Effect of altering source availability on expression of sink capacity in a maize hybrid and its parents

摘要: Abstract The effect of leaf removal on sink expression was studied in a heterotic hybrid (CM119×CM120) maize and its parents CM119 CM120 to understand the physiological basis yield heterosis. Leaf treatments were imposed by excising 0, 33, 66 100% leaves above cob at silking. had significantly higher biomass kernel yield, number per square metre 100 weight compared with all treatments. showed highly significant linear relationship area index silking genotypes. final harvest appeared be tightly controlled available. senescence pattern after anthesis differed for lowest as female particularly male parent. An analysis characters revealed that parent florets row silking, whereas better than ratio filled kernels florets. followed both characters.