Vigorous seed for sustainable maize cultivation

• Research unit: COST
• Project number: C97.0065

Key words (English)

Maize; seed-vigour; root morphology; chlorophyll-fluorescence; qtl

Research programs (English)

COST-Action 828 - Seed science in the field of genetically controlled stress physiology

Short description (English)

See abstract

Partners and International Organizations (English)

A, B, CZ, DK, FIN, F, GR, H, IRL, I, NL, N, PL, E, S, CH, GB

Abstract (English)

Until now, maize breeding has focussed on high yields in a wide range of climates, usually supported by a carefully protected germination and seedling development, including a thorough preparation of the seed bed and a weed-free environment. With the aim of sustainable agriculture, new cropping systems based on soil-conserving minimum and no-tillage methods have created a need for a more vigorous early development of the maize seedling to cope with a more diverse environment. New selection criteria must be developed to obtain a well adapted maize crop based on a clear understanding of the major physical constraints. Model maize hybrids have been chosen from relevant modern breeding material or created from our exotic germplasm with its known high seedling vigor. In a step-wise procedure, germination and early seedling development has been tested with standard methods. On the basis of this test we started to investigate a reduced set of genotypes for seedling vigor at low and high temperature in combination with loose and dense soil, the latter simulating no-till conditions. The morphology and biomass of roots and shoots was analyzed for this early heterotrophic growth stage. The root and shoot morphology was analyzed at the end of the heterotrophic phase and again after the onset of the early, very sensitive, autotrophic growth stage by means of sophisticated equipment. Furthermore, indicators of the physiological leaf and root efficiency (e.g. photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence quenching, phosphorous uptake) have been studied. The whole data base will serve to define parameters of a maize ideotype for systems of sustainable agriculture. From the provisional results, it is concluded that autotrophic and heterotrophic carbohydrate supply can be used as indicators for high early vigour. The significance of root morphology and architecture for early plant performance at low soil temperatures remains to be elucidated. Experiments have to be repeated twice before we can drawn final conclusions.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: COST-DB of the State Secretariat for Education and Research Hallwylstrasse 4 CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland Tel. [phone] Swiss Project-Number: C97.0065