Top-grain filling characteristics at an early stage of maize (Zea mays L.) with different nitrogen use efficiencies

doi:10.1016/S2095-3119(16)61457-0

摘要/Abstract

Abstract: Maize genotypes vary significantly in their nitrogen use efficiencies (NUEs). Better understanding of early grain filling characteristics of maize is important, especially for maize with different NUEs. The objectives of this research were (i) to investigate the difference in apical kernel development of maize with different NUEs, (ii) to determine the reaction of apical kernel development to N application levels, and (iii) to evaluate the relationship between apical kernel development and grain yield (GY) for different genotypes of maize. Three maize hybrid varieties with different NUEs were cultivated in a field with different levels of N fertilizer arranged during two growing seasons. Kernel fresh weight (KFW), volume (KV) and dry weight (KDW) of apical kernel were evaluated at an early grain filling stage. Ear characteristics, GY and its components were determined at maturity stage. Apical kernel of the high N and high efficiency (HN-HE) type (under low N, the yield is lower, and under higher N, the yield is higher) developed better under high N (N210 and N240, pure N of 210 and 240 kg ha^–1) than at low N (N120 and N140, pure N of 120 and 140 kg ha^–1). The low N and high efficiency (LN-HE) type (under low N, the yield is higher, while under higher N, the yield is not significantly higher) developed better under low N than at high N. The double high efficiency (D-HE) type (for both low and high N, the yield is higher) performed well under both high and low N. Apical kernel reacted differently to the N supply. Apical kernel developed well at an early grain filling stage and resulted in a higher kernel number (KN), kernel weight (KW) and GY with better ear characteristics at maturity.

Key words: Zea mays L., grain filling, nitrogen use efficiency, kernel development

SHEN Li-xia, HUANG Yan-kai, LI Ting. [J]. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2017, 16(03): 626-639.

SHEN Li-xia, HUANG Yan-kai, LI Ting. Top-grain filling characteristics at an early stage of maize (Zea mays L.) with different nitrogen use efficiencies[J]. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2017, 16(03): 626-639.

参考文献

Ahmed M M A, Reda A S, Mohamed M M A, Tarek H A. 2015. Maize response to elevated plant density combined with lowered N-fertilizer rate is genotype-dependent. The Crop Journal, 3, 96–109.
Andrade F H, Echarte L, Rizzalli R, Della Maggiora A, Casanovas M. 2002. Kernel number prediction in maize under nitrogen or water stress. Crop Science, 42, 1173–1179.
Andrade F H, Vega C, Uhart S, Cirilo A, Valentinuz O, Cantarero M. 1999. Kernel number determination in maize. Crop Science, 39, 453–459.
Anjana, Umar S, Iqbal M, Abrol Y P. 2007. Are nitrate concentrations in leafy vegetables within safe limits? Current Science, 92, 355–360.
Borrás L, Gambín B L. 2010. Trait dissection of maize kernel weight: Towards integrating hierarchical scales using a plant biomass framework. Field Crops Research, 118, 1–12.
Borrás L, Westgate M E. 2006. Predicting maize kernel sink capacity early in development. Field Crops Research, 95, 223–233.
Bowman W D, Cleveland C C, Halada L, Hresko J, Baron J S. 2008. Negative impact of nitrogen deposition on soil buffering capacity. Nature Geoscience, 1, 767–770.
Cárcova J, Otegui M E. 2007. Ovary growth and maize kernel set. Crop Science, 47, 1104–1110.
Cárcova J, Uribelarrea M, Borrás L, Otegui M E, Westgate M E. 2000. Synchronous pollination within and between ears improves kernel set in maize. Crop Science, 40, 1056–1061.
Chen X C, Zhang J, Chen Y L, Li Q, Chen F J, Yuan L X, Mi G H. 2013. Changes in root size and distribution in relation to nitrogen accumulation during maize breeding in China. Plant and Soil, 374, 121–130.
Chen Y J, Hoogenboom G, Ma Y T, Li B G, Guo Y. 2013. Maize kernel growth at different floret positions of the ear. Field Crops Research, 149, 177–186.
Chun L, Mi G H, Li J S, Chen F J, Zhang F S. 2005. Genetic analysis of maize root characteristics in response to low nitrogen stress. Plant and Soil, 276, 369–382.
D’Andrea K E, Otegui M E, Cirilo A G. 2008. Kernel number determination differs among maize hybrids in response to nitrogen. Field Crops Research, 105, 228–239.
D’Andrea K E, Otegui M E, Cirilo A G, Eyhérabide G H. 2009. Ecophysiological traits in maize hybrids and their parental inbred lines: Phenotyping of responses to contrasting nitrogen supply levels. Field Crops Research, 114, 147–158.
D’Andrea K E, Otegui M E, Cirilo A G, Eyhérabide G H. 2006. Genotypic variability in morphological and physiological traits among maize inbred lines. I. Response to nitrogen availability. Crop Science, 46, 1266–1276.
Gallais A, Coque M, Quilleré I, Prioul J L, Hirel B. 2006. Modelling post-silking N-Xuxes in maize using ¹⁵N-labelling-weld experiments. New Phytologist, 172, 696–707.
Gambín B L, Borrás L, Otegui M E. 2007. Kernel water relations and duration of grain ?lling in maize temperate hybrids. Field Crops Research, 101, 1–9.
Gambín B L, Borrás L, Otegui M E. 2006. Source-sink relations and kernel weight differences in maize temperate hybrids. Field Crops Research, 95, 316–326.
Gondwe B M, Mweetwa A M, Munyinda K, Phiri E, Lungu D. 2014. Evaluation of maize genotypes for nitrogen use efficiency. Zambian Journal of Agricultural Science, 10, 51–59.
Hammer G L, Dong Z, McLean G A. 2009. Can changes in canopy and/or root system architecture explain historical maize yield trends in the U.S. Corn Belt? Crop Science, 49, 299–312.
Hirel B, Andrieu B, Valadier M H, Renard S, Quillere I, Chelle M, Pommel B, Fournier C, Drouet J L. 2005a. Physiology of maize II: Identification of physiological markers representative of the nitrogen status of maize (Zea mays) leaves during grain filling. Physiologia Plantarum, 124, 178–188.
Hirel B, Le G J, Ney B, Gallais A. 2007. The challenge of improving nitrogen use efficiency in crop plants: Towards a more central role for genetic variability and quantitative genetics within integrated approaches. Journal of Experimental Botany, 58, 2369–2387.
Hirel B, Martin A, Terce-Laforque T, Gonzalez-Moro M B, Estavillo J M. 2005b. Physiology of maize I: A comprehensive and integrated view of nitrogen metabolism in a C4 plant. Physiologia Plantarum, 124, 167–177.
Jayasundara S, Wagner-Riddle C, Parkin G, Von Bertoldi A P, Warland J, Kay B, Voroney P. 2007. Minimizing nitrogen losses from a corn-soybean-winterwheat rotation with best management practices. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 19, 141–159.
Li H C, Li L, Thilo W, Longinb C F, Xu X W, Melchingerb A E, Chen S J. 2010. Effect of N supply on stalk quality in maize hybrids. Field Crops Research, 118, 208–214.
Liu J X, An X, Cheng L, Chen F J, Bao J, Yuan L X, Zhang F S, Mi G H. 2010. Auxin transport in maize roots in response to localized nitrate supply. Annals of Botany, 106, 1019–1026.
Liu J A, Mi G H, Chen F J, Zhang F S. 2002. Genotype differences on nitrogen use efficiency among maize hybrids. Plant Nutrition & Fertilizer Science, 8, 276–281. (in Chinese)
Liu J X, Chen F J, Olokhnuud C. 2009. Root size and nitrogen-uptake activity in two maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines differing in nitrogen-use efficiency. Journal of Plant Nutrition & Soil Science, 172, 230–236.
Li Y, Liu H, Huang G, Zhang R, Yang H. 2016. Nitrate nitrogen accumulation and leaching pattern at a winter wheat: summer maize cropping field in the North China Plain. Environmental Earth Sciences, 75, 1–12.
Luan M B, Yun H Y. 2005. Research advances of physiological mechanism for efficient nitrogen utilization in maize. Acta Agriculturae Boreali-occidentalis Sinica, 14, 50–53. (in Chinese)
Ma B L, Dwyer L M. 1998. Nitrogen uptake and use of two contrasting maize hybrids differing in leaf senescence. Plant Soil, 199, 283–291.
Ma C J, Liu P, Zhao B Q, Zhang S P, Feng H J, Zhao J, Yang J S, Dong S T, Zhang J W, Zhao B. 2014. Regulation of nitrogen application rate on temporal and spatial distribution of roots and nitrogen uptake in different N use efficiency maize cultivars. Plant Nutrition & Fertilizer Science, 20, 845–859. (in Chinese)
Mi G H, Chen F J, Wu Q P, Lai N W, Zhang F S. 2010. Ideotype root architecture for efficient nitrogen acquisition by maize in intensive cropping systems. Science China (Life Sciences), 53, 1369–1373.
Mu X H, Chen F J, Wu Q P, Chen Q W, Wang J F, Yuan L X, Mi G H. 2015. Genetic improvement of root growth increases maize yield via enhanced post-silking nitrogen uptake. European Journal of Agronomy, 63, 55–61.
Otegui M E. 1997. Kernel set and flower synchrony within the ear of maize: II. Plant population effects. Crop Science, 37, 448–455.
Otegui M E, Andrade F H, Suero E E. 1995. Growth, water use and kernel abortion of maize subjected to drought at silking. Field Crops Research, 40, 87–94.
Paponov I A, Sambo P, Schulte G E, Presterl T, Geiger H H, Engels C. 2005a. Grain yield and kernel weight of two maize genotypes differing in nitrogen use efficiency at various levels of nitrogen and carbohydrate availability during flowering and grain filling. Plant Soil, 272, 111–123.
Paponov I A, Sambo P, Schulte G E, Presterl T, Geiger H H, Engels C. 2005b. Kernel set in maize genotypes differing in nitrogen use efficiency in response to resource availability around flowering. Plant Soil, 272, 101–110.
Peng T F, Niu J F, Peng Z P, Zhang F S, Li C J. 2010. Shoot growth potential drives N uptake in maize plants and correlates with root growth in the soil. Field Crops Research, 115, 85–93.
Raghuram N, Pathak R R, Sharma P. 2006. Signalling and the molecular aspects of N-use efficiency in higher plants. In: Singh R P, Jaiwal P K, eds., Biotechnological Approaches to Improve Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Plants. Studium Press, Houston. pp. 19–40.
Sala R G, Westgate M E, Andrade F H. 2007. Source/sink ratio and the relationship between maximum water content, maximum volume, and ?nal dry weight of maize kernels. Field Crops Research, 101, 19–25.
Santamaria P. 2006. Nitrate in vegetables: Toxicity, content, intake and EC regulation. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 86, 10–17.
Schussler J R, Westgate M E. 1991a. Maize kernel set at low water potential: I. Sensitivity to reduced assimilates during early kernel growth. Crop Science, 31, 1189–1195.
Schussler J R, Westgate M E. 1991b. Maize kernel set at low water potential: II. Sensitivity to reduced assimilates at pollination. Crop Science, 31, 1196–1203.
Seebauer J R, Moose S P, Fabbri B J, Crossland L D, Below F E. 2004. Amino acid metabolism in maize earshoots. Implications for assimilate preconditioning and nitrogen signaling. Plant Physiology, 136, 4326–4334.
Shen L X, Wang P. 2016. Research progress of nitrogen absorption and utilization efficiency of different maize genotypes. Journal of Maize Sciences, 24, 50–55. (in Chinese)
Shen L X, Wei Y P, Wang P, Yi Z X, Zhang H F, Lan L W. 2006. Effect of nitrogen supply on early kernel development and yield in summer maize. Acta Agronomica Sinica, 32, 1746–1751. (in Chinese)
Uribelarrea M, Crafts-Brandner S J, Below F E. 2009. Physiological N response of field-grown maize hybrids (Zea mays L.) with divergent yield potential and grain protein concentration. Plant Soil, 316, 151–160.
Uhart S A, Andrade F H. 1995a. Nitrogen deficiency in maize. I. Effects on crop growth, development, dry matter partitioning, and kernel set. Crop Science, 35, 1376–1383.
Uhart S A, Andrade F H. 1995b. Nitrogen deficiency in maize. II. Carbon-nitrogen interaction effects on KN and grain yield. Crop Science, 35, 1384–1389.
Wang Z, Gao J, Ma B L. 2014. Concurrent improvement in maize yield and nitrogen use efficiency with integrated agronomic management strategies. Agronomy Journal, 106, 1243–1250.
Xu L Z, Niu J F, Li C J, Zhang F S. 2009. Growth, nitrogen uptake and flow in maize plants affected by root growth restriction. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology, 51, 688–696.
Xu X Y, Zhang M M, Zhai B N, Li S X, Zhang X C, Wang Z H. 2006. Genotypic variation in nitrogen use efficiency in summer maize. Plant Nutrition & Fertilizer Science, 12, 495–499. (in Chinese)
Zhang Y, Li F, Zhang Q, Li J, Liu Q. 2014. Tracing nitrate pollution sources and transformation in surface- and ground-waters using environmental isotopes. Science of the Total Environment, 490C, 213–222.