Abstract
Plant and ear height are very important characters not only for describing new varieties of maize (Zea mays L.), but for green and dry matter production, and even for grain yield. Significant positive correlations have been reported by various authors between plant height and stover yield, plant height and dry matter yield, and plant height and grain yield. The height of the main ear is also correlated to plant height. It depends on the variety or the environment, but is likely to be the same height within a population. Many environmental and agronomical factors (e.g. plant density, fertilization, pests and diseases) influence the expression of these characters, which are not quality traits. Their expression is controlled by many genes and by the interactions between these genes. The heritability of these traits is high and they show significant genotypic variability and positive heterosis, as reported in many research publications.
Highlights
SUMMARYPlant and ear height are very important characters for describing new varieties of maize (Zea mays L.), but for green and dry matter production, and even for grain yield
As a part of breeding, maintaining and improving new lines and varieties, breeders must provide the qualifiers with an exact description of the morphology, performance and quality traits of the plant
Plant height is strongly associated with the flowering date, both morphologically and ontogenetically, because internode formation stops at floral initiation, which means that earlier flowering maize is usually shorter (Troyer and Larkins, 1985)
Summary
Plant and ear height are very important characters for describing new varieties of maize (Zea mays L.), but for green and dry matter production, and even for grain yield. Significant positive correlations have been reported by various authors between plant height and stover yield, plant height and dry matter yield, and plant height and grain yield. Many environmental and agronomical factors (e.g. plant density, fertilization, pests and diseases) influence the expression of these characters, which are not quality traits. Their expression is controlled by many genes and by the interactions between these genes. The heritability of these traits is high and they show significant genotypic variability and positive heterosis, as reported in many research publications
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