Effect of uniconazole and nitrogen level on lodging resistance and yield potential of maize under medium and high plant density

Abstract

Lodging in maize results in grain yield reduction. This experiment investigated the effects of different application rates of the growth retardant, uniconazole (UCZ), and nitrogen (N) on medium and high maize population densities on lodging resistance and yield. UCZ was applied to maize seeds at concentrations of 0 (U0) and 25 (U25) mg kg−1, and three different N application rates, 0 (N0), 150 (N150) and 225 (N225) kg ha−1, at plant densities of 75,000 (D1) and 105,000 plants ha−1 (D2). UCZ application, different N rates and plant population density affected the lodging resistance and yield attributes of maize. The diameter, plumpness, cortex penetration and bending strengths of the internodes were enhanced with UCZ and N application at medium and high plant density, where maximum values were obtained with U25N150D1. Internode length increased in the high‐density population and higher N rate, whereas UCZ reduced internode length, where maximum internode length was obtained with U0N225D2. Plant height, centre of gravity height, ear and height above ear‐bearing node were higher with the high N rate, while UCZ reduced it significantly. UCZ, N rate and plant density enhanced lignin accumulation in the third internode and ear‐bearing internode, where maximum values were obtained with U25N150D1. Yield and yield attributes were also improved by UCZ, N rate and population density. Treatment with U25N150D2 significantly improved grain yield of maize compared with the other treatments.

A Novel Maize MicroRNA Negatively Regulates the Resistance to Fusarium Verticillioides

“…Despite of the enhanced resistance to F. verticillioides in Arabidopsis with overaccumulation ofAtGA2ox7 , many adverse effects were also occurred on development, such as dwarf plants and delayed flowering (Figure 4A), which would be likely expected in maize. In addition, it has been reported that application of GA inhibitor uniconazole significantly reduced lodging rate and enhanced yield in maize (Ahmad et al, 2021). Our data also showed the positive effects of uniconazole on F. verticillioidesresistance and dwarf traits in maize and rice (Figure 8C-E and Figure S6).…”

Interactive Effects of Melatonin and Nitrogen Improve Drought Tolerance of Maize Seedlings by Regulating Growth and Physiochemical Attributes

“…Melatonin has been discovered to increase photosynthetic carbon assimilation and antioxidant enzyme activity in maize under abiotic stress conditions [ 28 ]. Maize growth and productivity are hampered by a lack of nitrogen [ 29 ]. However, to date, few studies have explored the performance and function of melatonin combined with nitrogen-based on evaluation and N absorption of metabolism in cereal crops under drought-stress conditions [ 11 ].…”

Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses reveal the mechanism of uniconazole inducing hypocotyl dwarfing by suppressing BrbZIP39–BrPAL4 module mediating lignin biosynthesis in flowering Chinese cabbage

“…Uniconazole is widely applied to control plant height and enhance plant lodging resistance ( Ahmad et al., 2021a ; Lv et al., 2022 ). In this study, uniconazole treatment remarkably inhibited hypocotyl elongation and increased the hypocotyl diameter of flowering Chinese cabbage seedlings ( Figure 1A ).…”

“…Moreover, it has a shorter degradation cycle and less application dosage, and it is more environmentally friendly ( Tao et al., 1997 ). Previous reports showed that uniconazole is widely applied to control plant height and enhance plant lodging resistance ( Ahmad et al., 2021a ; Lv et al., 2022 ). To date, uniconazole treatment in the process of intensive vegetable seedling cultivation mostly focuses on the screening of the application concentration ( Zuo et al., 2020 ), and there is little information about its molecular regulatory mechanism.…”