Work

Modulated increased UV-B radiation affects crop growth and grain yield and quality of maize in the field

Year: 2012

Type: article

Abstract: Current research on the effect of increased UV-B radiation on crop production has been limited to exposing plants to improbable UV-B dose or growth condition. The objective of this study was to test the effects of short-term modulated increased UV-B radiation on maize (Zea mays L.) growth, grain yield, and quality under field conditions for three years. A modulated irradiance system was used to maintain UV-B radiation at 30% above the ambient level and was applied daily between the elongation and silking stages of maize. The result indicated that increased UV-B radiation adversely affected maize growth and yield, especially on plant height when UV-B was enhanced at the elongation stage and on yield when UV-B was enhanced near the silking stage. Yield reduction that induced by enhanced UV-B radiation was associated with reductions in number of kernels per row and kernel mass. Protein content of grains was increased with enhanced UV-B radiation, but oil and starch contents were not affected. This study confirmed the sensitivity of maize to increased UV-B radiation under the field condition, and contributed to understand the full negative and positive effects of increased UV-B radiation on crop production.

Source: Photosynthetica

DOI: 10.1007/s11099-012-0068-9

Authors: L. N. Yin, S. W. Wang

Institutions: Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Northwest A&F University

Language: English

Topic: Light effects on plants

Subfield: Plant Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Zero hunger

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: Chinese Academy of Sciences, Higher Education Discipline Innovation Project, West Light Foundation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences