Ear reproductive development components associated with kernel set in maize: breeding effects under contrasting environments
Context or problem: Kernel number per ear (KNE) is the main driver of improved grain yield per ear (GYE) in maize (Zea mays L.). Under non-limiting conditions, KNE responded to variations in ear developmental traits such as the number of completely developed florets (CDFE) and exposed silks per ear...
| Autores principales: | , , |
|---|---|
| Formato: | Artículo |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés |
| Publicado: |
Elsevier
2023
|
| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/15789 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037842902300343X https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2023.109150 |
| _version_ | 1855485633631354880 |
|---|---|
| author | Rossini, María Curin, Facundo Otegui, María Elena |
| author_browse | Curin, Facundo Otegui, María Elena Rossini, María |
| author_facet | Rossini, María Curin, Facundo Otegui, María Elena |
| author_sort | Rossini, María |
| collection | INTA Digital |
| description | Context or problem: Kernel number per ear (KNE) is the main driver of improved grain yield per ear (GYE) in maize (Zea mays L.). Under non-limiting conditions, KNE responded to variations in ear developmental traits such as the number of completely developed florets (CDFE) and exposed silks per ear (ESE), which have been positively affected by breeding. This trend needs to be assessed under common abiotic constraints that usually affect rainfed maize production.
Objective or research question: The aim of the current research was to study breeding effects on maize grain yield and its associated reproductive developmental traits as well as the sources of loss of kernel number under a wide range of growing conditions per plant.
Methods: Field experiments were conducted at two sites of the Central Pampas of Argentina, where hybrids of different year of release (from 1980 to 2012) were evaluated under 10 managed environments generated by the combination of (i) three growing seasons (2015–16: S1; 2017–18: S2; 2018–19: S3), (ii) two nitrogen rates (N0: no nitrogen added; N200: 200 kg N ha-1), and (iii) two stand densities in S1 and S2 (9 and 12 plants m-2). Plant biomass at R1 was used as a classifier of pre-flowering growth conditions (LOW, MID-LOW, MID-HIGH, and HIGH environments).
Results: Although modern hybrids always presented more GYE and KNE than old hybrids, the reproductive developmental processes behind this response were different depending on the environment. Under HIGH en vironments, the KNE improvement (4.53 kernels year-1) was the result of a greater CDFE (7.55 florets year-1) and more ESE (6.01 silks year-1). Under LOW environments, the genetic progress in KNE (2.41 kernels year-1) was associated with a reduced kernel abortion (− 0.48 % year-1). Non-significant trend with year of release was observed in spikelet growth rate in all groups of evaluated environments, however, there was a significant decrease in the residual effect of the relationship between spikelet growth rate during the critical period and kernel abortion under LOW environments.
Conclusions: Traits responsible for improved grain yield differed across environments because the relative importance of the determinant processes of kernel set vary across them. Under low-yielding environments, decreased kernel abortion is more beneficial than increased potential ear size (i.e., florets per ear) to enhance kernel number and grain yield.
Implications or significance: This finding highlights the relevance of focusing on processes conducive to kernel abortion under stress-prone environments to improve maize grain yield. |
| format | Artículo |
| id | INTA15789 |
| institution | Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA -Argentina) |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2023 |
| publishDateRange | 2023 |
| publishDateSort | 2023 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| publisherStr | Elsevier |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | INTA157892023-11-01T17:03:05Z Ear reproductive development components associated with kernel set in maize: breeding effects under contrasting environments Rossini, María Curin, Facundo Otegui, María Elena Maíz Mejoramiento Genético Estres Producción de Semillas Maize Genetic Improvement Stress Seed Production Reproductive Development Context or problem: Kernel number per ear (KNE) is the main driver of improved grain yield per ear (GYE) in maize (Zea mays L.). Under non-limiting conditions, KNE responded to variations in ear developmental traits such as the number of completely developed florets (CDFE) and exposed silks per ear (ESE), which have been positively affected by breeding. This trend needs to be assessed under common abiotic constraints that usually affect rainfed maize production. Objective or research question: The aim of the current research was to study breeding effects on maize grain yield and its associated reproductive developmental traits as well as the sources of loss of kernel number under a wide range of growing conditions per plant. Methods: Field experiments were conducted at two sites of the Central Pampas of Argentina, where hybrids of different year of release (from 1980 to 2012) were evaluated under 10 managed environments generated by the combination of (i) three growing seasons (2015–16: S1; 2017–18: S2; 2018–19: S3), (ii) two nitrogen rates (N0: no nitrogen added; N200: 200 kg N ha-1), and (iii) two stand densities in S1 and S2 (9 and 12 plants m-2). Plant biomass at R1 was used as a classifier of pre-flowering growth conditions (LOW, MID-LOW, MID-HIGH, and HIGH environments). Results: Although modern hybrids always presented more GYE and KNE than old hybrids, the reproductive developmental processes behind this response were different depending on the environment. Under HIGH en vironments, the KNE improvement (4.53 kernels year-1) was the result of a greater CDFE (7.55 florets year-1) and more ESE (6.01 silks year-1). Under LOW environments, the genetic progress in KNE (2.41 kernels year-1) was associated with a reduced kernel abortion (− 0.48 % year-1). Non-significant trend with year of release was observed in spikelet growth rate in all groups of evaluated environments, however, there was a significant decrease in the residual effect of the relationship between spikelet growth rate during the critical period and kernel abortion under LOW environments. Conclusions: Traits responsible for improved grain yield differed across environments because the relative importance of the determinant processes of kernel set vary across them. Under low-yielding environments, decreased kernel abortion is more beneficial than increased potential ear size (i.e., florets per ear) to enhance kernel number and grain yield. Implications or significance: This finding highlights the relevance of focusing on processes conducive to kernel abortion under stress-prone environments to improve maize grain yield. EEA Pergamino Fil: Rossini, M. A. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencias del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencias del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Antonio de Areco. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencias del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (CITNOBA); Argentina Fil: Rossini, María. Universidad Nacional del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Escuela de Ciencias Agrarias, Naturales y Ambientales (ECANA); Argentina Fil: Curín, Facundo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencias del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencias del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Antonio de Areco. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencias del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (CITNOBA); Argentina Fil: Otegui, María Elena. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Pergamino; Argentina Fil: Otegui, María Elena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Otegui, María Elena. Universidad de Buenos. Facultad de Agronomía. Departamento de Producción Vegetal; Argentina 2023-11-01T15:54:46Z 2023-11-01T15:54:46Z 2023-12 info:ar-repo/semantics/artículo info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/15789 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037842902300343X 0378-4290 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2023.109150 eng info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) application/pdf Elsevier Field Crops Research 304 : 109150. (1 December 2023) |
| spellingShingle | Maíz Mejoramiento Genético Estres Producción de Semillas Maize Genetic Improvement Stress Seed Production Reproductive Development Rossini, María Curin, Facundo Otegui, María Elena Ear reproductive development components associated with kernel set in maize: breeding effects under contrasting environments |
| title | Ear reproductive development components associated with kernel set in maize: breeding effects under contrasting environments |
| title_full | Ear reproductive development components associated with kernel set in maize: breeding effects under contrasting environments |
| title_fullStr | Ear reproductive development components associated with kernel set in maize: breeding effects under contrasting environments |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ear reproductive development components associated with kernel set in maize: breeding effects under contrasting environments |
| title_short | Ear reproductive development components associated with kernel set in maize: breeding effects under contrasting environments |
| title_sort | ear reproductive development components associated with kernel set in maize breeding effects under contrasting environments |
| topic | Maíz Mejoramiento Genético Estres Producción de Semillas Maize Genetic Improvement Stress Seed Production Reproductive Development |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/15789 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037842902300343X https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2023.109150 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rossinimaria earreproductivedevelopmentcomponentsassociatedwithkernelsetinmaizebreedingeffectsundercontrastingenvironments AT curinfacundo earreproductivedevelopmentcomponentsassociatedwithkernelsetinmaizebreedingeffectsundercontrastingenvironments AT oteguimariaelena earreproductivedevelopmentcomponentsassociatedwithkernelsetinmaizebreedingeffectsundercontrastingenvironments |