Summary
Grain-fill rates and durations were estimated for three early maize (Zea mays L.) strains developed by mass selection for variable R-nj aleurone color expression. Strains selected for high, random, and low color expression were evaluated for rate of dry matter accumulation (RDMA), effective filling period duration (EFPD), and lag period duration (LPD). Strains from cycles 3 and 4 were grown in 1980 and 1981, respectively, to test the hypothesis that selection for variable R-nj expression had changed rate and/or duration of grain-fill. Results indicated that while selection for high R-nj expression increased RDMA and decreased EFPD, low color selection reduced RDMA and increased EFPD. LPD was increased slightly by high color selection. The relationships of these characteristics to previously observed yield, stability, and ear moisture differences among these strains are discussed.
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Journal Article No. 1244 of the North Dakota Agri. Exp. Stn., Fargo. This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture under Agreement No. 5901-0410-9-0337-0.
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Alexander, W.L., Cross, H.Z. Grain-fill characteristics of early maize strains selected for variable R-nj expression. Euphytica 32, 839–843 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00042165
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00042165