The Temporal Dynamics of Kernel Set in Tropical Sweet Maize Determined by Visual Markers
2010
Rupitak, Quanjai | Stamp, Peter | Jampatong, Sansern | Chowchong, Surapol | Messmer, Rainer
The initiation of kernels along the maize ear depends on the temporal dynamics of silk emergence and pollen shedding. We conducted a nondestructive examination of the dynamics of silk emergence of tropical sweet maize (Zea mays L.); flint-type grains were the visual markers. The silks were pollinated on consecutive days with pollen of sweet maize (recessive allele) on 6 d and with pollen of flint-type maize (dominant allele) on 1 d (one pollination treatment for each of the seven possible days). The resulting hard kernels could be distinguished from the shriveled sweet kernels. The time of pollination had a strong effect on kernel set. The highest percentage of daily kernel set was observed on the first day of silking (Day 1). It accounted for 31 (2007) and 42% (2008) of the total kernels per ear. The distribution of these kernels followed a bell-shaped curve with a peak at around the position of the tenth kernel from the bottom of the ear. On the following days, kernel set followed a double bell-shaped curve with the peak shifting to the tip of the ear followed by a steady decrease. The minor peak, at the bottom of the ears, almost disappeared by Day 4 of silking. More than 90% of the final number of kernels was set within five (2007) or three (2008) days. The visual marker system successfully traced the dynamics of silk emergence and its impact on kernel set as well as its dependence on environmental conditions during flowering.
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