Kernel Number Prediction in Maize under Nitrogen or Water Stress

Abstract

Final kernel number in maize (Zea mays L.) is closely associated with the physiological condition of the crop during the critical period bracketing silking. The objective of this study was to determine whether there is a common underlying relationship between kernel number per plant (KNP) and plant growth rate (PGR) during that critical period when plant growth varies because of different abiotic stresses. A relationship between KNP and PGR obtained from a previous study of variation in plant density and incident radiation was used as reference. KNP and PGR were measured in experiments in which incident radiation per plant, nitrogen (N), and water availabilities were the experimental sources of variation. The equation fitted to the data obtained at different radiation levels explained 72% of the variation in the data obtained at different levels of N or water availability. Moreover, different models for each set of data did not provide a significantly better fit than a single model for the two sets of data combined. A common relationship between KNP and PGR was also obtained when N supply and water availability were variable. The relationship between KNP and PGR obtained for treatments in which PGR was varied through plant density and shading also could predict KNP for conditions in which PGR was affected by water and/or N deficiencies. The PGR during the critical period of kernel set is a good predictor of the capacity of the maize plant to set kernels under a wide range of environmental and management practices.

Corn Yield Response to Reduced Water Use at Different Growth Stages

“…Kernel growth and development in corn is highly dependent on assimilate supply from concurrent photosynthesis, supplemented with remobilized stem carbohydrate reserves during grain fill [11] [12]. Although the A measurements in this study were conducted at the vegetative growth stage, we could perhaps relate the reduction in A to the reduction in grain yield at the different soil moisture treatments and growth stages.…”

“…A major effect of soil moisture reduction in plants is reduction in photosynthesis [8]- [10]. Kernel growth and development in corn is highly dependent on assimilate supply from concurrent photosynthesis, supplemented with remobilized stem carbohydrate reserves during grain fill [11] [12]. Responses of photosynthesis and photosynthetic pigments content (chlorophyll and carotenoids), chlorophyll fluorescence, relative water content and other physiological parameters are often used to determine the effects of soil moisture stress in plants [13]- [15].…”

Performance of maize (<i>Zea mays</i>) cultivars as influenced by grade and application rate of Organo-mineral fertiliser in a transitory rain forest

“…It could be suggested that the high concentration of soil nitrogen contained in site A (2014) could have resulted in significantly higher assimilatory surface observed. Nitrogen deficiency had been implicated in leaf growth, activity of Ribulosebiphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase and the rate of hormone synthesis (Andrade et al, 2002;Jones and Setter, 2000). Potassium had also been implicated in reduced stalk lodging, increased stomatal conductance, increased photosynthetic capacity, protein uptake of K/NO3 ion and turgor pressure (Pettigrew, 2008).…”

Seleksi Genotipe Jagung Hibrida Toleran N Rendah

“…Jumlah biji per tongkol dan bobot 1.000 biji menyebabkan perbedaan indeks toleran antar genotipe. Salah satu penyebab perbedaan hasil biji jagung yang defisiensi N, karena perbedaan jumlah biji dan bobot biji (Andrade et al, 2002;D'Andrea et al, 2008;Moser et al, 2006;Oikeh et al, 1998). Jumlah biji per tongkol yang lebih banyak pada genotipe yang sama menunjukkan penyerbukan lebih baik, sedangkan bobot biji yang lebih tinggi menunjukkan transfer hasil fotosintesis ke biji juga lebih baik.…”