Evaluation of corn hybrids for silage grown in different locations / Avaliação de híbridos de milho para silagem cultivados em diferentes locais

The aim of this study was to evaluate the yield, morphometric and chemical characteristics, and the digestibility of various corn hybrids cultivated in different locations for silage production. Four corn hybrids were grown: P2866H, P3456H, P30R50VYH and P4285YHR, in four locations, defined as farm A; B; C and D. The hybrid P4285YHR presented the highest plant and ear insertion heights (2.72m, 1.52m respectively), with a minimum registered height of 2.63 m and 1.42 m, for plant and ear insertion height, and for that reason it presented the highest yield of fresh biomass (78,089kg ha-1). The TND values showed trend very close to that observed in the DISMS of the whole-plant, with hybrid P3456H presenting the highest estimated value (68.74%), and the hybrid P4285YHR the lowest among them (65.25%). In general, lower fibrous carbohydrates and lignin content, higher fibrous carbohydrates content, together with satisfactory grains participation in the plant structure led to a greater dry matter digestibility. Hybrids with lower plant heights do not necessarily have lower dry biomass yields, but hybrids of greater height and with high stem and leaf participation tend to have a higher aFDN content and less dry matter digestibility.(AU)

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o desempenho produtivo e as características morfométricas e químicas, além da digestibilidade de diferentes híbridos de milho cultivados em diferentes locais para produção de silagem. Foram cultivados quatro híbridos de milho: P2866H, P3456H, P30R50VYH e P4285YHR, em quatro locais, definidos como propriedades A; B; C e D. O híbrido P4285YHR apresentou as maiores alturas de planta e de inserção de espiga (2,72m, 1,52m, respectivamente), com altura mínima registrada, nos diferentes locais, de 2,63m e 1,42m, para altura de planta e inserção de espiga, e, por isso, apresentou o maior rendimento de biomassa fresca (78.089kg ha-1). Os valores calculados de NDT mostraram tendência muito próxima àquela observada na DISMS da planta inteira, tendo o híbrido P3456H apresentado o maior valor estimado (68,74%), e o híbrido P4285YHR o menor entre eles (65,25%). Em geral, menores concentrações de carboidratos fibrosos e lignina, maior teor de carboidratos fibrosos, juntamente com satisfatória participação de grãos na estrutura da planta, conduzem a uma maior digestibilidade da matéria seca. Híbridos com menores alturas de planta não necessariamente apresentam menores rendimentos de biomassa seca, mas híbridos de maior altura e com alta participação de colmo e folhas tendem a apresentar maior teor de aFDN e menor digestibilidade da matéria seca.(AU)

High-throughput micro-phenotyping measurements applied to assess stalk lodging in maize ( Zea mays L. )

BACKGROUND: The biomechanical properties of maize stalks largely determine their lodging resistance, which affects crop yield per unit area. However, the quantitative and qualitative relationship between micro-phenotypes and the biomechanics of maize stalks is still under examined. In particular, the roles of the number, geometry, and distribution of vascular bundles of stalks in maize lodging resistance remain unclear. Research on these biomechanical properties will benefit from high-resolution micro-phenotypic image acquisition capabilities, which have been improved by modern X-ray imaging devices such as micro-CT and the development of micro-phenotyping analysis software. Hence, high-throughput image analysis and accurate quantification of anatomical phenotypes of stalks are necessary. RESULTS: We have updated VesselParser version 1.0 to version 2.0 and have improved its performance, accuracy, and computation strategies. Anatomical characteristics of the second and third stalk internodes of the cultivars 'Jingke968' and 'Jingdan38' were analyzed using VesselParser 2.0. The relationships between lodging resistance and anatomical phenotypes of stalks between the two different maize varieties were investigated. The total area of vascular bundles in the peripheral layer, auxiliary axis diameter, and total area of vascular bundles were revealed to have the highest correlation with mechanical properties, and anatomical phenotypes of maize stalk were better predictors of mechanical properties than macro features observed optically from direct measurement, such as diameter and perimeter. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the utility of VesselParser 2.0 in assessing stalk mechanical properties. The combination of anatomical phenotypes and mechanical behavior research provides unique insights into the problem of stalk lodging, showing that micro phenotypes of vascular bundles are good predictors of maize stalk mechanical properties that may be important indices for the evaluation and identification of the biomechanical properties to improve lodging resistance of future maize varieties.

Ultrastructure and histology of organogenesis induced from shoot tips of maize (Zea mays, Poaceae) / Ultraestructura e histología de la organogénesis inducida a partir de puntas de brotes de maíz (Zea mays, Poaceae)

Shoot tips of maize (Zea mays L.) were cultured on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 2 mg/l BA +1 mg/l 2,4-D +40 mg/l, to investigate phases of ontogenetic development. The study used light microscopy as well as scanning and transmission electronic microscopy techniques. Shoot tips of maize are composed of small cells with a dense cytoplasm and a prominent nucleus. The process of organogenesis began with swelling of the shoot tip, as the first evidence of organogenic calli formation observed three weeks after culture get started. There were two morphologically different types of cells within the organogenic calli. The layer consisted of large cells with small nucleus, free-organelle cytosol, irregular plasmatic membrane, trichome-like structures, and thick cell walls. In the inner cell layer, small and isodiametric cells with a prominent nucleus, small vacuoles, endoplasmatic reticulum, Golgi, mitochondrias and chloroplasts were observed. The presence of trichomes in the more active morphogenic zones could indicate an organogenic potential. Rev. Biol. Trop. 57 (Suppl. 1): 129-139. Epub 2009 November 30.

Los ápices de vástagos de maíz (Zea mays L.) fueron cultivados con el medio Murashige y Skoog, utilizando como suplemento 2 mg/l BA +1 mg/l 2,4-D +40 mg/l, con el fin de investigar el proceso organogénico durante las diferentes fases del desarrollo ontogenético. El estudio utilizó tanto microscopía de luz, como técnicas de microscopía electrónica. Los análisis histológicos revelaron que los vástagos de maíz están compuestos de pequeñas células con citoplasma denso y núcleo prominente. El proceso de organogénesis inicia con el engrosamiento del ápice del vástago, como primera evidencia de la formación organogénica del calli observada tres semanas después del inicio del cultivo. El estudio ultraestructural muestra dos tipos de células morfológicamente diferentes en el calli organogénico. La capa externa consiste de células grandes con núcleo pequeño, citosol sin organelas, membrana plamática irregular, estructuras similares a tricomas y paredes celulares delgadas. Mientras que en la capa interna se observaron células pequeñas e isodiamétricas con un núcleo prominente, vacuolas pequeñas, retículo endoplasmático, Golgi, mitocondrias y cloroplastos. Observaciones de microscopía electrónica revelan la organización externa de la organogénesis del calli del maíz. Los resultados obtenidos en el presente estudio contribuyen con la comprensión del proceso de organogénesis en los ápices de los vástagos del maíz. Este estudio mejorará nuestro conocimiento acerca de los estados anatómicos óptimos para la integración estable de genes externos. Además, provee información de las condiciones apropiadas en el cultivo in vitro para la regeneración de plantas transgénicas. Este estudio sugiere que la presencia de tricomas en las zonas morfogénicas más activas podría indicar su potencial organogénico.

Characterization of water binding and germination traits of magnetically exposed maize (Zea mays L.) seeds equilibrated at different relative humidities at two temperatures.

A study was undertaken to characterize the water sorption properties and enhancement in germination and seedling vigour of maize (Zea mays L.) seeds exposed to static magnetic fields of 100 mT and 200 mT for 2 and 1h, respectively. Water sorption isotherms were constructed for magnetically- exposed and unexposed seeds by equilibrating over different saturated salt solutions at 25 and 35°C. The germination and vigour parameters were evaluated for magnetically-exposed and unexposed seeds, equilibrated over the wide range of relative humidities (RHs) at 25 and 35°C. Moisture content increased with increase in RH and decreased with increase in equilibrium temperature. The germination and vigour reduced at high and very low humidities. Magnetically-exposed seeds maintained higher germination and vigour at both temperatures and all RHs, indicating the better quality of magnetically- exposed seeds. The leachate conductivity of magnetically-exposed seeds was lower than unexposed seeds at all RHs, suggesting better membrane integrity in magnetically-exposed seeds. Analysis of the isotherms using D’Arcy-Watt equation revealed that irrespective of the temperature, in magnetically-treated seeds weak binding sites were more and strong and multi-molecular binding sites were less compared to the unexposed seeds. Total binding sites were more in unexposed control seeds. The modification of binding properties of seed water and increased seed membrane integrity in magnetically-exposed seeds might have enhanced the germination traits and early seedling growth of maize.