Abnormal ear development in corn: Does hybrid, environment, and seeding rate matter?

Corn (Zea mays L.) yields have increased in the United States since 1930s and other parts of world 1950s 1960s because improvements agricultural management genotypes. Despite these increases, production concerns still exist. In July 2016, abnormal ear development (multi-ears per node, barbell-ears, short-husks) was reported cornfields that extended from Texas Panhandle to eastern Colorado east through Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois. Surveys Nebraska farmer fields revealed significant productivity losses due issues, but little known about underlying causes. A research study conducted four during 2018 2019 growing seasons forming eight distinct environments. The investigated effects hybrids, environments, seeding rates, their interactions on ears. Eight five rates were studied. About 63,500 plants individually assessed around dent stage (R5). Grain yield ranged 4.3 20.1 Mg ha−1. 2018, 5% ears abnormal; 2019, 11%, if combined, 8%. Higher-yielding hybrids associated with lower percentages abnormalities. Hybrids, influenced occurrence most cases, had canopy heights, suggesting primary loss may be a factor. results reinforced overriding hypothesis abnormalities result environmental, genetic, interactions. Depending environment, selecting certain optimum could help mitigate This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved