Premium
Effects of cross‐pollination on dry matter accumulation, nutrient partitioning and grain yield of maize hybrids grown under different levels of N fertility
Author(s) -
Tsai CherngLiang,
Huber Don M,
Warren Herman L,
Tsai Charles Y
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.2740570203
Subject(s) - dry matter , pollination , endosperm , pollen , biology , agronomy , nutrient , hybrid , sink (geography) , human fertilization , cultivar , horticulture , botany , ecology , cartography , geography
This study was initiated to investigate the relationship between increased kernel sink capacity and fertiliser N use efficiency of maize (Zea mays L). Two hybrids differing in yield potential, Pioneer brand 3732 (P3732) and B73 × Mo17, were grown on field plots with four levels of N fertiliser. The kernel sink of P3732 was modified by cross‐pollinating P3732 with pollen from B73 × Mo17. Vegetation and kernal samples collected from the N treatments at mid‐silk and at 30, 45 and 60 days post‐pollination (DPP) were analysed for accumulation and partitioning of dry matter and N content. Grain yield was also determined. Modification of the P3732 endosperm genotype through cross‐pollination significantly increased kernel weight, kernel protein content and grain yield at each level of N treatment, indicating an improvement in fertiliser N use efficiency due to an increased sink demand. All three levels of N application produced similar effects on the accumulation and partitioning of dry matter and N in plant parts for both endosperm genotypes. Since the harvest index observed at 30, 45 and 60 DPP was similar between sib‐ and cross‐pollinated plants, the additional nutrients translocated into developing kernels of P3732 cross‐pollinated plants were mainly derived from increases in duration of dry matter production and N uptake by vegetative tissues rather than from improved partitioning efficiency.