Heat stress in temperate and tropical maize hybrids: Kernel growth, water relations and assimilate availability for grain filling

Maize (Zea mays L.) kernel weight (KW) and grain yield depend on plant growth during active grain filling and reserves use. The objective of our study was to analyze the phenotypic and genotypic variation in these traits in a family of recombinant inbred lines (RIL). In two field experiments we measured plant grain yield (PGY) and its components (KW and kernel number per plant, KNP), biomass production per plant and per kernel during active grain filling, and apparent reserves use (ARU) per plant (ARUP, difference between PGY and plant biomass production during active grain filling) and per kernel (ARUK, difference between KW and plant biomass production per kernel during active grain filling). Heritability (h2) and phenotypic plasticity were computed for all traits. Large differences were always evident among genotypes, but phenotypic plasticity was (i) low for KW and plant biomass at R2 and physiological maturity; (ii) intermediate for KNP and PGY; and (iii) high for plant growth, plant growth per kernel after R2, and ARUs. Traits with highest h2 were KW (0.70), KNP (0.61), and ARUP (0.59). Final KW was related to plant growth per kernel (r2 = 0.64; P < 0.001) but not to ARUK, and ARUP was driven (r2 ≥ 0.49; P < 0.001) by KNP. Because of its positive relationship with KNP (main determinant of PGY), high h2 and high phenotypic plasticity, breeding must consider the increase in ARUP for improving grain yield, an objective that needs to be coupled with large reserves accumulation before silking to avoid the risk of lodging.

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“…during active grain filling accounts for SWSC mobilization (Ehdaie et al, 2008;Rattalino Edreira et al, 2014).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…There are, however, large genotypic differences in the maximum assimilates level reached and the magnitude of assimilates decline. Reserves use during active grain filling can vary widely in response to growing conditions, which modify reserves initial level (R2-R3) as well as their subsequent demand (Rattalino Edreira et al, 2014).…”

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confidence: 99%

Contribution of Reserves to Kernel Weight and Grain Yield Determination in Maize: Phenotypic and Genotypic Variation

et al. 2016

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“…These results are consistent with previous reports that indicated that rainfall directly influenced the total production of maize due to increases in the distribution, density and depth of the roots (37) . Moreover, extreme temperatures affect directly the grain weight (38,39) and yield (40)(41)(42)(43) . Heat stress reduced maize grain weight due to proportional losses in grain composition (starch, protein and oil contents) and due to its direct effect during the grain-filling period, which caused a cessation of grain filling (43)(44) .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, extreme temperatures affect directly the grain weight (38,39) and yield (40)(41)(42)(43) . Heat stress reduced maize grain weight due to proportional losses in grain composition (starch, protein and oil contents) and due to its direct effect during the grain-filling period, which caused a cessation of grain filling (43)(44) . Moreover, heat stress reduced maize grain yield due to its negative effect on plant growth and development by increasing the abortion of fertilized structures (45,46) .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Yield of forage, grain and biomass in eight hybrids of maize with different sowing dates and environmental conditions

López¹,

Rosales-Nieto²,

López³

et al. 2017

Rev. Mex. Cienc. Pecu.

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The aim was to evaluate yield of forage, grain and biomass and fibre content of eight hybrids of maize (Rio-Grande, Arrayan, Genex 778, Narro 2010, Advance 2203, DAS 2358, P4082W and HT9150W) during two sowing seasons (spring/summer) for two consecutive years at La Laguna in Torreon, Mexico. Once the grain progression of the kernel milk line was ⅓, green forage yield (GFY), dry matter (DM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) were determined. When the corncobs were fully mature, grain yield (GY) and biomass production (TBP) were determined. Weather conditions were recorded during the experiment. The results indicated that maximum temperature was higher and rainfall lower in the summer sowing and second year. Spring sowing had significantly higher yields of GFY, DM, GY and TBP compared to summer sowing. The first year of study showed significantly higher yields regarding GFY, GY and TBP, but FDN, FDA, DM content compared to the second year. The best hybrid for GFY and DM was Rio-Grande; for FDN and FDA was Advance 2203; for GY was HT9150W and finally for TBP was Arrayan. Regardless of the hybrid used and the sowing season, production of maize depended on external factors such as maximum temperature and rainfall; therefore, producers need to consider sowing in spring to avoid the negative effect of high temperatures on plant development.

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“…These traits are highly inheritable (Duarte et al, 2005), but their expression level can be altered by crop growing conditions, especially during the grain-filling period (Cirilo et al, 2011;Tamagno et al, 2016). The incidence of such abiotic constraint, which is expected to become more frequent with global warming (Eyshi Rezaei et al, 2015), can provoke large grain yield losses (i.e., heat stress; Wahid et al, 2007) through kernel abortion (Rattalino Edreira et al, 2011) and/or cessation of kernel growth Rattalino Edreira et al, 2014). The incidence of such abiotic constraint, which is expected to become more frequent with global warming (Eyshi Rezaei et al, 2015), can provoke large grain yield losses (i.e., heat stress; Wahid et al, 2007) through kernel abortion (Rattalino Edreira et al, 2011) and/or cessation of kernel growth Rattalino Edreira et al, 2014).…”

Section: Kernel Hardness-related Traits In Response To Heat Stress Dumentioning

confidence: 99%

Kernel Hardness‐Related Traits in Response to Heat Stress during the Grain‐Filling Period of Maize Crops

2019

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Postflowering heat stress causes the arrest of kernel growth, increasing kernel protein concentration and the relative abundance of γ‐zeins, two biochemical traits contributing to maize (Zea mays L.) hardness. The impact of early and late postflowering heat stress on kernel physical traits related to hardness was studied on field‐grown maize hybrids differing in their prevailing endosperm texture (two hybrids with a vitreous texture, and two others with a floury texture). Kernel texture was softened by heat stress (P < 0.001), as indicated by decreases in traits that are usually positively related to hardness (thousand‐kernel weight [up to 185 g], proportion of large kernels [up to 50–65 percentage points], kernel or bulk density [up to 7 kg hL−1] and milling ratio [up to 1 g g−1]) and increases in those usually negatively related (proportion of the smaller kernels and floater percentage [up to 30 and 75 percentage points, respectively]). Most of these effects were larger (P < 0.01), as heat stress occurred earlier in the grain‐filling period. Kernel physical traits of the genotypes with a predominantly floury texture varied the most (P < 0.05) in response to heat stress. Genotypic and environmental variation effects in most hardness‐related traits could be accounted for by kernel density (r2 = 0.74–0.87) or bulk density (r2 = 0.79–0.93). Sowing date and genotype selections should be considered as crop management practices for reducing or preventing the potential impact of heat stress on maize hardness.

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Heat stress in temperate and tropical maize hybrids: Kernel growth, water relations and assimilate availability for grain filling

Cited by 66 publications

References 75 publications

Contribution of Reserves to Kernel Weight and Grain Yield Determination in Maize: Phenotypic and Genotypic Variation

Contribution of Reserves to Kernel Weight and Grain Yield Determination in Maize: Phenotypic and Genotypic Variation

Yield of forage, grain and biomass in eight hybrids of maize with different sowing dates and environmental conditions

Kernel Hardness‐Related Traits in Response to Heat Stress during the Grain‐Filling Period of Maize Crops

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