Relationship of Maize Characters with Yield in Testcrosses of Inbreds at Different Plant Densities¹

Abstract

The objective was to study the effects of different plant stand densities on the relationships of important plant and ear characters to grain yield for testcrosses of maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines. The inbred lines, in the F5 generation and originating from M14xC103, were evaluated in two groups, based on high and low hybrid performance in an earlier study. Our study was done in six environments with low, intermediate, and high stand densities in each environment. At the low density only plant and ear heights were correlated significantly with yield; at the intermediate density ear diameter and shelling percentage, in addition to plant and ear heights, were correlated significantly with yield; at the high density all characters except 300‐kernel weights and dates of pollen shed and silk emergence were correlated significantly with yield.

Response of Maize Grown Under High Plant Density; Performance, Issues and Management - A Critical Review

“…According to morphology plant height is very important factor which is affected by plant density. Plant height is not correlated with root lodging but it is was significantly correlated with grain yield [46,47].…”

Changes in physiological traits associated with grain yield improvement in single-cross maize hybrids from 1930 to 1970

“…Tanaka and Yamaguchi (1972) previously concluded that sink size as determined by number of kernels per unit field area was a limitation to increased grain yields. Significant correlations between sink strength and grain yield also have been reported by El-Lakany and Russell (1971), Obilana and Hallauer (1974), Hallauer (1971), Crosbie et al (1978a) and Crosbie and Mock (1980). Different sink strength traits were correlated with grain yield in dif ferent maize populations, however.…”

“…Therefore, although initia tion of ears may not have been a limitation to increased yields after the 1930 decade, the linear increase in the number of plants with ears which were filling grain to physiological maturity has contributed to increased sink strength of the crop stand and to higher grain yield, A review of the literature suggested that the relation ship between yield and plant and/or ear height was unclear (El-Lakany and Russell, 1971;Hallauer, 1971;Vera and Crane, 1970;Acosta and Crane, 1972). In this study, plant height increased linearly across decades with a significant differ ence of 18.5 cm between the 1930 and 1970 decades (Table 18).…”

Morphological and physiological traits associated with barrenness and grain yield in the maize breeding population, Iowa Upright Leaf Synthetic #1

“…Additionally, Kohnke and Miles (1951) reported that silking was delayed approximately one day for every increase of 7,000 -8,000 plants/ha. Maize hybrids intolerant of high plant densities have a longer delay in silk emergence than those that are tolerant (Moss and Stinson, 1961;Schwanke, 1965;Earley et al, 1967;Meyer, 1970;Buren, 1970;El-Lakany and Russell, 1971;Mock and Buren, 1972;Buren et al, (1974);Fakorede, 1977).…”