Maize grain filling characteristics in China: Response to meteorological factors

To investigate the dynamic changes in dry matter accumulation in maize after anthesis, we established a logistic model to describe grain filling characteristics (GFC), and analyzed differences between spring and summer maize, and the influence of meteorological factors. The results showed that the logistic model accurately simulated the dynamic changes in grain growth. For spring maize, the fitted hundred-grain weight at maturity was closely related to the average grain filling rate until maturity, days of the active grain filling period, time of the maximum grain filling rate, and duration of the rapid increase in grain weight. For summer maize, it was closely related to the time of the maximum grain filling rate, days of active grain filling period, duration of gradual grain weight, and the rapidly increasing period. The filling characteristics of spring and summer maize differed because of the different meteorological conditions and biological characteristics. The grain filling duration of spring maize was longer than that of summer maize. The maximum grain filling rate of spring maize occurred later than that of summer maize. Temperature and precipitation were the main meteorological factors affecting the hundred-grain weight of spring maize, whereas temperature was the main factor affecting summer maize. The response of spring maize GFC to meteorological factors was more complex than that of summer maize. These results are important for the development of appropriate strategies for improving maize productivity in China.