Corn yield components can be stabilized via tillering in sub-optimal plant densities.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Crop plasticity is fundamental to sustainability discussions in production agriculture. Modern corn (Zea mays L.) genetics can compensate yield determinants to a small degree, but plasticity mechanisms have been masked by breeder selection and plant density management preferences. While tillers are a well-known source of plasticity in cereal crops, the functional trade-offs of tiller expression to the hierarchical yield formation process in corn are unknown. This investigation aimed to further dissect the consequences of tiller expression on corn yield component determination and plasticity in a range of environments from two plant fraction perspectives - i) main stalks only, considering potential functional trade-offs due to tiller expression; and ii) comprehen

SUBMITTER: Veenstra RL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9853411 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature