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Acta Agron Sin ›› 2011, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (09): 1605-1615.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1006.2011.01605

• TILLAGE & CULTIVATION·PHYSIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Mechanism of Maize Kernel Setting and Characteristics of Kernel Growth and Development Studied by Controlling Pollination

FENG Han-Yu,WANG Zhi-Min,KONG Fan-Na,ZHANG Min-Jie,ZHOU Shun-Li*   

  1. Key Laboratory of Farming System, Ministry of Agriculture / College of Agronomy & Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
  • Received:2011-02-11 Revised:2011-04-27 Online:2011-09-12 Published:2011-06-28
  • Contact: 周顺利, E-mail: zhoushl@cau.edu.cn

Abstract: In order to clarify the characteristics of kernel growth and development within different maize ear regions and their relationships, the changes of kernel weight and kernel volume of fertilized ovaries, and their relationships with kernel setting rate of three maize cultivars were studied by three types of controlling pollination, including no-pollination within middle or basal region of ear (type I), no-pollination of whole row filaments of ear (type II) and preferred pollination of apical-middle filaments of ear (type III). The results showed that the weight and volume of apical kernel were improved and developed normally, but the ear kernel number and ear kernel weight decreased by applying the controlling pollination. For the apical kernel of type I, there were no significant differences in weight and volume compared with the middle or basal kernel of the treatment of complete pollination at the same time and the treatment of natural pollination, but the weight and volume of the apical kernel was the smallest in a maize ear. The kernel setting rate was improved in type II and type III. Correlation analysis showed that grain dry weight and volume were significantly positively correlated with kernel setting rate at P<0.01 in type II but significantly negatively at P<0.05 in type III. These data indicate that the apical kernel of maize ear can develop normally and its kernel weight also can be regulated, the shortage of nutrient supply may be the fundamental reason of the abortion and lower weight of apical kernels, and it is an effective practice to improve ear kernel weight by enlarging the source and sink.

Key words: Maize, Controlling pollination, Kernel abortion, Kernel weight, Kernel setting rate

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