Senescence in field-grown maize: From flowering to harvest

Abstract

The objective of this work was to describe the dynamics of senescence of field-grown maize from silking to harvest, at both leaf and plant level. At the leaf level, the dynamics of symptoms of senescence were considered on each leaf taken individually and described according to zones from the tip to the base of the leaf lamina. At the whole plant level, foliar ranks were each considered as an entity to describe the time course of senescence. To this end, we use a database built-up from field trials conducted during three consecutive years (1994–1996) and thus undergoing variable meteorological and soil water conditions. Leaf chlorophyll content was estimated using two different methods based on the optical properties of the leaves. In Trial I, chlorophyll estimates were based on leaf optical density measured with a MacBeth TR-924 densitometer. In Trial II and Trial III, chlorophyll estimations were based on measurement using a hand-held Minolta SPAD-502 device. In Trial II and Trial III, chlorophyll fluorescence analyses under filed conditions were performed. These analyses focused on the photosystem II (PSII) maximum efficiency (Fv′/Fm′) parameter in the light-adapted state. Measurements were done with a Waltz PAM-2000 portable fluorometer. We report detailed descriptions of the spatio-temporal dynamics of these indicators of senescence. We found that, after silking, a strong relationship exists between available water and leaf chlorophyll content. Further, the maximum efficiency of PSII decreased faster in maize plants undergoing low available soil water than in irrigated plants. The rank of a leaf is determinant of the time for the beginning of the decline in both chlorophyll content and maximum efficiency of PSII. At plant and leaf level, the onset of senescence was marked by a decrease in chlorophyll content that was not concomitant with a dramatic decrease in the maximum efficiency of PSII. Our analyses suggest that a non-linear functional relationship could exist between these two parameters during monocarpic senescence. In the mean time, the results presented in this paper could be used to refine the senescence related modules in plant and crop models.