Environmental effects on the early stages of tassel morphogenesis in maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

The effects of various environmental conditions on the initiation of tassel branches (NTB) and spikelet-pairs (NSP) were examined in the stress-sensitive maize inbred F53. Chilling induced the most important effect, with a dramatic decrease in both NTB and NSP, provided it was applied at the end of the vegetative phase and start of the floral transition phase. The primary cause of chilling-induced abortion of the tassel branches could be oxidative stress in the leaves, since lowering light irradiance during chilling greatly reduced the effect of cold. The comparison of inbreds F53 and F2 revealed that both genotypes exhibited a similar period of cold sensitivity at the floral transition phase, although F2 was considered from field observations as a stress-insensitive genotype (at least for tassel development). However, our results also showed a chilling acclimation response in inbred F2 but not in inbred F53. The similarities with the work by Lejeune & Bernier (1996 Plant, Cell and Environment 19, 217-224.) concerning the effect of chilling on ear initiation in the sensitive inbred, B22, are emphasized.

Barrenness and Changes in Tassel Development and Flowering Habit of Hybrid Maize Associated with Low Air Temperatures

“…The minimum value of daily mean air temperature in July reached near 10ºC. In the inbred lines of maize, Bechoux et al (2000) reported that the number of spikelets in plants maintained at 10ºC for 7 days at the 7.5-leaf stage, the starting period of spikelet development, decreased to one third of the control. Tranel et al (2009) also showed that the total length of tassel branches was reduced to half of the control when plants were exposed to a temperature treatment of 17/6ºC (day/night) for 7 days, during the tassel branch and spikelet initiation.…”

Varietal difference in the effects of low temperature on tassel development in hybrid maize

“…In Kwiss, tassel length became significantly shorter when treated at 8-LS compared to the control (p = 0.013). Bechoux et al (2000). In the farmer's field, 39B29 reduced its ear yield and tassel length as reported in Hayashi et al (2015), whereas Papirika did not show such abnormalities in a same field.…”

“…Treatment simulating natural condition of 2003 such as 13 °C for 21 d is not suitable to determine the sensitive stage or extent of sensitivity, especially for large numbers of cultivars. It is required to reduce treatment duration, so a 10 °C for 7 d between 6-LS and 9-LS treatment is carried out for Exp2 in the present study (referring to Bechoux et al (2000), which reported the effect of low temperature on tassel development of maize inbred lines). The results show that the lowest RTL value was around 80 in the plants treated starting at between 7-LS and 8-LS in Papirika, 60 in plants treated at 8-LS in 39B29, and 30 in plants treated at 8-LS in Kwiss on average over 3 test years.…”

“…In experiment 2 (Exp2), the low-temperature sensitive stage of the maize varieties was examined using the procedure described by Bechoux et al (2000). When the plants expanded the sixth, seventh, eighth, or ninth leaf, the pots were treated at 10 °C for 7 d by moving the pots from the greenhouse to the air conditioned rooms.…”

“…In maize inbred lines, there are reports evaluating genotypic differences in low-temperature sensitivity to tassel development (Bechoux et al, 2000;Tranel et al, 2009). The varietal differences in the sensitivity to low-temperature stress during the reproductive growth stage have been reported in rice (Oryza sativa L.) (Satake, 1991), soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.)…”