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ARS Home » Plains Area » Bushland, Texas » Conservation and Production Research Laboratory » Soil and Water Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #331153

Title: Radiation use efficiency, biomass production, and grain yield in two maize hybrids differing in drought tolerance

Author
item HAO, B - Texas A&M Agrilife
item XUE, Q - Texas A&M Agrilife
item MAREK, T - Texas A&M Agrilife
item JESSUP, K - Texas A&M Agrilife
item HOU, X - Texas A&M Agrilife
item XU, W - Texas A&M Agrilife
item BYNUM, E - Texas A&M Agrilife
item BEAN, B - United Sorghum Checkoff

Submitted to: Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/28/2015
Publication Date: 7/4/2016
Citation: Hao, B., Xue, Q., Marek, T.H., Jessup, K.E., Hou, X., Xu, W., Bynum, E.D., Bean, B.W. 2016. Radiation use efficiency, biomass production, and grain yield in two maize hybrids differing in drought tolerance. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science. 202(4):269-280.

Interpretive Summary: Drought tolerant (DT) corn hybrids have potential to increase yield under water limiting conditions. However, little information is known about the physiological determinations of yield in DT hybrids. Scientists from Texas A&M AgriLife Research, and United Sorghum Checkoff in ARS led Ogallala Aquifer Program assessed biomass production, and yield in two hybrids differing in drought tolerance under two irrigation regimes. The DT hybrid had a higher harvest index at the lower irrigation regime and greater biomass accumulation after silking. These results are of interest to agronomists and plant breeders trying to develop drought tolerant corn hybrids.

Technical Abstract: Drought tolerant (DT) maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids have potential to increase yield under drought conditions. However, little information is known about the physiological determinations of yield in DT hybrids. Our objective was to assess radiation use efficiency (RUE), biomass production, and yield in two hybrids differing in drought tolerance. Field experiments were conducted in 2013 and 2014 with two hybrids, P1151HR (DT hybrid) and 33D49 (conventional hybrid) under well watered (I100) and drought (I50) conditions. I100 and I50 refer to 100% and 50% evapotranspiration requirement, respectively. On average, P1151HR yielded 11 to 27% greater than 33D49 at I100 and about 40% greater at I50. At I100, greater yield in P1151HR was due to greater biomass at physiological maturity (BM pm) resulting from greater post silking biomass accumulation (BM post). At I50, both hybrids had similar BM pm but P1151HR showed a higher harvest index and greater BM post. RUE differed significantly (P less than 0.05) between the hybrids at I100, but not at I50. At I100, the RUE values for P1151HR and 33D49 were 4.87 and 4.28 g per MJ in 2013, and 3.71 and 3.48 g per MJ in 2014. At I50, the mean RUE was 3.89 g per MJ in 2013 and 3.16 g per MJ in 2014. Results indicate that BM post is important for maintaining high yield in DT maize.