The Growth and Development of Maize (Zea mays L.) at Five Temperatures

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The objectives of this work were to measure growth and development rates over a range of temperatures and to identify processes which may limit vegetative yield of maize (Zea mays L.). Two single cross Corn Belt Dent maize hybrids were grown from sowing in a diurnal temperature regime of 16/6 °C day/night and in constant temperature environments of 16, 20, 24 and 28 °C. The 16/6 °C environment was close to the minimum for sustained growth and 28 °C was near the optimum. Entire plants were harvested at stages with 4, 6, 7 and 8 mature leaves in all temperature treatments except 20 °C in which the final two harvests were carried out at 9 and 10 mature leaves. Mean total leaf number varied between 19.5 and 16.0 with the maximum occurring at 16/6 °C. Although harvests were carried out at comparable leaf numbers, and hence at similar developmental stages, the time interval between sowing and harvest decreased considerably as temperatures increased. The relative rates of dry weight and leaf area accumulation with time increased with a Q10 of 2.4 between 16 and 28 °C, while leaf appearance rate increased with a Q10 of 2.9 over the same range; both rates were highest at 28 °C. Although dry matter partitioning to the shoots increased with temperature, the area of individual leaves varied in a systematic pattern which resulted in maximum leaf area, leaf area duration and consequently dry weight being realized at 20 °C for any given stage of development.