HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Russell, W. K. Articles by Stuber, C. W. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Russell, W. K. Articles by Stuber, C. W. Agricola Articles by Russell, W. K. Articles by Stuber, C. W.

Genotype x Photoperiod and Genotype x Temperature Interactions for Maturity in Maize¹

A six-parent diallel of maize (Zea mays L.) was evaluated for total leaf number (TLN), days to tassel initiation (DTI), and to pollen shed (DPS) in 18 diverse field environments and two phytotron environments to determine the contribution of photoperiod and temperature variables to the genotype x environment interaction. Understanding the interaction of genotype, photoperiod, and temperature is essential, for ultimately the timing of tassel initiation and other major developmental events determines yield. For each trait, but particularly for TLN, the contribution of general combining ability (gca) to the genotype and genotype x environment sums of squares far exceeded that of specific combining ability (sca). For both TLN and DTI, the linear effect of photoperiod was the primary climatic variable contributing to the gca x environment interaction. The same rankings of gca effects in response to photoperiod were observed for TLN and DTI, with a range in parental sensitivity from 0.4 leaves and 0.0 days/h to 1.9 leaves and 4.9 days/h. For neither trait was there evidence of a critical daylength. The primary difference between TLN and DTI was that DTI was more sensitive to temperature, particularly average low temperature, than was TLN. Although the linear term for photoperiod also contributed significantly to the gca x environment interaction for DPS, its effect was overshadowed by that of temperature.

Key Words: Corn • Zea mays L. • Regression analysis • Genotype x Environment interaction • Photosensitivity • Leaf number • Tassel initiation • Pollen shed

² Former graduate research assistant in genetics, North Carolina State University and now with Molecular Genetics Inc.; research geneticist, USDA, ARS, and professor of genetics, North Carolina State University.

Received for publication March 27, 1984.