Abstract
Production of grain of high nutritional quality is essential in maize (Zea mays L.) as a food grain crop. Grain quality may be influenced by environmental and management factors, such as hail, plant density and grain selection. A study was conducted to determine the effect of hail damage on maize grain contents of soluble sugars and total proteins in relation to grain position on the cob and planting density. Maize was grown at three planting densities (65 000 plants ha−1 [high], 46 000 plants ha−1 [moderate] and 28 000 plants ha−1 [low]) at two sites (Baynesfield and Swayimane) in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Approximately 80% hail damage was simulated on the leaves at the seventh leaf (V7) and tasseling (VT) stages of development of three maize cultivars (‘SC701’, ‘Mac Medium Pearl’ and ‘Zama Star’), whereas undamaged plants served as the control. After harvest at maturity, grains from the proximal and distal portions of the cob were divided and analysed for grain nutritional quality, i.e. soluble sugars and proteins. Soluble sugar analysis focused on the predominant sugars, namely glucose, fructose and sucrose. Although not significant, hail damage typically at VT reduced grain soluble sugar and protein contents by at least 3.2% and 3.8%, respectively, and grains produced at Baynesfield were more resilient to damage compared with those produced at Swayimane. Selection of seeds from the distal cob portion, especially for ‘SC701’, and low plant density reduced the detrimental effect of hail damage on grain sugar and protein content. The present results indicate that in areas prone to hail ‘SC701’ is a cultivar of choice, and a low plant density and selection of grains from the distal cob portion can mitigate the detrimental effects of hail on grain nutritional quality.
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Claims 6
Claim · model-written summary
Hail damage at tasseling reduced maize grain soluble sugar content by at least 3.2%, without statistical significance.
Zea maysNot reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Although not significant, hail damage typically at VT reduced grain soluble sugar and protein contents by at least 3.2% and 3.8%, respectively”
t0“Maize grain soluble sugar and protein contents”
Claim · model-written summary
Hail damage at tasseling reduced maize grain protein content by at least 3.8%, without statistical significance.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Although not significant, hail damage typically at VT reduced grain soluble sugar and protein contents by at least 3.2% and 3.8%, respectively”
t0“Maize grain soluble sugar and protein contents”
Claim · model-written summary
Baynesfield grain was more resilient to hail damage than Swayimane grain.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“grains produced at Baynesfield were more resilient to damage compared with those produced at Swayimane”
t0“Maize grain soluble sugar and protein contents”
Claim · model-written summary
Distal cob seeds, especially from SC701, reduced hail damage to grain sugar and protein.
- Material
- ‘SC701’e0
- Organ / stage
- distal cob portione0
- Treatment
- Selection of seeds from the distal cob portione0
- Outcome
- detrimental effect of hail damage on grain sugar and protein contente0
- Direction
- reducede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Selection of seeds from the distal cob portion, especially for ‘SC701’, and low plant density reduced the detrimental effect of hail damage on grain sugar and protein content”
t0“Maize grain soluble sugar and protein contents”
Claim · model-written summary
Low plant density reduced hail damage to grain sugar and protein content.
- Treatment
- low plant densitye0
- Outcome
- detrimental effect of hail damage on grain sugar and protein contente0
- Direction
- reducede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Selection of seeds from the distal cob portion, especially for ‘SC701’, and low plant density reduced the detrimental effect of hail damage on grain sugar and protein content”
t0“Maize grain soluble sugar and protein contents”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors recommend SC701 in hail-prone areas.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“in areas prone to hail ‘SC701’ is a cultivar of choice”
t0“Maize grain soluble sugar and protein contents”
The same questions in other papers
density · pest · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results
12 papers in the same direction as this paper · 3 in the opposite direction
- negative
- no effect
- no effect
12 papers more in this group
See all 16 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.