Roots Partially Drive Super Sweet Maize Yield
J. Rattin
Faculty of Agronomy, University of Buenos Aires, Avenida San Martín 4453 (C1417DSE), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
P. Wagner
Faculty of Agronomy, University of Buenos Aires, Avenida San Martín 4453 (C1417DSE), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
D. Ferreyro
Faculty of Agronomy, University of Buenos Aires, Avenida San Martín 4453 (C1417DSE), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
A. Riverti
Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, National University of Mar del Plata, Route 226, km. 73.5 (B7620ZAA), Balcarce, Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
E. Giardina
Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, National University of Mar del Plata, Route 226, km. 73.5 (B7620ZAA), Balcarce, Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
A. Di Benedetto *
Faculty of Agronomy, University of Buenos Aires, Avenida San Martín 4453 (C1417DSE), Buenos Aires, Argentina and Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, National University of Mar del Plata, Route 226, km. 73.5 (B7620ZAA), Balcarce, Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Although it has been indicated that corn biomass accumulation between sowing and harvest are directly related to incident photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) intercepted by the canopy, plant roots can sense soil environment and, via some internal signal, transmit the condition of the soil to extending leaves. Experiments combined two plant densities, a transplant routine and a single benzyl aminopurine (BAP) spray on different super sweet maize hybrids to test the hypothesis that a changes in both light and root environments drive super sweet maize yield. Pot experiment showed a close coordination between roots and shoot growth while field experiments support the proposed hypothesis through the positive relationships between RLAE, CGR and yield and root dry weight. This novelty approach would indicate that root growth could be considered as a limiting factor to shoot growth and yield in super sweet maize crops.
Keywords: Cytokinin, direct seeding, plant density, transplant