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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #106407
Title: SIMILARITY OF MAIZE SEED NUMBER RESPONSES FOR A DIVERSE SET OF SITES

Author
item Kiniry, James
item XIE, YUN - BEIJING NORMAL UNIVERSITY
item GERIK, THOMAS - TEXAS AGRIC EXP STATION

Submitted to: Agronomie Agriculture Environment
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/19/2001
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: Kiniry, J.R., Xie, Y., Gerik, T.J. 2002. Similarity of maize seed number responses for a diverse set of sites. Agronomie. 22:265-272.

Interpretive Summary: Corn seed number has been predicted with linear and nonlinear functions, using plant growth soon after silking or light interception per plant. The objective of this study was to test several corn hybrids for their tendency to show nonlinear responses at high planting density. Pioneer hybrid 3394 (fourteen seed rows per ear) planted near Temple, TX, at 2.5 to 20 plants m**-2 showed linear functions for seed number responses to light intercepted per plant, to ear weight at silking, to nonstructural carbohydrate amounts in ears at silking, and to ear growth in the 11 d following silking. Eight other maize hybrids planted near Temple, at densities up to 20 plants m**-2 showed linear responses of seed number to intercepted light. A linear equation derived for Pioneer 3394 was adequate for five of six 14-row hybrids and could be applied with a single y-intercept adjustment for a 12-row hybrid and two 16-row hybrids. Seed number responses were linear for three hybrids in Canada at 4 to 13 plants m**-2 and for data in Argentina at 4.6 to 12.0 plants m**-2. Finally, the function for Pioneer 3394 in Temple was found to be similar to a regression for the same hybrid grown in Pennsylvania, and was similar to a function developed in Kenya. Thus, none of the hybrids in the present study showed significant nonlinearity as high planting density decreased light intercepted per plant or growth per plant for the planting densities considered.

Technical Abstract: Response of maize (Zea mays L.) seed number to growth or light interception soon after pollination has been described with linear and nonlinear functions. The objective of this study was to test several maize hybrids for their tendency to show nonlinear responses at high planting density. Pioneer hybrid 3394 (fourteen seed rows per ear) planted near Temple, TX, at 2.5 to 20 plants m-2 showed linear functions for seed number responses to light intercepted per plant, to ear weight at silking, to nonstructural carbohydrate amounts in ears at silking, and to ear growth in the 11 d following silking. Eight other maize hybrids planted near Temple, at densities up to 20 plants m**-2 showed linear responses of seed number to intercepted light. A linear equation derived for Pioneer 3394 was adequate for five of six 14-row hybrids and could be applied with a single y-intercept adjustment for a 12-row hybrid and two 16-row hybrids. Seed number responses were linear for three hybrids in Canada at 4 to 13 plants m**-2 and for data in Argentina at 4.6 to 12.0 plants m**-2. Finally, the function for Pioneer 3394 in Temple was found to be similar to a regression for the same hybrid grown in Pennsylvania, and was similar to a function developed in Kenya. Thus, none of the hybrids in the present study showed significant nonlinearity as high planting density decreased light intercepted per plant or growth per plant for the planting densities considered.