Effects of water deficit at different stages on growth and ear quality of waxy maize

Author:

Huang Chao,Qin Anzhen,Gao Yang,Ma Shoutian,Liu Zugui,Zhao Ben,Ning Dongfeng,Zhang Kai,Gong Wenjun,Sun Mengqiang,Liu Zhandong

Abstract

IntroductionExtreme weather has occurred more frequently in recent decades, which results in more frequent drought disasters in the maize growing season. Severe drought often decreases remarkably plant growth and yield of maize, and even reduces significantly the quality of maize production, especially for waxy maize.ResultsTo study the changes in plant growth, fresh ear yield, and fresh grain quality of waxy maize under water deficits occurring at different growth stages, and further strengthen the field water management of waxy maize, water deficit experiments were carried out under a rain shelter in 2019 and 2020. Water deficit treatments were imposed respectively at the V6–VT (DV6–VT), VT–R2 (DVT–R2), and R2–R3 (DR2–R3) stages of waxy maize, and treatment with non-water deficit in the whole growing season was taken as the control (CK). The lower limit of soil water content was 50% of field capacity for a water deficit period and 65% of field capacity for a non-water deficit period.ResultsIn this study, water deficits imposed at V6–VT and VT–R2 stages decreased plant growth rate and leaf gas exchange parameters, accelerated leaf senescence, and limited ear growth of waxy maize, which resulted in 11.6% and 23.1% decreases in grains per ear, 19.4% and 7.3% declines in 100-grain weight, 20.3% and 14.2% losses in fresh ear yield in 2019 and 2020 growing seasons, respectively, while water deficit at R2–R3 stage had no significant effect on ear traits and fresh ear yield, but the fresh ear yield with husk of DR2–R3 decreased by 9.1% (P<0.05). The obvious water deficit imposed at the V6–VT and VT–R2 stages also lowered grain quality. Water deficits at the V6–VT and VT–R2 stages led to accelerated maturity, resulting in increased total protein, starch, and lysine content in grains at the R3 stage and decreased soluble sugar content. Principal component analysis revealed that when water deficits occurred in the waxy maize growing season, they firstly altered maize physiological processes, then affected ear characteristics and yield, and finally resulted in significant grain quality changes. In conclusion, a water deficit during V6–VT and VT–R2 not only reduced fresh ear yield but also adversely affected grain quality. However, water deficit during R2–R3 had little effect on total protein, starch, and soluble sugar content,but increased obviously lysine content.DiscussionThe above results suggested that avoiding serious water deficits at the V6–VT and VT–R2 stages of waxy maize while imposing a slight water deficit at the R2–R3 stage has not only little effects on fresh ear yield but also a remarkable improvement in grain quality.

Publisher

Frontiers Media SA

Subject

Plant Science

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3