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Lignin metabolism regulates lodging resistance of maize hybrids under varying planting density
LI Bin, GAO Fei, REN Bai-zhao, DONG Shu-ting, LIU Peng, ZHAO Bin, ZHANG Ji-wang
2021, 20 (8): 2077-2089.   DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(20)63346-9
Abstract220)      PDF in ScienceDirect      
Hybrids and planting density are the main factors affecting maize lodging resistance.  Here, we aimed to elucidate the mechanism of the regulation of maize lodging resistance by comparing two hybrids at various planting densities from the perspective of lignin metabolism.  Our results showed that compared to lodging-susceptible hybrid Xundan 20 (XD20), lodging-resistant hybrid Denghai 605 (DH605) showed a lower center of gravity and culm morphological characteristics that contributed to the higher lodging resistance of this hybrid.  Lignin content, activities of key lignin synthesis-related enzymes and G-, S- and H-type monomer contents were significantly higher in hybrid DH605 than in hybrid XD20.  Stalk mechanical strength, lignin accumulation and enzyme activity decreased significantly with increasing planting density in the two hybrids.  While G-type monomers first decreased with increasing planting density but then remained stable, S-type monomers showed a decreasing trend, and H-type monomers showed an increasing trend.  Correlation analysis showed that lodging rate was significantly correlated with plant traits and lignin metabolism.  Therefore, maize hybrids characterized by high lignin accumulation, high lignin synthesis-related activities, high S-type monomer content, low center of gravity, high stem puncture strength, high cortical thickness, and small vascular bundle area are more resistant to lodging.  High planting densities reduce stalk lignin accumulation, relevant enzyme activities and mechanical strength, thereby, ultimately increasing the lodging rate significantly.
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Integrated agronomic practices management improved grain formation and regulated endogenous hormone balance in summer maize (Zea mays L.)
YU Ning-ning, ZHANG Ji-wang, LIU Peng, ZHAO Bin, REN Bai-zhao
2020, 19 (7): 1768-1776.   DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(19)62757-7
Abstract139)      PDF in ScienceDirect      
Compared with single agronomic practices management during grain formation, knowledge about integrated agronomic practices management on grain-filling characteristics and physiological function of endogenous hormones was limited.  In order to clarify this issue, two field experiments, integrated agronomic practices management (IAPM), T1 (local conventional cultivation practices), T2 (an optimized combination of cropping systems and fertilizer treatment), T3 (treatment based on high-yield studies), and T4 (further optimized combination of cropping systems and fertilizer treatment), and nitrogen rate testing (NAT) (four nitrogen rates, 0, 129.0, 184.5, and 300.0 kg N ha–1) were performed with summer maize hybrid Zhengdan 958 (ZD958). Results showed that with increased nitrogen rate, the endogenous hormone balance was promoted and the grain-filling characteristics were improved sufficiently to resulting in a significant increase in grain yield.  However, the grain-filling characteristics deteriorated and yield was reduced with excessive nitrogen fertilization.  However, IAPM could promote hormone balance and improve grain filling characteristic.  The indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), zeatin riboside (ZR), and gibberellin (GA3) contents under T2 and T4 treatments were higher and the abscisic acid (ABA) content was lower, and the ZR and GA3 contents under T3 were higher than those under T1.  Those resulted in the maximum grain-filling rate (Wmax) and the active grain-filling period (P) under T2, T3 and T4 were significantly increased than those under T1, and hence promoted kernel weight and grain yield.  So IAPM promoted hormone balance by improving tillage model, optimizing fertilizer rate and fertilization period, appropriately increasing planting density and delaying harvest, which promoted grain filling rate and lengthened active grain-filling period, finally increased grain yield.
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Effects of urea mixed with nitrapyrin on leaf photosynthetic and senescence characteristics of summer maize (Zea mays L.) waterlogged in the field
REN Bai-zhao, HU Juan, ZHANG Ji-wang, DONG Shu-ting, LIU Peng, ZHAO Bin
2020, 19 (6): 1586-1595.   DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(19)62725-5
Abstract113)      PDF in ScienceDirect      
Waterlogging is one of the major abiotic stresses in agricultural crop production.  However, the application of 2-chloro-6-(trichloromethyl) pyridine (nitrapyrin) can effectually mitigate the losses of nitrogen efficiency and grain yield of summer maize induced by waterlogging.  In order to explore its role to alleviate waterlogging stress on leaf antioxidative system and photosynthetic characteristics of summer maize, a field experiment was executed to research effects of nitrapyrin application on leaf photosynthetic and senescent characteristics of waterlogged summer maize Denghai 605 (DH605) and Zhengdan 958 (ZD958).  Experimental treatments consisted of waterlogging treatment that was applying only urea (WL), waterlogging treatment that was applying urea mixing with nitrapyrin (WL-N), and no waterlogging treatment that was only applying urea (NWL).  Results showed that WL significantly decreased leaf area index (LAI), SPAD, photosynthetic rate (Pn), and protective enzyme activities, accelerated leaf aging, eventually led to a remarkable yield reduction by 38 and 42% for DH605 and ZD958, respectively, compared to NWL.  However, the application of nitrapyrin was useful for relieving waterlogging damages on leaf photosynthetic ability.  LAI, SPAD and Pn of WL-N for DH605 were 10, 19 and 12–24% higher, and for ZD958 were 12, 23 and 7–25% higher, compared to those of WL, respectively.  Moreover, application of nitrapyrin effectually relieved waterlogging losses on antioxidative enzyme activities.  Leaf superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) activities of WL-N were averagely increased by 24, 15 and 30%, respectively, while malondialdehyde (MDA) content was averagely decreased by 13%, compared to those of WL.  Visibly, nitrapyrin application could improve leaf photosynthetic characteristics and retard leaf aging induced by waterlogging, thereby leading to a yield increase of waterlogged maize.
 
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Maize/peanut intercropping increases photosynthetic characteristics, 13C-photosynthate distribution, and grain yield of summer maize
LI Yan-hong, SHI De-yang, LI Guang-hao, ZHAO Bin, ZHANG Ji-wang, LIU Peng, REN Bai-zhao, DONG Shu-ting
2019, 18 (10): 2219-2229.   DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(19)62616-X
Abstract141)      PDF in ScienceDirect      
Intercropping is used widely by smallholder farmers in developing countries to increase land productivity and profitability.  We conducted a maize/peanut intercropping experiment in the 2015 and 2016 growing seasons in Shandong, China.  Treatments included sole maize (SM), sole peanut (SP), and an intercrop consisting of four rows of maize and six rows of peanut (IM and IP).  The results showed that the intercropping system had yield advantages based on the land equivalent ratio (LER) values of 1.15 and 1.16 in the two years, respectively.  Averaged over the two years, the yield of maize in the intercropping was increased by 61.05% compared to that in SM, while the pod yield of peanut was decreased by 31.80% compared to SP.  Maize was the superior competitor when intercropped with peanut, and its productivity dominated the yield of the intercropping system in our study.  The increased yield was due to a higher kernel number per ear (KNE).  Intercropping increased the light transmission ratio (LTR) of the ear layer in the maize canopy, the active photosynthetic duration (APD), and the harvest index (HI) compared to SM.  In addition, intercropping promoted the ratio of dry matter accumulation after silking and the distribution of 13C-photosynthates to grain compared to SM.  In conclusion, maize/peanut intercropping demonstrated the potential to improve the light condition of maize, achieving enhanced photosynthetic characteristics that improved female spike differentiation, reduced barrenness, and increased KNE.  Moreover, dry matter accumulation and 13C-photosynthates distribution to grain of intercropped maize were improved, and a higher grain yield was ultimately obtained.
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