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Related Experiment Videos

Maize leaves turn away from neighbors.

Gustavo Angel Maddonni1, María Elena Otegui, Bruno Andrieu

  • 1Departamento de Producción Vegetal, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Avenue San Martín 4453, C1417DSE, Buenos Aires, Argentina. maddonni@agro.uba.ar

Plant Physiology
|November 13, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Maize plants adapt leaf orientation to light signals, with one hybrid (DK696) optimizing light capture. This phytochrome-mediated response, contrary to prior beliefs, can benefit crop yield by reducing shading.

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Area of Science:

  • Plant Physiology
  • Agricultural Science
  • Crop Science

Background:

  • Commercial maize (Zea mays) is planted in rectangular arrangements (70 cm between rows, 16-23 cm within rows).
  • This creates heterogeneous light environments with varying red (R) to far-red (FR) light ratios, especially in interrow spaces.
  • Plant responses to R:FR light ratios are crucial for optimizing light capture and yield.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how different maize hybrids respond to varying R:FR light ratios.
  • To determine if phytochrome-mediated responses to low R:FR light are beneficial or detrimental to crop yield.
  • To understand the role of leaf orientation and tillering in response to light signals.

Main Methods:

  • Comparison of two maize hybrids (DK696 and Exp980) under field and growth chamber conditions.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Simulation of neighboring plants using mirrors reflecting FR light near isolated plants.
  • Localized application of FR light to specific leaves to assess direct responses.
  • Analysis of leaf orientation, tillering, and plant height in response to light treatments.

    • Main Results:

    • DK696 exhibited increased leaf proportion towards interrow spaces, while Exp980 showed random leaf orientation.
    • DK696 leaves turned away from low R:FR signals, whereas Exp980 leaves were unaffected.
    • Low R:FR ratios reduced tillering and increased plant height in Exp980, but not in DK696.
    • Preconditioning with simulated neighbors reduced mutual shading in DK696 when plants were grouped.

    Conclusions:

    • Maize hybrid DK696 demonstrates adaptive leaf orientation in response to low R:FR light signals, optimizing light capture.
    • Phytochrome-mediated responses to low R:FR light are not detrimental and can reduce mutual shading, contradicting previous assumptions.
    • These findings suggest that manipulating light environments and leveraging hybrid-specific responses can enhance crop yield.