Effect of Varying Plant Density on a Tillering Variety of Maize

Abstract

Results from an experiment with maize (variety NEH 1151) at three plant densities indicated that normally favourable environmental conditions promoted tillering and it was difficult to maintain the desired tiller densities. The higher densities produced more vegetative dry matter but less grain than the lower densities. In a second experiment, where tillers were removed from the plants, there was no advantage because the remaining tillers grew larger to compensate for the removal. It is concluded that it is desirable to breed or select for non-tillering varieties where other management parameters can be controlled.

Effect of tillers on corn yield: Exploring trait plasticity potential in unpredictable environments

“…Consistent with analyses of large datasets of yield response to plant density, increasing plant density was key for yield gain across environments with the exception of lower‐yielding sites (Assefa et al., 2016; Prior & Russell, 1975). Similar to our findings in drought‐prone environments, Downey (1972) reported no yield gain considering tiller presence across a range of plant densities (42,000 to 76,300 plants ha −1 ). From an applied research standpoint, corn tillers had no adverse effects on yields, regardless of all factors evaluated.…”

“…Lower daily average temperatures increase the number of tillers in corn, particularly when combined with higher light intensities (Markham & Stoltenberg, 2010; Stevenson & Goodman, 1972; Tetio‐Kagho & Gardner, 1988). Soil fertility and moisture are critical to tiller development in corn (Downey, 1972; Dungan et al., 1959; Jenkins, 1941; Lyon, 1905; Tetio‐Kagho & Gardner, 1988). Tiller density is often closely linked to plant density due to the effect of available resources per plant.…”

Corn yield components can be stabilized via tillering in sub-optimal plant densities

“…Expressed corn tillers may remain vegetative, may abort, or may reach reproductive stages (Alofe and Schrader, 1975;Russelle et al, 1984) developing into harvestable axillary ears or abnormal, mixed-sex apical inflorescences called "tassel ears" (Schaffner, 1930;Bonnett, 1948). Tiller development is ultimately a response to an abundance of resources, which may be triggered by nutrients, water, light, temperature, or factors resulting from a combination of these (e.g., plant density; Gardner, 1942;Downey, 1972;Stevenson and Goodman, 1972;Tetio-Kagho and Gardner, 1988). Although tiller development impacts are not welldocumented in corn, yield of tillers has been proposed as respondent to factors such as plant density (light environment) and soil moisture (Thapa et al, 2018;Rotili et al, 2021;.…”

“…Exploring the impact of tiller expression on yield component plasticity is a novel avenue to understand corn environmental adaptation potential. Although trade-offs in corn yield components are well-known (Slafer, 2003;Sadras and Slafer, 2012) and the concept of tiller-conferred plasticity has been established (Downey, 1972;Yamaguchi, 1974;Rotili et al, 2021;Rotili et al, 2022), field-based research solidifying the connection between the two is inadequate. Understanding the degree to which tillers impact reproductive plasticity may provide insight for reducing plant density dependence and shed new light on environmental adaptation strategies, particularly as climatic risk intensifies.…”

Phosphorus Translocation Between Small, Non‐Reproductive Tillers and the Main Plant of Maize1

“…Dry weight and percent of total radioactivity at sampling (mean ± SE) of tiller, main plant and root of maize grown in nutrient solution in the glasshouse after foliar application of "P to individual plant part. relatively infrequently, depending on environmental conditions and genotype (3,10,18). Tillers generally remain small, do not produce grain, and often senesce before or during early grain fill (5,15).…”