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Reproduction at Low and Pollen Water Potentials in Maize¹

Losses in grain yield are particularly severe when low water potentials (low _W) occur at anthesis in maize (Zea mays L.). The losses can result from delays in floral development and from a failure in grain development when flowering appears normal. The causes of the latter problem are unknown, but could involve either the male or the female flower. Therefore, we made reciprocal crosses at various stigma (silk) and pollen _W to determine which flower part failed at low _W. The plants grew in soil in a controlled environment where silk _W was between –0.3 and –0.5 MPa and pollen _W between –1.5 and –12.5 MPa during the day. Water was withheld for a few days at anthesis after which water was resupplied and grain production was evaluated. At high pollen and silk _W plants produced about 550 grains ear^–1. At low pollen _W (to –12.5 MPa), plants also produced grain at a similar high rate. However, at low silk _W (–1.2 MPa), grain did not develop. The failure of the grain to grow could not be attributed to insufficient water on the silk surfaces because pollen germinated and the pollen tube grew within the silks. The egg sac invariably was fertilized but the embryo, endosperm, and seedcoat did not develop beyond 2 or 3 days. Therefore, the failure to produce grain at low _W was attributed to factors in the female flower that allowed fertilization to occur but prevented embryo development. Because both embryonic and maternal tissues were involved, the effect suggests a general starvation for substrate, which could have been caused either by a lack of photosynthate or by a blockage of translocation. Earlier work from our laboratory showed that photosynthesis was inhibited at these _W, and that carbohydrate reserves were low at this time. However, reserves accumulated at later stages of grain fill and could support grain growth when low _W occurred. Therefore, a lack of photosynthate rather than a blockage of translocation may have caused the failure in grain development when low _W were present at anthesis.

Key Words: Water deficits • Fertilization • Embryo • Endosperm • Grain yield • Photosynthesis • Zea mays L.

² Plant physiologist, USDA-ARS, North Central Soil Conserv. Res. Lab., Morris, MN 56267; plant physiologist and professor, Dep. of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M Univ., College Station, TX 77843.

Received for publication August 28, 1985.

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