Photosynthetica, 2012 (vol. 50), issue 4

Photosynthetica 2012, 50(4):595-601 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-012-0068-9

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

L. N. Yin1,2, S. W. Wang1,2,*
1 State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
2 Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences & Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling, Shaanxi, China

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.

Keywords: growth; maize; quality; UV-B radiation; yield

Received: April 24, 2012; Accepted: August 15, 2012; Published: December 1, 2012Show citation

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Yin, L.N., & Wang, S.W. (2012). Modulated increased UV-B radiation affects crop growth and grain yield and quality of maize in the field. Photosynthetica, 50(4), 595-601. doi: 10.1007/s11099-012-0068-9.
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