1st Edition
Physiological Bases for Maize Improvement
217 Pages
by
CRC Press
234 Pages
by
CRC Press
Improve the quantity and quality of maize crops in any environment!While isolated examples of the physiological bases for genetic improvement of maize yield can be found in several papers (most of which are cited in this book), there has not, until now, been a single volume that delivers and clarifies all of the available information in this field! Today, Physiological Bases for Maize Improvement offers scientists and crop growers a thorough and concise guide to recent literature and developments about increasing the crop efficiency of corn. In Physiological Bases for Maize Improvement, international experts in the field discuss and analyze methods of effectively improving crop breeding and producing better and larger yields of corn.Physiological Bases for Maize Improvement delivers clear, thorough discussions of:
- improving maize grain yield potential in a cool environment
- improving maize grain yield potential in the tropics
- processes affecting maize grain yield potential in temperate conditions
- maize improvement for drought-limited conditions
- apical dominance, herbivory resistance, and competitive ability
- the use of simulation models for crop improvement . . . and much more! With this book, you will find ways to improve maize crops in a variety of countries and climates and understand the importance of kernel numbers and kernel growth to the overall yield. Containing current research and case studies, Physiological Bases for Maize Improvement provides you with vital strategies that will improve the quality and quantity of corn and increase plant functionality and fitness.
Contents
- About the Editors
- Contributors
- Preface
- Chapter 1. Is There a Niche for Physiology in Future Genetic Improvement of Maize Yields?
- Worldwide Importance of Maize
- Trends in Population Growth and Maize Yields
- Genetic Contributions to Gains in Maize Yields
- A Niche for Crop Physiology in Maize Breeding
- Concluding Remarks
- Chapter 2. Improving Maize Grain Yield Potential in a Cool Environment
- Introduction
- Resource Capture and Utilization
- Stress Tolerance and Stand Uniformity
- Conclusions
- Chapter 3. Processes Affecting Maize Grain Yield Potential in Temperate Conditions
- Introduction
- Setting Number of Seeds per Ear
- Importance of Stored Carbohydrate for Yield Production with Late-Season Stress
- Mechanisms of Seed Weight Determination in Maize
- Conclusions
- Chapter 4. Improving Maize Grain Yield Potential in the Tropics
- Determinants of Potential Yield
- Benchmarking Maize Yield Potential
- Opportunities for Improvement in Maize Grain Yield Potential
- Conclusions
- Chapter 5. Factors Affecting Kernel Number in Maize
- Introduction
- Critical Period for Kernel Number Determination
- The Relationship Between Kernel Number and Plant Growth Rate
- Nitrogen and Water
- Duration of the Critical Period for Kernel Set
- Other Factors Affecting Kernel Set
- Conclusions
- Chapter 6. Maize Improvement for Drought-Limited Environments
- Introduction
- The Target Environment
- Conceptual Framework
- Drought Stress and Stages of Growth
- Earliness, Yield Potential, and the Selection Environment
- The Use of Drought-Adaptive Secondary Traits in Breeding
- Selection in Elite Tropical Germplasm for Tolerance to Drought During Flowering and Grain Filling
- Recent Trends
- Conclusions: An Effective Strategy for Improving Drought Tolerance in Maize
- Chapter 7. Strategies to Maintain Ovary and Kernel Growth During Drought
- Introduction
- Ear and Ovary Growth Prior to Pollination
- Ovary Growth During Pollination
- Kernel Growth After Pollination
- Conclusions
- Chapter 8. Variation in Apical Dominance and Its Implications for Herbivory Resistance, Competitive Ability, and Biomass Partitioning
- Introduction
- Apical Dominance and Herbivory Resistance
- Apical Dominance and Competitive Ability
- Apical Dominance, Herbivory Resistance, and Competitive Ability
- Meristem Allocation: A Tool to Analyze Crop Growth
- Conclusion
- Chapter 9. Breeding Maize to Face Weed Problems
- Introduction
- Weed Interference
- Management Scenarios and Strategies
- Crop Design
- Concluding Remarks
- Chapter 10. Use of Simulation Models for Crop Improvement
- Introduction
- The Crop Improvement Process
- Planning: Yield Potential
- Planning: Yield Gaps
- Line Evaluation
- Concluding Comments
- Chapter 11. Recent Research on Maize Grain Yield in Argentina
- Introduction
- Breeding Effects on Maize Kernel Number Determination
- Pollination Synchrony and Maize Kernel Number
- Water Deficit
- Conclusions
- Index
- Reference Notes Included
Biography
Gustavo A Slafer, Maria E Otegui
