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Published in Crop Sci 33:279-282 (1993)
© 1993 Crop Science Society of America
677 S. Segoe Rd., Madison, WI 53711 USA
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Water Deficit Affects Receptivity of Maize Silks

Paolo Bassetti and Mark E. Westgate*

Centro Richerche Agronomiche, CH-6593 Cadenazzo, Switzerland
North Cent. Soil Conserv. res. Lab, Morris, MN 56267

* Corresponding author.

Drought during anthesis decreases seed set in maize (Zea mays L.) even if pollination occurs. To test whether low silk water potential ({psi}w) decreases silk receptivity, we examined silk development, pollen-silk interaction, and kernel set in two hybrids grown in a greenhouse and exposed to a brief water deficit after silks emerged from the husks. Low silk {psi}w directly affected silk development. Silk elongation was inhibited as silk {psi}w decreased, and no growth occurred at silk {psi}w below –0.8 MPa. Silk senescence (collapse of basal silk tissue) was delayed, compared with controls, when silk elongation was arrested by low {psi}w within 3 days after the first silks appeared (DAFS). similar water deficit 5 DAFS, however, hastened silk senescence. The change in silk development had a direct effect on kernel set. Low silk {psi}w decreased set 20 to 40% 3 DAFS, and decreased set almost completely 5 DAFS. Pollen tubes were observed in >90% of silks pollinated at {psi}w between –1.0 and –1.3 MPa, although there were fewer tubes per silk. Tube growth was slow at low silk {psi}w, but tubes failed to reach the ovary only after silks had senesced. These results indicate that low {psi}w imposed <4 DAFS limited kernel set primarily by causing developmental failure within the ovary, not loss of silk function. Low {psi}w imposed >5 DAFS limited kernel set by hastening silk senescence. Thus, water deficits at anthesis can cause loss of silk receptivity in maize, but only when low silk {psi}w occurs >5 d after silks emerge from the husks.

Contribution of the USDA-ARS (Morris, MN) in cooperation with the Univ. of Minnesota Agric. Exp. Stn. Scientific Journal Series no. 19,622.

Received for publication January 13, 1992.


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