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Nitrogen Fertilization, Water Stress, and Maternal Background as Factors Affecting Vivipary Expression in Corn (Zea May L.)
Thesis Abstract:
Vivipary or premature germination of seeds while still attached to the mother plant is considered to be of minor significance in the Philippines until recently, when temperate germplasm was introduced into the tropical germplasm and the malady has seriously affected the corn industry. It is believed that vivipary could be managed through genetic, environmental, and nutritional manipulation.
Two field experiments were established at the Central Experiment Station of UPLB from February to October 1994 to determine the effects of water stress, nitrogen fertilization, and maternal background on the expression of vivipary in corn.
The study revealed that water stress at 45 days after planting raised the concentration of ABA in the seeds both in zero N and 120 kg N/ha significantly.
P3274, a viviparous variety regardless of water stress treatment and nitrogen application, gave significanly high germination.
Viviparous varieties maintain significantly high fresh and dry seed weight.
Varietal crosses having viviparous female parent failed to show significant maternal effects on germination and water loss. However, progenies having viviparous male parent showed significantly high germination percentage both at 10 days after planting and one month after harvest. The effects of maternal background failed to indicate significant correlation between germination and phytohormones and between water loss and phytohormones in the expression of the vivipary among varietal crosses.