Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026
05:55
High-throughput, Microscale Protocol for the Analysis of Processing Parameters and Nutritional Qualities in Maize (Zea mays L.)
Published on: June 16, 2018
High night temperature during the effective grain-filling stage affects maize yield and quality
Shumei Wang1,2, Teng Li2, Shuo Liu2
1Crop Research Institute, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China.
Frontiers in Plant Science
|July 23, 2026
Summary
High night temperatures negatively impact maize yield and grain quality by increasing respiration and reducing starch production. Heat-sensitive maize varieties show greater sensitivity to these adverse effects.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Plant Physiology
- Climate Change Adaptation
Background:
- Global warming is increasing night temperatures, posing challenges for crop production.
- The impact of high night temperature (HNT) on maize (Zea mays L.) during grain filling is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of HNT on maize yield, grain quality, photosynthesis-respiration balance, and starch metabolism.
- To compare the responses of heat-sensitive and heat-tolerant maize hybrids to HNT.
Main Methods:
- Controlled environment experiment with four night temperature treatments (24°C, 26°C, 28°C, 30°C) during maize grain filling.
- Evaluated grain yield, quality parameters (starch, lipid, protein, fiber), photosynthesis, respiration, and gene expression related to starch synthesis.
Main Results:
- HNT significantly reduced grain yield and altered grain quality (decreased starch and lipid, increased protein and fiber).
- Increased night respiration and reduced expression of starch synthesis genes (AM-AGPase SS and AM-AGPase LS) were observed under HNT.
- The heat-sensitive hybrid (ZY 309) exhibited greater reductions in yield and more pronounced negative physiological responses compared to the tolerant hybrid (JH 5).
Conclusions:
- HNT during effective grain filling impairs maize yield and quality primarily through elevated respiratory carbon costs and compromised starch biosynthesis.
- Maize hybrids vary in their sensitivity to HNT, with implications for breeding climate-resilient varieties.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Hot Weather Concreting
Concreting at elevated temperatures accelerates the hydration process, leading to quicker setting but potentially reducing the long-term strength of the concrete structure. Additionally, low air humidity fosters rapid moisture loss from the concrete, resulting in reduced workability, pronounced plastic shrinkage, and a higher likelihood of crazing.
Mitigating the heat increase in concrete can be economically achieved by shading aggregate stockpiles to prevent heating from solar radiation,...
Mitigating the heat increase in concrete can be economically achieved by shading aggregate stockpiles to prevent heating from solar radiation,...
02:45Responses to Heat and Cold Stress
Every organism has an optimum temperature range within which healthy growth and physiological functioning can occur. At the ends of this range, there will be a minimum and maximum temperature that interrupt biological processes.
01:23Physical Methods for Controlling Microbial Growth: Temperature
Heat is a widely used method to control microbial growth by targeting and denaturing cellular proteins, thereby killing or inactivating microbes. This method's effectiveness is quantified using parameters such as the thermal death point (TDP), thermal death time (TDT), and decimal reduction time (D value). TDP represents the lowest temperature at which all microorganisms in a liquid suspension are eliminated within 10 minutes, whereas TDT is the time necessary to achieve sterilization at a...
01:27Atomic Spectroscopy: Effects of Temperature
Atomization, converting samples into gas-phase atoms and ions, is essential for atomic spectroscopy. The flame temperature required for atomization affects the efficiency of the atomic spectroscopic methods by increasing the atomization efficiency and the relative population of the excited and ground states.
At thermal equilibrium, the relative populations of excited and ground state atoms can be estimated using the Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution. For example, an increase in temperature from...
At thermal equilibrium, the relative populations of excited and ground state atoms can be estimated using the Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution. For example, an increase in temperature from...