Abstract
At present, maize production is facing the challenge of balancing stalk lodging caused by stalk rot with maintaining a good grain yield potential. Improving the basal internode properties by optimizing nitrogen (N) management is an effective strategy to reduce the stalk rot incidence and stalk lodging rate, whilst simultaneously achieving a stable grain yield. A two-year field study was conducted to evaluate the basal internode characteristics under natural field conditions and inoculation with Fusarium pseudograminearum, the causative pathogen of stalk rot, and also to measure the ultimate grain yield with four different N fertilizer application rates (0, 120, 180, and 240 kg N ha−1). Rapid injection inoculation and histochemical staining technologies were employed to assess the stalk rot and lodging resistance. The results showed that reducing N rates improved the basal internode qualities (i.e., shorter internode length, larger cross-sectional area, improved internode plumpness and sclerenchyma tissue, and higher lignified degree and vascular number in sclerenchyma tissue) and enhanced the infection resistance. The lodging rate and stalk rot incidence all gradually declined with reduced N rates. Furthermore, pathogen diffusion degree which was indicated by infection index was decreased with reducing N rates. Ultimately, the mechanical strength of the N0, N120, N180, and N240 plants decreased by 5.31%, 5.83%, 5.01%, and 11.21% compared with that of the control, respectively. These results suggested that the stalk quality was improved through optimal nitrogen application, and also that the stalk rot and lodging resistance increased. The grain yield of the N180 plants was superior to that of those receiving the other treatments. Overall, 180 kg N ha−1 is recommended to balance the stalk lodging resistance and grain yield in the research region. Additionally, breeding cultivars with improved stalk quality is likely to be required to counter the escalating lodging risks arising from stalk rot occurrence.
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Claims 12
Claim · model-written summary
Reduced nitrogen rates improved maize basal internode structure.
Zea maysNot reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“reducing N rates improved the basal internode qualities (i.e., shorter internode length, larger cross-sectional area, improved internode plumpness and sclerenchyma tissue, and higher lignified degree and vascular number in sclerenchyma tissue)”
t0“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Reduced nitrogen rates enhanced maize infection resistance.
- Treatment
- reducing N ratese1
- Interactor
- Fusarium pseudograminearumFusarium pseudograminearume2pathogen
- Outcome
- infection resistancee0
- Direction
- enhancede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“enhanced the infection resistance.”
e1“reducing N rates improved the basal internode qualities”
e2“inoculation with Fusarium pseudograminearum, the causative pathogen of stalk rot”
t0“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Maize lodging rate declined as nitrogen rates were reduced.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The lodging rate and stalk rot incidence all gradually declined with reduced N rates.”
t0“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Maize stalk rot incidence declined as nitrogen rates were reduced.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The lodging rate and stalk rot incidence all gradually declined with reduced N rates.”
t0“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Pathogen diffusion in maize declined as nitrogen rates were reduced.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“pathogen diffusion degree which was indicated by infection index was decreased with reducing N rates.”
t0“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Mechanical strength of N0 maize plants decreased 5.31% against control.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the mechanical strength of the N0, N120, N180, and N240 plants decreased by 5.31%, 5.83%, 5.01%, and 11.21% compared with that of the control, respectively.”
t0“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Mechanical strength of N120 maize plants decreased 5.83% against control.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the mechanical strength of the N0, N120, N180, and N240 plants decreased by 5.31%, 5.83%, 5.01%, and 11.21% compared with that of the control, respectively.”
t0“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Mechanical strength of N180 maize plants decreased 5.01% against control.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the mechanical strength of the N0, N120, N180, and N240 plants decreased by 5.31%, 5.83%, 5.01%, and 11.21% compared with that of the control, respectively.”
t0“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Mechanical strength of N240 maize plants decreased 11.21% against control.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the mechanical strength of the N0, N120, N180, and N240 plants decreased by 5.31%, 5.83%, 5.01%, and 11.21% compared with that of the control, respectively.”
t0“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
N180 maize had superior grain yield to other treatments.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The grain yield of the N180 plants was superior to that of those receiving the other treatments.”
t0“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors recommend 180 kg N ha−1 to balance maize lodging resistance and yield.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Overall, 180 kg N ha−1 is recommended to balance the stalk lodging resistance and grain yield in the research region.”
t0“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors suggest breeding maize cultivars with better stalk quality.
- Outcome
- breeding cultivars with improved stalk qualitye0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“breeding cultivars with improved stalk quality is likely to be required to counter the escalating lodging risks arising from stalk rot occurrence.”
t0“Maize”
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