Grain Filling Characteristics of Maize Hybrids with Different Maturity Periods

A field experiment was conducted at Shenzhou of Hebei province to study on grain-filling characteristics of maize hybrids differing in maturities, aimed to provide scientific information for the regulation of grain weight and selection of maturity. Four maize hybrids differing in maturities were used as experimental materials, under the same planting density. The main results were as follows. All the hybrids reached the maximum value of 100 grain fresh weight at 40d after pollination, and then declined slowly. The maximum value of 100 grain fresh weight of middle-maturity hybrid Zhengdan958 was the highest, and early maturity hybrid Demeiyal was the lowest. After 40 days of pollination, all the hybrids reached the maximum value of 100 seed fresh weight, and then declined slowly, and the maximum 100 fresh weight of middle-late hybrid Zhengdan958 was the highest, and early-maturity hybrid Demeiyal was the lowest. Four hybrids of 100 grain dry weight and fresh weight showed the same trend, it was a rapid growth period at 40d after pollination, the 100 grain dry weight of Hengyul182 was maximum, Demeiyal was minimum. The grain-filling rate of four hybrids showed a single peak curve, reached the maximum peak at 20d after pollination, the peak performance of four maize hybrids showed that Hengyul182> Zhengdan958> Nongda108 > Demeiyal. The percentage of grain water of Hengyul182 was the lowest, the value was 25.70% when 60d after pollination, Nongda108 was significantly higher than the other three hybrids (P<0.05), the value was 34.01%. The grain-filling processes of maize hybrids differing in maturities were analyzed by Logistic model, and the total filling period could be divided into early stage, middle stage and late stage. Middle-early hybrid Hengyul182 showed that grain weight of every stage (W-1-W-3), and mean grain-filling rate of every stage (P-1-P-3) were higher than other three types. The results showed that the increase of grain weight was related to grain filling rate at filling stage, and the middle-early maturity hybrids suitable for planting in Heilonggang area. (C) 2018 Friends Science Publishers