Abstract
In maize (Zea mays L.) large decreases in kernel number result when low water potentials (Psi(w)) and high temperatures occur during pollination. To gain insight into the basis for the decreased seed set, silk, pollen, and ear-leaf Psi(w), the capability for silk osmotic adjustment, and pollen appearance were measured to determine their relationship to seed set. A multiple-eared or prolific (high carbohydrate availability to the pistillate inflorescence) hybrid (B73 x FR25), a heat sensitive hybrid (WF9 x A632), and a commercial hybrid (B73 x Mo17) were studied. A cross-pollination experiment, with pollination limited by pollen amount, was conducted to determine the impact on seed set of water and heat stressing the tassel and water stressing the ear. At low Psi(w), silk Psi(w) and seed set were decreased whereas pollen Psi(w), appearance, and viability were unaffected. High temperature resulted in a 2 megapascal decrease in pollen Psi(w), visually damaged pollen being shed, decreased pollen viability, and, in two of the hybrids, substantially decreased pollen shed. Prolificacy did not result in increased silk solute accumulation but did result in superior seed production by the pistillate inflorescence at low Psi(w). The magnitude of the decrease in silk solute potential was small (0.2 megapascal) and similar for all genotypes. One hybrid maintained a relatively high silk turgor but this hybrid also decreased the most in seed production when the pistillate inflorescence was water deficient. These results indicated an adverse effect of high temperature on pollen development, a positive relationship between seed production and silk water status, and no advantage to high silk turgor after silk emergence in maintaining seed production. Additionally, there was no evidence of variation in silk solute regulation capability among hybrids which varied in prolificacy, a trait important in drought tolerance, but the seed production of the pistillate inflorescence of the prolific hybrid was least affected by water deficit.
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Claims 13
Claim · model-written summary
Low water potential decreased silk water potential.
Zea maysOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“At low Psi(w), silk Psi(w) and seed set were decreased whereas pollen Psi(w), appearance, and viability were unaffected.”
t0“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Low water potential decreased seed set.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“At low Psi(w), silk Psi(w) and seed set were decreased whereas pollen Psi(w), appearance, and viability were unaffected.”
t0“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Low water potential left pollen water potential, appearance and viability unaffected.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“At low Psi(w), silk Psi(w) and seed set were decreased whereas pollen Psi(w), appearance, and viability were unaffected.”
t0“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
High temperature decreased pollen water potential by 2 megapascal.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“High temperature resulted in a 2 megapascal decrease in pollen Psi(w), visually damaged pollen being shed, decreased pollen viability, and, in two of the hybrids, substantially decreased pollen shed.”
t0“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
High temperature damaged shed pollen.
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“High temperature resulted in a 2 megapascal decrease in pollen Psi(w), visually damaged pollen being shed, decreased pollen viability, and, in two of the hybrids, substantially decreased pollen shed.”
t0“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
High temperature reduced pollen viability.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“High temperature resulted in a 2 megapascal decrease in pollen Psi(w), visually damaged pollen being shed, decreased pollen viability, and, in two of the hybrids, substantially decreased pollen shed.”
t0“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
High temperature reduced pollen shed in two hybrids.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“High temperature resulted in a 2 megapascal decrease in pollen Psi(w), visually damaged pollen being shed, decreased pollen viability, and, in two of the hybrids, substantially decreased pollen shed.”
t0“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Prolificacy did not increase silk solute accumulation.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Prolificacy did not result in increased silk solute accumulation”
t0“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Prolificacy improved seed production at low water potential.
- Organ / stage
- pistillate inflorescencee0
- Outcome
- seed productione0
- Direction
- superiore0
- Qualifier
- at low Psi(w)e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“did result in superior seed production by the pistillate inflorescence at low Psi(w)”
t0“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Silk solute potential fell by 0.2 megapascal similarly across genotypes.
- Organ / stage
- silke0
- Outcome
- silk solute potentiale0
- Direction
- decreasee0
- Value
- 0.2 megapascale0
- Qualifier
- similar for all genotypese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The magnitude of the decrease in silk solute potential was small (0.2 megapascal) and similar for all genotypes.”
t0“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
The hybrid retaining relatively high silk turgor lost the most seed production under water deficit.
- Organ / stage
- silke0
- Outcome
- seed productione0
- Direction
- decreased the moste0
- Qualifier
- pistillate inflorescence was water deficiente0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“One hybrid maintained a relatively high silk turgor but this hybrid also decreased the most in seed production when the pistillate inflorescence was water deficient.”
t0“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Silk solute regulation capability did not vary among hybrids differing in prolificacy.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“there was no evidence of variation in silk solute regulation capability among hybrids which varied in prolificacy”
t0“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
The prolific hybrid had the least water-deficit effect on pistillate seed production.
- Material
- prolific hybride0
- Organ / stage
- pistillate inflorescencee0
- Outcome
- seed productione0
- Direction
- least affectede0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the seed production of the pistillate inflorescence of the prolific hybrid was least affected by water deficit”
t0“Maize”