Welcome to Acta Agronomica Sinica,

Acta Agron Sin ›› 2013, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (05): 912-918.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1006.2013.00912

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

Relationship of Ear Differentiation with Kernel Development and Barrenness in Maize (Zea mays L.)

MENG Jia-Jia,DONG Shu-Ting*,SHI De-Yang,ZHANG Hai-Yan   

  1. Key Laboratory of Crop Biology of China / Agronomy College of Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
  • Received:2012-09-03 Revised:2012-12-10 Online:2013-05-12 Published:2013-01-28
  • Contact: 董树亭, E-mail: stdong@sdau.edu.cn, Tel: 0538-8245838

Abstract:

Two cultivars ZD958 and DH661 were used to analyze the effect of different planting densities (45 000 plant ha-1, 75 000 plant ha-1, 10 5000 plant ha-1) on kernel development and barrenness in maize (Zea mays L.). The results showed that increasing plant density had little effects on the time of ear primordia differentiation (the ear primordia presented at 28–29 days after sowing under different densities) and the total number of floret primordia during silking. However, the differentiation of ear was postponed under high density, the number of abortive florets and unfertilized florets increased with the increase of plant density. Compared with low-density, the high density reduced number of normal florets per ear by 100.0 for DH661 and by 76.4 for ZD958. Additionally, the anthesis-silking interval (ASI) was elongated, the ratio of the silked-plants was decreased (ratio of DH661 was 93.64% and that of ZD958 was 81.80% under high density), the time of silking was delayed, the number of silked florets per ear was reduced and the pollen shedding duration was shortened with increasing plant density, which results in the increment of abortion after fertilization. Interestingly, kernel abortion would also occur during grain-filling, especially in 10 days after anthesis. The kernel number per ear had a positive correlation with the bottom transmittance at silking, 10 d after silking and 20 d after silking, while the ratio of abortive floret was negatively correlated with the bottom transmittance before flowering significantly.

Key words: Ear differentiation, Kernel, Abortion, Density, Maize

[1]Zhao J-H(赵建华), Qiu R-X(邱容侠). Affecting factors for maize seed and its characteristics changes in abortive procession. J Shanxi Agric Sci (山西农业科学), 2002, 30(3): 10–13 (in Chinese with English abstract)



[2]Hanft J M, Jones R J. Kernel abortion in maize I. Carbohydrate concentration patterns and acid invertase activity of maize kernels induced to abort in vitro. Plant Physiol, 1986, 81: 503–510



[3]Shen L-X(申丽霞), Wang P(王璞), Zhang R-B(张软斌). Effect of nitrogen supply on yield and grain filling in summer maize with different crop density. Plant Nutr Fert Sci (植物营养与肥料学报), 2005, 11(3): 314–319 (in Chinese with English abstract)



[4]Wang Z-X(王忠孝), Gao X-C(高学曾), Xu J-F(许金芳), Liu Y-J(刘玉敬), Luo Y-N(罗瑶年). A study on the grain abortion of maize (Zea mays L.). Sci Agric Sin (中国农业科学), 1986, (6): 36–40 (in Chinese with English abstract) 



[5]Zhang F-L(张凤路), Cui Y-H(崔彦宏), Wang Z-M(王志敏), Zhao M(赵明), Wang S-A(王树安), Zhao J-R(赵久然), Guo J-L(郭景伦). Studies on the relation between pedicel vascular development and maize kernel abortion. J Agric Univ Hebei (河北农业大学学报), 1999, 22(1): 16–19 (in Chinese with English abstract)



[6]Zhang F-L(张凤路), Wang Z-M(王志敏), Zhao M(赵明), Wang S-A(王树安), Zhao J-R(赵久然), Guo J-L(郭景伦). Changes of Phytohormones during the period of maize kernel abortion. J China Agric Univ (中国农业大学学报), 1999, 4(3): 1–4 (in Chinese with English abstract)



[7]Feng H Y, Wang Z M, Kong F N, Zhang M J, Zhou S L. Roles of carbohydrate supply and ethylene, polyamines in maize kernel set. J Integr Plant Biol, 2011, 53: 388–398



[8]Setter T L, Parra R. Relationship of carbohydrate and abscisic acid levels to kernel set in maize under postpollination water deficit. Crop Sci, 2010, 50: 980–988



[9]Tian H-Y(田海云), Yin Z-R(尹枝瑞), Li W-Y(李维岳). Studies on the development of kernel and its relationship to the cultivation conditions. Jilin Agric Sci (吉林农业科学), 1981, (3): 22–26 (in Chinese)



[10]Zhang X-M(张秀梅), Ren H-P(任和平), Yang T-Z(杨铁钊). The relationship between the time of tip kernel abortion of corn ears and sugar content in the kernels. J Henan Agric Coll (河南农学院学报), 1984, (3): 15–24 (in Chinese with English abstract)



[11]Zhao J-R(赵久然), Chen G-P(陈国平). Effect of shading treatment at different stages of plant development on grain production of corn (Zea mays L.) and observations of tip kernel abortion. Sci Agric Sin (中国农业科学), 1990, 23(4): 28–34 (in Chinese with English abstract)



[12]Zhang F-L(张凤路), Cui Y-H(崔彦宏), Wang Z-M(王志敏), Zhao M(赵明), Wang S-A(王树安), Zhao J-R(赵久然), Guo J-L(郭景伦). Studies on energy metabolism of kernels during the period of maize kernel abortion. J Agric Univ Hebei (河北农业大学学报), 2000, 23(3): 9–12 (in Chinese with English abstract)



[13]Liu L-Y(刘立岩). Influence of ethylene on maize kernel development and SAI under the condition of culture in vitro. J Maize Sci (玉米科学), 2012, 20(1): 100-103 (in Chinese with English abstract)



[14]Zhang H-Y(张海艳). Study on kernel position effects during kernel development in maize. J Maize Sci (玉米科学), 2010, 18(4): 93–95 (in Chinese with English abstract)



[15]Li F-Y(李凤云), Sun B-P(孙本普), Li X-Y(李秀云). A study on the ear differentiation of the early maturing corn. J Anhui Agric Sci (安徽农业科学), 2006, 34(18): 4549–4553 (in Chinese)



[16]Tang Q-L(唐祈林), Rong T-Z(荣廷昭), Hang Y-B(黄玉碧). The study of barren ear tip in maize: II. The growth rhythm of flower and kernel in different region of maize ear. J Sichuan Agric Univ (四川农业大学学报), 1999, 17(2): 162–166 (in Chinese with English abstract)



[17]Zhang S(张胜), Zhang R-S(张润生), Ren Y-Z(任有志), Gao X(高翔), Wang X(王鑫). The influence of sowing time on developing process and spike differentiation of sweet corn. J Inner Mongolia Instit Agric & Anim Husb (内蒙古农牧学院学报), 1997, 18(2): 21–25 (in Chinese with English abstract)



[18]Song B(宋碧), An W(安伟), Yuan C-L(袁朝兰), Meng J-P(孟加品). Study on relationship between the leaf born and spike differentiation for both spring and summer sowed maize varieties. Hubei Agric Sci (湖北农业科学), 2011, 50(21): 4343–4347 (in Chinese with English abstract)



[19]Dong H-F(董红芬), Li H(李洪), Li A-J(李爱军), Yan X-G(阎晓光). Relationship between spike and stem growth and female spike differentiation under different densities. J Maize Sci (玉米科学), 2010, 18(5): 65–71 (in Chinese with English abstract)



[20]Sass J E, Loeffel F A. Development of axillary buds in maize in relation to barrenness. Agron J, 1959, 51: 484–486



[21]Guo X-H(郭晓华). The general reasons for floret and seed abortion and their relationship with yield in corn. J Liaoning Agric Sci (辽宁农业科学), 1988, (3): 12–17 (in Chinese with English abstract)



[22]Lemcoff J H, Loomis R S. Nitrogen and density influences on silk emergence, endosperm development, and grain yield in maize (Zea mays L.). Field Crops Res, 1994, 38: 63–72



[23]Guo X-H(郭晓华). Studies on regulating effects of ecological factors of the yield-related traits in maize. Chin J Ecol (生态学杂志), 2000, 19(1): 6–11 (in Chinese with English abstract)



[24]Fan Y-J(范杰英), Wang Y(王昱), Jiang X-L(姜晓莉), Zhang S-Z(张世忠). The mechanism and effect of the early ageing and kernel abortion of corn leaves. J Anhui Agric Sci (安徽农业科学), 2011, 39(3): 1330–1332 (in Chinese with English abstract)



[25]Iremiren G O, Milbourn G M. Effect of plant density on ear barrenness in maize. Exp Agric, 1980, 16: 321–326



[26]Wilson J H. Effect of plant population on ear differentiation and growth in maize. Ann Appl Biol, 1978, 90: 127–132



[27]Li C-Q(李春奇), Zheng H-M(郑慧敏), Li Y(李芸), Li C-H(李潮海). Effect of planting density on the yield and development of maize ear. Sci Agric Sin (中国农业科学), 2010, 43(12): 2435–2442 (in Chinese with English abstract)



[28]Bolaños J, Edmeade G O. Eight cycled selection for drought tolerance in lowland tropical maize: I. Responses in grain yield, biomass, and radiation utilization. Field Crops Res, 1993, 31: 233–252



[29]Earley E B, Seif R D, Hageman R H, Miller R J. Effect of shade on maize production under field conditions. Crop Sci, 1966, 6: 1–6



[30]Stringfield G H, Thatcher L E. Stands and methods of planting for corn hybrids. Agron J, 1947, 39: 995–1010



[31]Edmeades G O, Danynard T B. The relationship between final yield and photosynthesis at flowering in individual maize plants. Can J Plant Sci, 1979, 59: 585–601



[32]Tollenaar M, Dwyer L M, Stewart D W. Ear and kernel formation in maize hybrids representing three decades of grain yield improvement in Ontario. Crop Sci, 1992, 32: 432–438



[33]Otegui M E. Kernel set and flower synchrony within the ear of maize: II. Plant population effects. Crop Sci, 1997, 37: 448–455



[34]Ottman M J, Welch L F. Supplemental radiation effects on senescence, plant nutrients, and yield of field-growth corn. Agron J, 1988, 80: 619–626



[35]Jones R J, Simmons S R. Effect of altered source-sink ratio on growth of maize kernels. Crop Sci, 1983, 23: 129–134



[36]Otegui M E, Nicolini M G, Ruiz R A, Dodds P A. Sowing date effects on grain yield components for different maize genotypes. Agron J, 1995, 87: 29–33



[37]Camberato J J, Kamprath E J, Moll R H, Jackson W A. Apical and subapical earshoot development of prolific maize hybrids (Zea mays L.): The role of nitrogen. Maydica, 1989, 34: 309–317



[38]Edmeades G O, Bolaños J, Hernandez M, Bello S. Causes for silk delay in a lowland tropical maize population. Crop Sci, 1993, 33: 1029–1035
[1] WANG Dan, ZHOU Bao-Yuan, MA Wei, GE Jun-Zhu, DING Zai-Song, LI Cong-Feng, ZHAO Ming. Characteristics of the annual distribution and utilization of climate resource for double maize cropping system in the middle reaches of Yangtze River [J]. Acta Agronomica Sinica, 2022, 48(6): 1437-1450.
[2] YANG Huan, ZHOU Ying, CHEN Ping, DU Qing, ZHENG Ben-Chuan, PU Tian, WEN Jing, YANG Wen-Yu, YONG Tai-Wen. Effects of nutrient uptake and utilization on yield of maize-legume strip intercropping system [J]. Acta Agronomica Sinica, 2022, 48(6): 1476-1487.
[3] CHEN Jing, REN Bai-Zhao, ZHAO Bin, LIU Peng, ZHANG Ji-Wang. Regulation of leaf-spraying glycine betaine on yield formation and antioxidation of summer maize sowed in different dates [J]. Acta Agronomica Sinica, 2022, 48(6): 1502-1515.
[4] SHAN Lu-Ying, LI Jun, LI Liang, ZHANG Li, WANG Hao-Qian, GAO Jia-Qi, WU Gang, WU Yu-Hua, ZHANG Xiu-Jie. Development of genetically modified maize (Zea mays L.) NK603 matrix reference materials [J]. Acta Agronomica Sinica, 2022, 48(5): 1059-1070.
[5] XU Jing, GAO Jing-Yang, LI Cheng-Cheng, SONG Yun-Xia, DONG Chao-Pei, WANG Zhao, LI Yun-Meng, LUAN Yi-Fan, CHEN Jia-Fa, ZHOU Zi-Jian, WU Jian-Yu. Overexpression of ZmCIPKHT enhances heat tolerance in plant [J]. Acta Agronomica Sinica, 2022, 48(4): 851-859.
[6] LIU Lei, ZHAN Wei-Min, DING Wu-Si, LIU Tong, CUI Lian-Hua, JIANG Liang-Liang, ZHANG Yan-Pei, YANG Jian-Ping. Genetic analysis and molecular characterization of dwarf mutant gad39 in maize [J]. Acta Agronomica Sinica, 2022, 48(4): 886-895.
[7] LI Rui-Dong, YIN Yang-Yang, SONG Wen-Wen, WU Ting-Ting, SUN Shi, HAN Tian-Fu, XU Cai-Long, WU Cun-Xiang, HU Shui-Xiu. Effects of close planting densities on assimilate accumulation and yield of soybean with different plant branching types [J]. Acta Agronomica Sinica, 2022, 48(4): 942-951.
[8] YAN Yu-Ting, SONG Qiu-Lai, YAN Chao, LIU Shuang, ZHANG Yu-Hui, TIAN Jing-Fen, DENG Yu-Xuan, MA Chun-Mei. Nitrogen accumulation and nitrogen substitution effect of maize under straw returning with continuous cropping [J]. Acta Agronomica Sinica, 2022, 48(4): 962-974.
[9] XU Ning-Kun, LI Bing, CHEN Xiao-Yan, WEI Ya-Kang, LIU Zi-Long, XUE Yong-Kang, CHEN Hong-Yu, WANG Gui-Feng. Genetic analysis and molecular characterization of a novel maize Bt2 gene mutant [J]. Acta Agronomica Sinica, 2022, 48(3): 572-579.
[10] SONG Shi-Qin, YANG Qing-Long, WANG Dan, LYU Yan-Jie, XU Wen-Hua, WEI Wen-Wen, LIU Xiao-Dan, YAO Fan-Yun, CAO Yu-Jun, WANG Yong-Jun, WANG Li-Chun. Relationship between seed morphology, storage substance and chilling tolerance during germination of dominant maize hybrids in Northeast China [J]. Acta Agronomica Sinica, 2022, 48(3): 726-738.
[11] QU Jian-Zhou, FENG Wen-Hao, ZHANG Xing-Hua, XU Shu-Tu, XUE Ji-Quan. Dissecting the genetic architecture of maize kernel size based on genome-wide association study [J]. Acta Agronomica Sinica, 2022, 48(2): 304-319.
[12] YAN Yan, ZHANG Yu-Shi, LIU Chu-Rong, REN Dan-Yang, LIU Hong-Run, LIU Xue-Qing, ZHANG Ming-Cai, LI Zhao-Hu. Variety matching and resource use efficiency of the winter wheat-summer maize “double late” cropping system [J]. Acta Agronomica Sinica, 2022, 48(2): 423-436.
[13] ZHANG Qian, HAN Ben-Gao, ZHANG Bo, SHENG Kai, LI Lan-Tao, WANG Yi-Lun. Reduced application and different combined applications of loss-control urea on summer maize yield and fertilizer efficiency improvement [J]. Acta Agronomica Sinica, 2022, 48(1): 180-192.
[14] YU Rui-Su, TIAN Xiao-Kang, LIU Bin-Bin, DUAN Ying-Xin, LI Ting, ZHANG Xiu-Ying, ZHANG Xing-Hua, HAO Yin-Chuan, LI Qin, XUE Ji-Quan, XU Shu-Tu. Dissecting the genetic architecture of lodging related traits by genome-wide association study and linkage analysis in maize [J]. Acta Agronomica Sinica, 2022, 48(1): 138-150.
[15] ZHAO Xue, ZHOU Shun-Li. Research progress on traits and assessment methods of stalk lodging resistance in maize [J]. Acta Agronomica Sinica, 2022, 48(1): 15-26.
Viewed
Full text


Abstract

Cited

  Shared   
  Discussed   
No Suggested Reading articles found!