual plant for resources and crop adaptability to crowded growth conditions. In this study, in order to clarify the response of marginal superiority to maize morphology and plant-density tolerance, field experiments without water and nutrition stress were conducted at Qitai Farm in Xinjiang, China, in 2013–2014 and 2016–2019. The results showed that no more than three border rows of all the cultivars had marginal superiority under high density, about 90% of all the cultivars had no more than two border row that had marginal superiority and a significant negative correlation was observed between marginal superiority and population grain yield (first border row: y = − 2.193x + 213.9, p < 0.05; second border row: y = − 2.076x + 159.2, p < 0.01). Additionally, marginal superiority was found to have a significant positive relationship with plant density (first border row: y = 6.049x + 73.76, p < 0.01; second border row: y = 1.88x + 95.41, p < 0.05) and the average leaf angle above the ear (first border row: y = 2.306x + 103.1, p < 0.01). These results indicated that the smaller the leaf angle above the ear, the weaker the marginal superiority and the higher the grain yield. It suggests that the magnitude of marginal superiority in the border rows can be an indicator for plant-density tolerance under high density. What’s more, cultivars with small leaf angle above the ear can be selected to weaken the marginal superiority and improve grain yield under high plant density. Conversely, cultivars with a large leaf angle above the ear can be selected to achieve higher individual yield in intercropping systems with no more than four rows alternated with other crops.


1974 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 861-870
Author(s):  
G. H. Liang ◽  
A. D. Dayton ◽  
T. L. Walter

Epistasis, or interaction between nonallelic genes in grain sorghum (S. bicolor (L.) Moench), was estimated by comparing means of 20 balanced sets of single- and 3-way crosses. Each balanced set consisted of three single crosses and three 3-way crosses derived from three of the six parental varieties used. Results indicated that epistasis was present in nine sets for grain yield, in 13 sets for half-bloom date, and in 11 sets for plant height and for kernel weight. Epistasis seemingly fluctuates over years and locations. On the average, 3-way hybrids yielded less grain, flowered later, and were taller than the single-cross hybrids.


Author(s):  
Guotao Yang ◽  
Xuechun Wang ◽  
Farhan Nabi ◽  
Hongni Wang ◽  
Changkun Zhao ◽  
...  

AbstractThe architecture of rice plant represents important and complex agronomic traits, such as panicles morphology, which directly influence the microclimate of rice population and consequently grain yield. To enhance yield, modification of plant architecture to create new hybrid cultivars is considered a sustainable approach. The current study includes an investigation of yield and microclimate response index under low to high plant density of two indica hybrid rice R498 (curved panicles) and R499 (erect panicles), from 2017 to 2018. The split-plot design included planting densities of 11.9–36.2 plant/m2. The results showed that compared with R498, R499 produced a higher grain yield of 8.02–8.83 t/ha at a higher planting density of 26.5–36.2 plant/m2. The response index of light intensity and relative humidity to the planting density of R499 was higher than that of R498 at the lower position of the rice population. However, the response index of temperature to the planting density of R499 was higher at the upper position (0.2–1.4%) than at the lower position. Compared with R498, R499 at a high planting density developed lower relative humidity (78–88%) and higher light intensity (9900–15,916 lx) at the lower position of the rice population. Our finding suggests that erect panicles are highly related to grain yield microclimatic contributors under a highly dense rice population, such as light intensity utilization, humidity, and temperature. The application of erect panicle rice type provides a potential strategy for yield improvement by increasing microclimatic conditions in rice.


2022 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yushi Zhang ◽  
Yubin Wang ◽  
Churong Liu ◽  
Delian Ye ◽  
Danyang Ren ◽  
...  

Increasing use of plant density or/and nitrogen (N) application has been introduced to maize production in the past few decades. However, excessive planting density or/and use of fertilizer may cause reduced N use efficiency (NUE) and increased lodging risks. Ethephon application improves maize lodging resistance and has been an essential measure in maize intensive production systems associated with high plant density and N input in China. Limited information is available about the effect of ethephon on maize N use and the response to plant density under different N rates in the field. A three-year field study was conducted with two ethephon applications (0 and 90 g ha−1), four N application rates (0, 75, 150, and 225 kg N ha−1), and two plant densities (6.75 plants m−2 and 7.5 plants m−2) to evaluate the effects of ethephon on maize NUE indices (N agronomic efficiency, NAE; N recovery efficiency, NRE; N uptake efficiency, NUpE; N utilization efficiency, NUtE; partial factor productivity of N, PFPN), biomass, N concentration, grain yield and N uptake, and translocation properties. The results suggest that the application of ethephon decreased the grain yield by 1.83–5.74% due to the decrease of grain numbers and grain weight during the three experimental seasons. Meanwhile, lower biomass, NO3- and NH4+ fluxes in xylem bleeding sap, and total N uptake were observed under ethephon treatments. These resulted in lower NAE and NUpE under the ethephon treatment at a corresponding N application rate and plant density. The ethephon treatment had no significant effects on the N concentration in grains, and it decreased the N concentration in stover at the harvesting stage, while increasing the plant N concentration at the silking stage. Consequently, post-silking N remobilization was significantly increased by 14.10–32.64% under the ethephon treatment during the experimental periods. Meanwhile, NUtE significantly increased by ethephon.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 78
Author(s):  
L. Musundire ◽  
J. Derera ◽  
S. Dari ◽  
A. Lagat ◽  
P. Tongoona

Grain yield potential of new maize hybrid varieties across target environments contributes to the uptake of these varieties by farmers. Evaluation of single-cross hybrids developed from test crossing introgressed inbred lines bred for three distinct environments to elite tropical inbred line testers was carried out. The study&rsquo;s objective was to assess grain yield stability and genotype adaptability of the single-cross hybrids across South African environments relative to adapted commercial hybrid checks. One hundred and twenty-two introgressed inbred lines developed using the pedigree breeding program were crossed to four tropical elite inbred line testers using line &times; tester mating design to obtain 488 experimental single cross hybrids. Subject to availability of adequate seed for evaluation, a panel of 444 experimental single-cross hybrids was evaluated using an augmented design in two experiments defined as Population A and B for the study&rsquo;s convenience in South African environments. Data for grain yield (t/ha) performance for experimental single-cross hybrids and commercial check hybrids in Population A and B across environments and individual environments identified experimental single-cross hybrids that had significant comparable grain yield (t/ha) performance relative to best commercial check hybrid (PAN6Q445B) on the market. The selected experimental single-cross hybrids 225, 89, 246 and 43 (Population A) and 112 (Population B) also had a better average rank position for grain yield (t/ha) relative to best commercial check hybrid. These selected experimental single-cross hybrids had a grain yield (t/ha) advantage range of 0.9-6.7% for Population A and 7.3% for Population A and B, respectively, relative to the adapted commercial check hybrid. GGE biplot patterns for which won-where for Population A indicated that at Potchefstroom Research Station and Ukulinga Research Station experimental single-cross hybrids 127 and135 were the vertex (winning) hybrids. Cedera Research Station did not have a vertex hybrid for Population A. For Population B, experimental single-cross hybrids 112, 117 and 18 were the vertex hybrids at Cedera Research Station, Ukulinga Research Station and Potchefstroom Research Station, respectively. Experimental single-cross hybrid 257 was identified as ideal genotype for Population A, while experimental single-cross hybrid 121 in Population B was the ideal genotype. Ideal environments were also identified as Ukulinga Research Station for Population A, and Cedera Research Station for Population B. Average-environment coordination (AEC) view of the GGE biplot in Population A indicated that experimental single-cross hybrids 1 was highly stable across environments. In comparison, Population B experimental single-cross hybrid 161 was highly stable across environments. In conclusion, selected single-cross hybrids in the current study can also be advanced for further evaluation with a possibility for identifying high yielding and stable single-cross hybrids for variety registration and release in target environments in South Africa.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vince Ndou ◽  
Edmore Gasura ◽  
Pauline Chivenge ◽  
John Derera

Abstract Development of ideal breeding and crop management strategies that can improve maize grain yield under tropical environments is crucial. In the temperate regions, such yield improvements were achieved through use of genotypes that adapt high plant population density stress. However, tropical germplasm has poor tolerance to high plant population density stress, and thus it should be improved by temperate maize. The aim of this study was to estimate the genetic gains and identify traits associated with such gains in stable and high yielding temperate x tropical hybrids under low and high plant population densities. A total of 200 hybrids derived from a line x tester mating design of tropical x temperate germplasm were developed. These hybrids were evaluated for grain yield and allied traits under varied plant population densities. High yielding and stable hybrids, such as 15XH214, 15XH215 and 15XH121 were resistant to lodging and had higher number of leaves above the cob. The high genetic gains of 26% and desirable stress tolerance indices of these hybrids made them better performers over check hybrids under high plant population density. At high plant population density yield was correlated to stem lodging and number of leaves above the cob. Future gains in grain yield of these hybrids derived from temperate x tropical maize germplasm can be achieved by exploiting indirect selection for resistance to stem lodging and increased number of leaves above the cob under high plant density conditions.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matheus Costa dos Reis ◽  
José Maria Villela Pádua ◽  
Guilherme Barbosa Abreu ◽  
Fernando Lisboa Guedes ◽  
Rodrigo Vieira Balbi ◽  
...  

This study was carried out to obtain the estimates of genetic variance and covariance components related to intra- and interpopulation in the original populations (C0) and in the third cycle (C3) of reciprocal recurrent selection (RRS) which allows breeders to define the best breeding strategy. For that purpose, the half-sib progenies of intrapopulation (P11and P22) and interpopulation (P12and P21) from populations 1 and 2 derived from single-cross hybrids in the 0 and 3 cycles of the reciprocal recurrent selection program were used. The intra- and interpopulation progenies were evaluated in a10×10triple lattice design in two separate locations. The data for unhusked ear weight (ear weight without husk) and plant height were collected. All genetic variance and covariance components were estimated from the expected mean squares. The breakdown of additive variance into intrapopulation and interpopulation additive deviations (στ2) and the covariance between these and their intrapopulation additive effects (CovAτ) found predominance of the dominance effect for unhusked ear weight. Plant height for these components shows that the intrapopulation additive effect explains most of the variation. Estimates for intrapopulation and interpopulation additive genetic variances confirm that populations derived from single-cross hybrids have potential for recurrent selection programs.


1974 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. B. GLENN ◽  
T. B. DAYNARD ◽  
J. T. WATSON

In an experiment designed to study the relationship between seedling vigor and grain yield in corn (Zea mays L.), 25 single-cross hybrids, of a range in spring vigor (6 involved crosses between inbred parents of high seedling vigor, 6 were crosses between parents of low seedling vigor, and 13 were crosses between inbreds of high and low vigor) were grown in test for 2 yr near Woodstock, Ontario. In the 1st yr, hybrids were evaluated for differences in: rate of emergence; visual vigor rating; plant height, dry weight, and leaf number at several dates during early vegetative development; leaf area index (measured after pollination); and final grain yield. In the 2nd yr, hybrids were evaluated for differences in seed size (weight/kernel), visual vigor rating, and grain yield. No differences were detected among hybrids in rate of emergence. In the 1st yr, the visual vigor score was positively related to early plant height, but not to any of the other measures of seedling vigor. A positive relationship between seed weight and visual vigor rating was observed in the 2nd yr. The mean grain yield of the three groups of hybrids corresponded directly with their initial vigor rating in the 1st yr (i.e., crosses among high vigor inbreds outyielded high × low crosses; high × low crosses outyielded low × low), but not in the 2nd yr. Among individual genotypes, no relationship was evident between any measure of spring vigor and grain yield, in either year.


1986 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 219 ◽  
Author(s):  
WK Anderson

Eight spring bread wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum L.), differing widely in their nominal yield component characteristics, were tested under rain-fed conditions for three years at sowing densities ranging from 50 to 800 seeds m-2. The objectives of the experiments were to estimate the relationship between grain yield and particular yield components, the expression of plant type (yield components) in relation to plant density, and the plant population x cultivar interaction for grain yield over a range of seasons in a given environment. The 'optimum' plant population (at maximum grain yield) varied over 30-220 plants m-2, depending on season and cultivar. In general, variation in the 'optimum' population was greater between seasons for a given cultivar than between cultivars within seasons. The relationship between grain yield and yield components was examined at the 'optimum' population rather than at an arbitrary population at which grain yield may have been suboptimal for some cultivars or seasons. Grain yields at the optimum populations for the various cultivar x season combinations were positively related to culms m-2, spikes m-2 and seeds m-2. They were not clearly related to culm mortality (%). When averaged across seasons, cultivar grain yields were positively related to harvest index, but the general relationship was not so clear when seasons and cultivars were examined individually. Spike size (seeds spike-I or spike weight) and seed size were also not clearly related to grain yield at the 'optimum' population, and it was thus postulated that the production and survival of large numbers of culms, which in turn led to large numbers of seeds per unit area, were the source of large grain yields. Some interactions were found between yield components and plant population for some cultivars that could have implications for plant breeders selecting at low plant densities. The implications for crop ideotypes of the individual plant characters at the 'optimum' population are also discussed. Interactions between cultivars and plant populations implied that some cultivars required different populations to achieve maximum yields in some seasons. There was a tendency for larger yields to be achieved from cultivar x season combinations where the optimum population was larger, which suggested that commercial seed rates should be re-examined when changes to plant types or yield levels are made.


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