This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Web of Science (36) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Westgate, M. E. Articles by Grant, D. L. T. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Westgate, M. E. Articles by Grant, D. L. T. Agricola Articles by Westgate, M. E. Articles by Grant, D. L. T.

Environmental and Stress Physiology

Water Deficits and Reproduction in Maize ¹

Response of the Reproductive Tissue to Water Deficits at Anthesis and Mid-Grain Fill

U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service-MWA, Morris, Minnesota 56267, North Central Soil Conservation Research Laboratory and University of Minnesota, Morris, Minnesota 56267

Reproductive development in maize (Zea mays L.) is vulnerable to plant water deficits during anthesis but becomes less sensitive as reproduction progresses. To determine whether changes in tissue water status correlated with the change in sensitivity, we examined the water potential (_w), osmotic potential (_s), and turgor of reproductive tissues during a short-term water deficit imposed at anthesis or mid-grain fill. Plants were grown in controlled environments in soil. At anthesis, leaf, husk, silk, and ovary _w of control plants was similar (–0.5 to –0.65 megapascal) at midday. When water was withheld, _w decreased to –1.75, –1.3, –1.2, and –1.0 megapascal in these tissues. Net water uptake by the ovaries was inhibited, but final dry weight, solute content, and total extractable carbohydrates were similar to the controls. At mid-grain fill, leaf, husk, grain, and embryo _w of control plants were –0.55, –0.35, –0.75, and –0.80 megapascal at midday. When water was withheld, leaf and husk _w decreased to –2.4 and –1.4 megapascal within 6 days. However, grain and embryo _w remained within 0.15 megapascal of control values. The grain continued to accumulate dry matter despite a net loss of water and a reduction in total solute content. These results indicate that the response of the reproductive tissues to plant water deficits varies with stage of grain development. The maintenance of a favorable water status only after grain filling is under way may explain, at least in part, the high sensitivity to plant water deficits early in reproductive development and the decrease in sensitivity as reproduction progresses.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. S. Boyer and M. E. Westgate Grain yields with limited water J. Exp. Bot., November 1, 2004; 55(407): 2385 - 2394. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. D. Loecke, M. Liebman, C. A. Cambardella, and T. L. Richard Corn Growth Responses to Composted and Fresh Solid Swine Manures Crop Sci., January 1, 2004; 44(1): 177 - 184. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L.-X. Yu and T. L. Setter Comparative Transcriptional Profiling of Placenta and Endosperm in Developing Maize Kernels in Response to Water Deficit Plant Physiology, February 1, 2003; 131(2): 568 - 582. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Z. WANG, S. MAMBELLI, and T. L. SETTER Abscisic Acid Catabolism in Maize Kernels in Response to Water Deficit at Early Endosperm Development Ann. Bot., November 1, 2002; 90(5): 623 - 630. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]