Optimizing ear-plant height ratio to improve kernel number and lodging resistance in maize (Zea mays L.)

Zhao, Yating; Zhang, Shuai; Lv, Yanjie; Ning, Fangfang; Cao, Yibing; Shu-hua, Liao; Pu, Wang; Huang, Shoubing

doi:10.1016/j.fcr.2021.108376

Cited by 19 publications

(8 citation statements)

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“…The low plant height reduced the assimilate competition between stem elongation and ear growth; therefore, more assimilates were allocated to the ear and kernel formation was promoted (Figure 3i; Borrás & Vitantonio‐Mazzini, 2018; Mueller et al, 2019), which was confirmed by the 13 C isotope analysis results (Figures 1e and 3e,f). Similar findings were obtained in studies of plant growth retardation (Zhao et al, 2021, 2022), that is, application of exogenous ethephon after ear differentiation reduced stem internode length and increased GN (Zhao et al, 2021, 2022). Moreover, hydraulic tolerance enhances the possibility of xylem embolism with increased plant height (Olson et al, 2018).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

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Abscisic acid collaborates with lignin and flavonoid to improve pre‐silking drought tolerance by tuning stem elongation and ear development in maize (Zea mays L.)

Gao

Zhang

et al. 2023

The Plant Journal

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SUMMARY Drought is a major abiotic stress reducing maize (Zea mays) yield worldwide especially before and during silking. The mechanism underlying drought tolerance in maize and the roles of different organs have not been elucidated. Hence, we conducted field trials under pre‐silking drought conditions using two maize genotypes: FM985 (drought‐tolerant) and ZD958 (drought‐sensitive). The two genotypes did not differ in plant height, grain number, and yield under control conditions. However, the grain number per ear and the yield of FM985 were 38.1 and 35.1% higher and plants were 17.6% shorter than ZD958 under drought conditions. More 13C photosynthates were transported to the ear in FM985 than in ZD958, which increased floret fertility and grain number. The number of differentially expressed genes was much higher in stem than in other organs. Stem–ear interactions are key determinants of drought tolerance, in which expression of genes related to abscisic acid, lignin, and flavonoid biosynthesis and carbon metabolism in the stem was induced by drought, which inhibited stem elongation and promoted assimilate allocation to the ear in FM985. In comparison with ZD958, the activities of trehalose 6‐phosphate phosphatase and sucrose non‐fermentation‐associated kinase 1 were higher in the stem and lower in the kernel of FM985, which facilitated kernel formation. These results reveal that, beyond the ear response, stem elongation is involved in the whole process of drought tolerance before silking. Abscisic acid together with trehalose 6‐phosphate, lignin, and flavonoid suppresses stem elongation and allocates assimilates into the ear, providing a novel and systematic regulatory pathway for drought tolerance in maize.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

“…Ear growth and stem elongation compete fiercely for assimilates from the jointing to the silking stage (Gonzalez et al, 2019;Wang et al, 2018). The balance between ear growth and stem elongation is a key determinant of maize yield under drought conditions (Borrás & Vitantonio-Mazzini, 2018;Zhao et al, 2021Zhao et al, , 2022.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Abscisic acid collaborates with lignin and flavonoid to improve pre‐silking drought tolerance by tuning stem elongation and ear development in maize (Zea mays L.)

Gao

Zhang

et al. 2023

The Plant Journal

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“…Generally, female floret initiations start from 8 th - to 13 th - leaf stage ( Gonzalez et al., 2019 ), EC applications at the early growth stage (V8) possibly inhibit or damage floret initiation, thus decreasing KN per ear ( Zhao et al., 2022 ). In this study, the decrease in SE also revealed that floret differentiation was inhibited by the EC treatment ( Figure 3 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A commercial PGR product, “Jindele”, a mixture of ethephon and cycocel (EC), is widely employed to enhance the lodging resistance of maize in China ( Zhao et al., 2022 ). This two-year field experiment with spraying EC at different planting densities was conducted to determine (I) if the balance of NSC and SC in stems is responsible for kernel number and yield and (II) whether NSC, sink activity, and polyamine changes in grains are correlated with kernel number and yield.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reduced stem nonstructural carbohydrates caused by plant growth retardant had adverse effects on maize yield under low density

Qian

Ren

et al. 2022

Front. Plant Sci.

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Enhancing maize lodging resistance with plant growth retardants (PGRs) is common in maize production. However, the underlying mechanisms of yield formation as affected by PGRs are still poorly understood. A field experiment contained PGR application (a mixture of ethephon and cycocel, EC) with normal (T1) and double (T2) doses and water control (CK) was conducted at four maize plant densities (4.5, 6.0, 7.5, and 9.0 plants m−2) in 2020 and 2021. In this two-year study, the grain yield and kernel number per ear (KNE) of EC treatments were reduced by 4.8–9.0% and 3.3–12.2%, respectively, compared with CK under densities of 4.5, 6.0, and 7.5 plants m−2 without lodging. However, under the density of 9.0 plants m−2, EC treatments had no pronounced effects on grain yield and yield components. Across all densities, EC significantly decreased the leaf area index (LAI), and the lowest LAI was recorded in T2. The concentrations of nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs; starch and soluble sugar) in the stem were significantly decreased by 9.9–10.2% in T2 averaged all densities. The sucrose and starch concentrations in grains also declined in the EC treatments. The key enzymes (cell wall acid invertase, sucrose synthase, and adenosine diphosphate pyrophosphorylase) and grain polyamine concentrations showed a slight downward trend under EC treatments compared to CK. NSCs in stems and grains, kernel enzyme activities, and polyamines in grains presented significant positive correlations with KNE. Additionally, structural carbohydrate (SC; including cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin) concentrations in stems were improved with enhanced lodging resistance by spraying EC. Significant negative relationships were observed between SC with kernel number m-2 (KNM) and yield, suggesting that improved SC in stems might affect the availability of NSCs for kernel set. Although the lowest kernel weight and KNE were obtained at 9.0 plant m−2, relatively high LAI still ensured high KNM and high yield. Collectively, EC treatment increased SC in stems, enhanced lodging resistance of maize and reduced NSC availability for kernels, ultimately presenting adverse effects on maize kernel number and yield under relative low density.

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“…13 C labeling, together with transcript analysis revealed that the inhibited stem elongation and promoted assimilate allocation to the ear in the tolerant hybrid were induced by signals including ABA and T6P in the stem ( Gao et al., 2023 ). Exogenous application of plant growth regulators, such as ethephon and cycocel at the V15 stage of maize hybrids was proved to reduce internode length and facilitate assimilate partitioning to the ear, which in turn increases the final yield ( Zhao et al., 2022 ). In general, as evidenced by the first green revolution, it is still an important way to increase yield and resistance by reducing or reactivating stem carbohydrates and increasing ovary or grain allocation during the critical growth period.…”

Section: Optimizing Plant C Economy For Both Yield and Resiliencementioning

confidence: 99%

Coordination of carbon assimilation, allocation, and utilization for systemic improvement of cereal yield

Liang,

Gao,

et al. 2023

Front. Plant Sci.

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The growth of yield outputs is dwindling after the first green revolution, which cannot meet the demand for the projected population increase by the mid-century, especially with the constant threat from extreme climates. Cereal yield requires carbon (C) assimilation in the source for subsequent allocation and utilization in the sink. However, whether the source or sink limits yield improvement, a crucial question for strategic orientation in future breeding and cultivation, is still under debate. To narrow the knowledge gap and capture the progress, we focus on maize, rice, and wheat by briefly reviewing recent advances in yield improvement by modulation of i) leaf photosynthesis; ii) primary C allocation, phloem loading, and unloading; iii) C utilization and grain storage; and iv) systemic sugar signals (e.g., trehalose 6-phosphate). We highlight strategies for optimizing C allocation and utilization to coordinate the source–sink relationships and promote yields. Finally, based on the understanding of these physiological mechanisms, we envisage a future scenery of “smart crop” consisting of flexible coordination of plant C economy, with the goal of yield improvement and resilience in the field population of cereals crops.

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Optimizing ear-plant height ratio to improve kernel number and lodging resistance in maize (Zea mays L.)

Cited by 19 publications

References 50 publications

Abscisic acid collaborates with lignin and flavonoid to improve pre‐silking drought tolerance by tuning stem elongation and ear development in maize (Zea mays L.)

Abscisic acid collaborates with lignin and flavonoid to improve pre‐silking drought tolerance by tuning stem elongation and ear development in maize (Zea mays L.)

Reduced stem nonstructural carbohydrates caused by plant growth retardant had adverse effects on maize yield under low density

Coordination of carbon assimilation, allocation, and utilization for systemic improvement of cereal yield

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