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Simple Apparatus for Measuring Resistance to Root Lodging in Sweet Corn 1
Author(s) -
Snell Robert S.
Publication year - 1966
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1966.00021962005800030036x
Subject(s) - citation , resistance (ecology) , agricultural experiment station , plant breeding , simple (philosophy) , library science , agronomy , horticulture , biology , computer science , philosophy , agriculture , ecology , epistemology
SEARCH for a rapid technique for measuring resistance zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA A of sweet corn seedling plants to root lodging has been unsuccessful. Since resistance to vertical pull is correlated with resistance to root lodging,3. techniques for determining resistance to vertical pull have been reevaluated. The apparatus shown (Fig. zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA 1) was used in the summer of 1965 to measure the force required to pull individual plants of each of 20 sweet corn hybrids and 13 inbreds from wet sandy loam at Adelphia, New Jersey. Three replications were used in the trial. Plants were pulled at flowering time. Four plants were pulled from each plot, alternate plants being pulled to avoid any effect from previously pulled plants. Pulling was limited to the day following a soaking rain or a corresponding irrigation. Soil samples were taken from each plot and percent-moisture determinations macle. However, small variations in the percentage moisture of different plots were shown to have no significant effect on the pull required to uproot. The pulling apparatus is shown in Fig. 1. The frame was made of angle iron and wheels and axle were from a warsurplus litter carrier. Garden implement handles were used. The device is easily moveable. Tension is exerted by a hand-powered winch and measured by a 250-pound maximum reading scale. Heavy sash cord was wound and knotted about the base of the corn plant and connected to the scale. A 3J16-inch wire rope over a small pulley connected winch and scale. Cutting off the upper part of the plant makes attachment easier. A 500-pound scale should be used since the 250-pound scale may not be adequate for some plants of the betterrooted hybrids. A leather or strong fabric strap with metal rings at either end should be an improvement over the sash cord. Hybrids ranged in maturity from ‘North Star’ to ‘Golden Cross Bantam.’ Pounds of pull for uprooting ranged from 99 to 235 with a just significant difference based on Tukey’s values of 31.87 pounds at the level. Inbreds ranged from c13 to I5125 in maturity and from 69 to 207 pounds of pull -JSD(Tukey’s values) 30.17 pounds at the 1% level. In general, pounds of pull for uprooting were in line with the known lodging resistance of the hybrids and inbreds used. Undoubtedly tallness of plant and high placement and heavy weight of ears increase root lodging, but their effects supplement root weakness, and seem difficult to measure adequately.