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Xenia and Maternal Effects on Maize Agronomic Traits at Three Plant Densities

Dep. of Crop and Weed Sciences, 374D Loftsgard Hall, North Dakota State Univ., Fargo, ND 58105

^* Corresponding author.

Kernel mass is a primary yield component in maize (Zea mays L.) governed by both xenia and maternal effects. Because kernel growth depends on assimilate supply, we wanted to learn if kernel-weight genes also affect plant size and agronomic characters. We reciprocally crossed three strains known to differ for rates of grain filling [high (HC), random (RC), and low (LC) R-nj color] with two kernel-weight strains [large (LG), and small (SM)] to produce 12 hybrid strains. For 2 yr at two locations, we grew plants of each hybrid at 24 000, 48 000, and 72 000 plants ha^–1 in plots arranged so that wind pollinated silks with either LG or SM pollen. Leaf number, leaf width, leaf length, and time to silk were measured to compute leaf area and average leaf expansion rate (ALER). We also measured grain yield and grain moisture concentration at harvest. In one of four environments, hybrids pollinated by the LG strain had 34% higher yields and 24 g kg^–1 lower harvest moisture than hybrids pollinated by the SM strain. Increasing plant density delayed silking, increased leaves per plant, and decreased leaf width. Hybrid plants from the LG strain yielded 10% more than hybrid plants from the SM strain. They also had 12% higher grain moisture at harvest, 11% greater leaf surface area (mainly from more and wider leaves), and silked 0.6 d later than SM plants. Hybrid plants from the HC strain produced higher grain yields and greater leaf surface areas than plants from the RC or the LC strains. Leaf surface area was correlated (r = 0.80, P < 0.01) with grain yield. Kernel growth genes influenced yield via xenia effects but mainly by genes in the plant. Although R-nj color genes only increased yields of specific reciprocal hybrids, in properly planned hybrids these genes may complement genes that increase yield via larger kernels.

Received for publication September 17, 1993.