Delaying Weed Control Lengthens the Anthesis-Silking Interval in Maize

Stress caused by early weed competition is known to delay the rate of maize development which may result in a decrease in kernel number. Kernel number in maize is correlated negatively with the length of the anthesis-silking interval (ASI). A short ASI has been identified as an easily measured, visual trait which may identify enhanced drought tolerance in maize. Field studies were conducted to test whether: (1) delaying weed control would result in a lengthening of ASI in both a drought tolerant and non-drought tolerant maize hybrid and (2) the presence of drought tolerance genetics comes at a physiological cost, resulting in a greater yield reduction under weedy conditions. In this study, the response of a drought tolerant hybrid with its non-drought tolerant near-isoline was compared to seven different timings of weed control using wheat as a surrogate competitor. Results confirmed that there was no treatment by hybrid interaction at any site–yr for any of the parameters evaluated. Delaying weed control reduced plant height, leaf tip number, shifted and reduced biomass accumulation, kernel number and grain yield and lengthened ASI for both hybrids. Although yield losses occurred with the delay in weed control timing, no yield differences were observed between hybrids suggesting that there was no additional physiological cost associated with the drought tolerant traits. The drought tolerant hybrid, however, was found to have a shorter ASI, lower kernel number and higher kernel wt compared to the non-drought tolerant hybrid. This study confirmed that delaying weed control can influence the length of ASI, which is an important drought tolerant trait. The lengthening of ASI by early weed competition resulted in a rate of yield loss of 0.13 T ha⁻¹ growing degree days (GDD)⁻¹ when averaged across both hybrids and all treatments.Nomenclature: Maize, Zea mays L.