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Plant Component Yield and Cell Contents of an Adapted and a Tropical Corn, Zea mays L. 1
Author(s) -
King C. C.,
Thompson D. L.,
Burns J. C.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci1972.0011183x001200040014x
Subject(s) - dry matter , dry weight , husk , biology , tassel , zea mays , shoot , pith , agronomy , botany , silage , horticulture
Ten plant components (leaf, node, rind, pith, cob, grain, husk, shank, tassel, and undeveloped ear shoots) of normal and fruitless ‘Dixie 18’ and ‘Tuxpeno’ corn, Zea mays L., were separated and analyzed for dry matter yield and percent cell contents (PCC). The objective was to determine the site of dry matter and cell contents accumulation. Components were combined into six vertical plant divisions to provide a nutritional profile of the plants. Weight of dry matter and weight of cell contents were greatest at the base and decreased progressively to the top for both normal and fruitless plants (excluding the ear bearing division). Three plant portions contained the bulk of total cell contents per plant: (i) grain ‐‐ 51 and 44%, (ii) three divisions below the ear ‐‐ 23 and 32%, and (iii) leaf ‐‐ 17 and 18% for normal Dixie 18 and normal Tuxpeno, respectively. Fruitless Dixie 18 plants produced 69% as much cell contents as the normal, and fruitless Tuxpeno 84% of the normal. Normal Tuxpeno produced significantly more dry matter than normal Dixie 18; however, total cell contents did not differ significantly. The data indicate that fruitless plants compensate partially for the absence of grain. The three divisions below the ear contained 23 and 32% of the cell contents of normal Dixie 18 and normal Tuxpeno, respectively; consequently, leaving a high stubble when harvesting silage causes loss of nutrients. Tuxpeno would be satisfactory for certain feeding situations but cultural hazards may limit its use.