Abstract
Water deficit is a major limiting condition for adaptation of maize in tropical environments. The aims of the current observations were to evaluate the kernel water relations for determining kernel developmental progress, rate, and duration of kernel filling, stem reserve mobilization in maize. In addition, canopy temperature, cell membrane stability, and anatomical adaptation under prolonged periods of pre- and post-anthesis water deficit in different hybrids was quantified to support observations related to kernel filling dynamics. In this context, two field experiments in two consecutive years were conducted with five levels of water regimes: control (D1), and four water deficit treatments [V10 to V13 (D2); V13 to V17 (D3); V17 to blister stage (D4); blisters to physiological maturity (D5)], on three maize hybrids (Pioneer 30B80, NK 40, and Suwan 4452) in Expt. 1. Expt. 2 had four water regimes: control (D1), three water deficit treatments [V10 to anthesis (D2); anthesis to milk stage (D3); milk to physiological maturity (D4)], and two maize hybrids (NK 40 and Suwan 4452). Water deficit imposed at different stages significantly reduced maximum kernel water content (MKWC), kernel filling duration (KFD), final kernel weight (FKW), and kernel weight ear –1 while it increased kernel water loss rate (KWLR), kernel filling rate (KFR), and stem weight depletion (SWD) across maize hybrids in both experiments. The lowest MKWC under water deficit was at D3 in both experiments, indicating that lower KFR results in lowest FKW in maize. Findings indicate that the MKWC ( R 2 = 0.85 and 0.41) and KFR ( R 2 = 0.62 and 0.37) were positively related to FKW in Expt. 1 and 2, respectively. The KFD was reduced by 5, 7, 7, and 11 days under water deficit at D3, D4 in Expt. 2 and D4, D5 in Expt. 1 as compared to control, respectively. Water deficit at D5 in Expt. 1 and D4 in Expt. 2 increased KWLR, KFR, and SWD. In Expt. 2, lower canopy temperature and electrical conductivity indicated cell membrane stability across water regimes in NK 40. Hybrid NK 40 under water deficit had significantly higher cellular adaptation by increasing the number of xylem vessel while reducing vessel diameter in leaf mid-rib and attached leaf blade. These physiological adjustments improved efficient transport of water from root to the shoot, which in addition to higher kernel water content, MKWC, KFD, KFR, and stem reserve mobilization capacity, rendered NK 40 to be better adapted to water-deficit conditions under tropical environments.
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Claims 16
Claim · model-written summary
Water deficit reduced maximum kernel water content, kernel filling duration and final kernel weight compared with control.
- Treatment
- Water deficit imposed at different stagese1
- Outcome
- maximum kernel water content (MKWC), kernel filling duration (KFD), final kernel weight (FKW)e1
- Direction
- reducede1
- Comparator
- control (D1)e0
Zea maysOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“Water deficit imposed at different stages significantly reduced maximum kernel water content (MKWC), kernel filling duration (KFD), final kernel weight (FKW), and kernel weight ear –1”
e0“with five levels of water regimes: control (D1)”
t0“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Water deficit reduced kernel weight per ear compared with control.
- Treatment
- Water deficit imposed at different stagese1
- Outcome
- kernel weight ear –1e1
- Direction
- reducede1
- Comparator
- control (D1)e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“Water deficit imposed at different stages significantly reduced maximum kernel water content (MKWC), kernel filling duration (KFD), final kernel weight (FKW), and kernel weight ear –1”
e0“with five levels of water regimes: control (D1)”
t0“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Water deficit increased kernel water loss rate, kernel filling rate and stem weight depletion across hybrids in both experiments.
- Treatment
- Water deficit imposed at different stagese1
- Outcome
- kernel water loss rate (KWLR), kernel filling rate (KFR), and stem weight depletion (SWD)e2
- Direction
- increasede2
- Comparator
- control (D1)e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e2“while it increased kernel water loss rate (KWLR), kernel filling rate (KFR), and stem weight depletion (SWD) across maize hybrids in both experiments”
e1“Water deficit imposed at different stages”
e0“with five levels of water regimes: control (D1)”
t0“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Water deficit at D3 gave the lowest maximum kernel water content in both experiments.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e3“The lowest MKWC under water deficit was at D3 in both experiments, indicating that lower KFR results in lowest FKW in maize”
t0“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Lower kernel filling rate may result in lowest final kernel weight.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e3“The lowest MKWC under water deficit was at D3 in both experiments, indicating that lower KFR results in lowest FKW in maize”
t0“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Maximum kernel water content was positively related to final kernel weight, R2 = 0.85 and 0.41.
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e4“the MKWC ( R 2 = 0.85 and 0.41) and KFR ( R 2 = 0.62 and 0.37) were positively related to FKW in Expt. 1 and 2, respectively”
t0“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Kernel filling rate was positively related to final kernel weight, R2 = 0.62 and 0.37.
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e4“the MKWC ( R 2 = 0.85 and 0.41) and KFR ( R 2 = 0.62 and 0.37) were positively related to FKW in Expt. 1 and 2, respectively”
t0“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Water deficit at D3 and D4 in Expt. 2 and D4 and D5 in Expt. 1 reduced kernel filling duration by 5, 7, 7 and 11 days compared with control.
- Treatment
- water deficit at D3, D4 in Expt. 2 and D4, D5 in Expt. 1e5
- Outcome
- KFDe5
- Direction
- reducede5
- Value
- 5, 7, 7, and 11 dayse5
- Comparator
- controle5
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e5“The KFD was reduced by 5, 7, 7, and 11 days under water deficit at D3, D4 in Expt. 2 and D4, D5 in Expt. 1 as compared to control, respectively”
t0“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Water deficit at D5 in Expt. 1 and D4 in Expt. 2 increased kernel water loss rate, kernel filling rate and stem weight depletion.
- Treatment
- Water deficit at D5 in Expt. 1 and D4 in Expt. 2e6
- Outcome
- KWLR, KFR, and SWDe6
- Direction
- increasede6
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e6“Water deficit at D5 in Expt. 1 and D4 in Expt. 2 increased KWLR, KFR, and SWD”
t0“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
NK 40 showed cell membrane stability across water regimes, indicated by lower canopy temperature and electrical conductivity.
- Material
- NK 40e7
- Outcome
- cell membrane stabilitye7
- Qualifier
- lower canopy temperature and electrical conductivitye7
- Setting
- Expt. 2e7
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e7“In Expt. 2, lower canopy temperature and electrical conductivity indicated cell membrane stability across water regimes in NK 40”
t0“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Under water deficit, NK 40 increased the number of xylem vessels in the leaf mid-rib and leaf blade.
- Material
- NK 40e1
- Organ / stage
- leaf mid-rib and attached leaf bladee1
- Treatment
- water deficite1
- Outcome
- the number of xylem vessele1
- Direction
- increasinge1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“Hybrid NK 40 under water deficit had significantly higher cellular adaptation by increasing the number of xylem vessel while reducing vessel diameter in leaf mid-rib and attached leaf blade”
t0“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Under water deficit, NK 40 reduced xylem vessel diameter in the leaf mid-rib and leaf blade.
- Material
- NK 40e1
- Organ / stage
- leaf mid-rib and attached leaf bladee1
- Treatment
- water deficite1
- Outcome
- vessel diametere1
- Direction
- reducinge1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“Hybrid NK 40 under water deficit had significantly higher cellular adaptation by increasing the number of xylem vessel while reducing vessel diameter in leaf mid-rib and attached leaf blade”
t0“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Adjustments in NK 40 improved efficient transport of water from root to shoot.
- Outcome
- efficient transport of water from root to the shoote1
- Qualifier
- These physiological adjustmentse1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“These physiological adjustments improved efficient transport of water from root to the shoot, which in addition to higher kernel water content, MKWC, KFD, KFR, and stem reserve mobilization capacity, rendered NK 40 to be better adapted to water-deficit conditions under tropical environments”
t0“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
NK 40 had higher kernel water content, MKWC and KFD than the other hybrids under water deficit.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“These physiological adjustments improved efficient transport of water from root to the shoot, which in addition to higher kernel water content, MKWC, KFD, KFR, and stem reserve mobilization capacity, rendered NK 40 to be better adapted to water-deficit conditions under tropical environments”
t0“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
NK 40 had higher kernel filling rate and stem reserve mobilization capacity.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“These physiological adjustments improved efficient transport of water from root to the shoot, which in addition to higher kernel water content, MKWC, KFD, KFR, and stem reserve mobilization capacity, rendered NK 40 to be better adapted to water-deficit conditions under tropical environments”
t0“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
NK 40 was better adapted to water-deficit conditions in tropical environments.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“These physiological adjustments improved efficient transport of water from root to the shoot, which in addition to higher kernel water content, MKWC, KFD, KFR, and stem reserve mobilization capacity, rendered NK 40 to be better adapted to water-deficit conditions under tropical environments”
t0“Maize (Zea mays L.)”
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