KERNEL FILLING AND KERNEL DESICCATION OF COMMERCIAL MAIZE HYBRIDS IN THE ROLLING PAMPAS: SOWING DATE EFFECTS

CHAZARRETA, Y.; AMAS, J.I.; OTEGUI, M.E.

Pergamino

Congreso; XI Congreso Nacional del Maíz; 2018

AIANBA

Sowing date (Sw) modifies the environmental conditions to which maize crops are exposed during grain filling and after physiological maturity (PM). The objective of this work was to characterize the patterns of kernel filling and kernel desiccation in a set of 4 hybrids when grown at two contrasting environments, an early (ESw: 31-Oct) and a late (LSw: 28-Dec) Sw. Individual kernel weight (KW), kernel filling rate (KFR), total duration of kernel filling (KFD),kernel desiccation rates before (b1) and after (b2) PM, and the breakpoint between these rates (x1) were computed for each treatment combination. Delayed Sw exposed the crop to reduced mean temperature and solar radiation after flowering. Also caused a 14.6% reduction in final KW (p