An ideotype of maize

✍ Scribed by J. J. Mock; R. B. Pearce

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1975
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 740 KB
• Volume: 24
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0014-2336
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00132898

✦ Synopsis

We have proposed breeding a maize (Zea mays L.) ideotype that will maximally utilize an optimum production environment. This environment should include: a) adequate moisture; b) favorable temperatures throughout the growing season; c) adequate fertility; d) high plant densities; e) narrow row spacings; and f) early planting dates. The maize ideotype that should produce optimally when grown in such an environment would be characterized by: a) stiff, vertically-oriented leaves above the ear (leaves below the ear should be horizontally oriented); b) maximum photosynthetic efficiency; c) efficient conversion of photosynthate to grain; d) short interval between pollen shed and silkemergence; e) ear-shoot prolificacy; f) small tassel size; g) photoperiod insensitivity; h) cold-tolerance in germinating seeds and young seedlings (for genotypes grown in areas where early-planting would require planting in cold, wet soils) ; i) as long a grain-filling period as practically possible; and j) slow leaf senescence.