Plant Density and Nitrogen Supply Affect the Grain-Filling Parameters of Maize Kernels Located in Different Ear Positions

Wei, Shanshan; Wang, Xiangyu; Li, Guanghao; Ying-ying, Qin; Jiang, Dong; Dong, Shuting

doi:10.3389/fpls.2019.00180

Cited by 49 publications

(56 citation statements)

References 51 publications

(62 reference statements)

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“…Maize grain yield (GY) is determined by the kernel number per unit area (KNA) and the kernel weight (KW). KNA depends on the accumulation of ear biomass around flowering and the biomass using efficiency for kernel setting (Borras and Vitantonio-Mazzini, 2018), while KW relies on the grain filling rate and filling duration (Wei et al, 2019). Consequently, great biomass accumulation around and post silking is of key importance to maize yield improvement (Muchow, 1988; Borras et al, 2004; Ding et al, 2005; Lee and Tollenaar, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Studies on the interaction effects of density and N rate on maize crops have been widely performed via detailed physiological analyses (Muchow, 1988, Muchow, 1994; Rossini et al, 2011), mainly focusing on response of GY to its components (KNA and KW) or nutrient accumulation and allocation dynamics (Boomsma et al, 2009; Ciampitti and Vyn, 2011; Ciampitti et al, 2013a, Ciampitti et al, 2013b; Wei et al, 2019). To the best of our knowledge, however, there have been no reports of the joint influence of density and N supply on CAP and labeled photosynthate reallocation in maize plants.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Maize Canopy Apparent Photosynthesis and 13C-Photosynthate Reallocation in Response to Different Density and N Rate Combinations

Wei

Wang

et al. 2019

Front. Plant Sci.

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Appropriate planting density and nitrogen (N) supply are critical factors optimizing yield in crop cultivation. To advance the knowledge of maize plants under different density and N rate combinations, responses of canopy apparent photosynthesis (CAP), and assimilate redistribution characters (by 13CO2 stable isotope tracing) were investigated. In this study, two maize varieties DH618 and DH605 were grown at various planting densities (6.75, 8.25, 9.75, and 11.25 pl m−2) and N application rates (0, 180, 270, 360, and 540 kg ha−1) during 2013–2015. Maize grain yield (GY) was maximized at a density of 9.75 pl m−2 with 180–360 kg ha−1 N during the three study years. Maize GY, biomass, CAP, leaf area index (LAI), and 13C-photosynthate reallocation all responded more intensively to density than N rate, but the N response differed between varieties. We established links among CAP, LAI and biomass, and GY and kernel number per unit area (KNA). CAP depended on high LAI and enzyme activities for photosynthesis, yet both N deficiency and N excess had inhibitory effects. Besides, relations between 13C-photosynthate reallocation and yield components were executed. High density increased the 13C-photosynthate distribution in vegetative organs but reduced the allocation in ear, while N supply moderated the response. Based on our results, maize plants with greater CAP, more 13C-photosynthate distribution to ears, and less 13C-photosynthate distribution to stems under different density and N rate combinations could improve KNA and achieve a greater GY consequently.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maize Canopy Apparent Photosynthesis and 13C-Photosynthate Reallocation in Response to Different Density and N Rate Combinations

Wei

Wang

et al. 2019

Front. Plant Sci.

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“…Grain filling is an important process in determining grain yield that can explain yield changes, which influenced by agricultural management, such as N input and planting density ( Xu et al, 2013 ; Wei et al, 2017 , 2019 ). An appropriate increase in N application could improve the photosynthate supply and matter transport from vegetative to reproductive organs, contributing to the grain-filling rate, grain-filling phase and grain yield under high-density planting conditions ( He et al, 2005 ; Ciampitti and Vyn, 2012 ; Hou et al, 2012 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nitrogen Supply Regulates Vascular Bundle Structure and Matter Transport Characteristics of Spring Maize Under High Plant Density

et al. 2021

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Nitrogen (N) fertilizer application greatly enhances grain yield by improving dry matter accumulation and grain filling in spring maize. However, how N application rates regulate the vascular bundle structure, matter transport and grain filling of spring maize under a high planting density has been poorly understood thus far. In this study, we analyzed the relationship between grain filling, vascular bundle structure and matter transport efficiency (MTE) of spring maize in the field. Zhongdan909 (ZD909) was used as the experimental material in a 2-year field experiment from 2015 to 2016, and it was grown under different N levels (0, 150, and 300 kg N ha–1) applied to the grain-filling stage of plots with planting densities of 67,500 plants ha–1 (ND) and 90,000 plants ha–1 (HD). Nitrogen application significantly optimized the structure of the big and small vascular bundles. In particular, there was an increase in the total number of small vascular bundles in the peduncle and cob of the ear system, i.e., increases of 51.8% and 25.7%, respectively, and the proportions of small vascular bundles to the total number of vascular bundles in the peduncle and cob were significantly increased. The root bleeding sap and MTE of maize were significantly increased by N application under both ND and HD, as indicated by the significant increase in the rate of 13C-photosynthate allocation to grain and amount of postsilking dry matter at maturity. Moreover, N application greatly improved the mean grain-filling rate (Gmean) under ND and HD by 30.0% and 36.1%, respectively, and the grain-filling rate increased, leading to a distinct improvement in the grain sink at the grain-filling stage. We concluded that nitrogen application significantly optimized the vascular bundle structure of the ear system, increased the MTE and improved photosynthate distribution to the grain, ultimately enhancing the filling rate and grain yield.

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“…(2015) and Wei et al. (2019) stated that a more intensive plant density results in a decreasing number of kernels per row, a lower number of grains per ear, a lower grain weight per ear, and a lower 1,000‐grain weight, meaning that the grain proportion is reduced. Therefore, increasing plant density changes the ratio of vegetative organs to grains, thus reducing the forage quality (Kong, 2008; Li, 2018; Yu et al., 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The optimal plant density of maize for dairy cow forage production

Han

Liu

et al. 2020

Agronomy Journal

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Whole maize (Zea mays L.) plant (WMP) silage is an important feed for dairy cows. In northern China, yields and feed quality are adjusted by modifying the planting density. This paper is the result of a 2-yr field study aimed at determining the effects of plant density on maize silage yield and quality. Five planting densities (52,500, 60,000, 67,500, 75,000, and 82,500 plants ha −1 ) were used. The results showed that plant height and leaf area increased, while stem diameter, chlorophyll, and leaf area per plant decreased with increasing plant density. Both the biomass yield, expressed as the dry matter (DM) per ha, and the utilizable energy yield improved when the density was increased from 67,500 to 75,000 plants ha −1 , but increasing the density further reduced these values. The highest observed DM were 17,734 kg ha −1 and 17,055 kg ha −1 , and total net energy for lactation (NE L ) were 104.1 GJ ha −1 and 97.0 GJ ha −1 in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Feeding quality generally decreased with increasing plant density. The plant density which obtained the highest biomass yield was not the same as the plant density for optimizing feeding production. Compared with the highest predicted DM yields, the highest predicted total NE L yields increased the grading index by 4-9%, which indicated an improvement in forage quality. Total NE L yield is more efficient for the purpose of evaluating the productivity of WMP forage than biomass yield.

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Plant Density and Nitrogen Supply Affect the Grain-Filling Parameters of Maize Kernels Located in Different Ear Positions

Cited by 49 publications

References 51 publications

Maize Canopy Apparent Photosynthesis and 13C-Photosynthate Reallocation in Response to Different Density and N Rate Combinations

Maize Canopy Apparent Photosynthesis and 13C-Photosynthate Reallocation in Response to Different Density and N Rate Combinations

Nitrogen Supply Regulates Vascular Bundle Structure and Matter Transport Characteristics of Spring Maize Under High Plant Density

The optimal plant density of maize for dairy cow forage production

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