African Journal of
Agricultural Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Agric. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1991-637X
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJAR
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 6863

Full Length Research Paper

Shading effects on the yield, quality, and sucrose-metabolizing enzyme activity of sweet corn during filling stage

Fu-cheng Zhao
  • Fu-cheng Zhao
  • Institute of Maize and Featured Upland Crops, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Dongyang, 322100, Zhejiang, China.
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He-ping Tan
  • He-ping Tan
  • Institute of Maize and Featured Upland Crops, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Dongyang, 322100, Zhejiang, China.
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Li-quan Jing
  • Li-quan Jing
  • Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology/Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Cultivation and Physiology/Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops, Agricultural College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, Jiangsu, China.
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Hai-liang Han
  • Hai-liang Han
  • Institute of Maize and Featured Upland Crops, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Dongyang, 322100, Zhejiang, China.
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Fei Bao
  • Fei Bao
  • Institute of Maize and Featured Upland Crops, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Dongyang, 322100, Zhejiang, China.
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Wei-ping Lu
  • Wei-ping Lu
  • Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology/Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Cultivation and Physiology/Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops, Agricultural College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, Jiangsu, China.
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Gui-yue Wang
  • Gui-yue Wang
  • Institute of Maize and Featured Upland Crops, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Dongyang, 322100, Zhejiang, China.
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  •  Received: 21 December 2021
  •  Accepted: 08 February 2022
  •  Published: 31 March 2022

Abstract

Two low-light sensitive varieties of sweet corn (Zea mays L.), cultivars Xiantian 5, and Huazhen, were subjected to different shading-intensity treatments during the grain-filling stage in a field experiment in order to clarify physiological mechanisms of lowlight effects on the yield, quality, and sucrose-metabolizing enzyme activity of sweet corn. The results showed that under weak light stress (50% light transmittance), the ear length and diameter, fresh ear yield, grains per row and grain weight, weight per ear and sugar content of the grains decreased sharply, while the bald length and water content of the fresh grains increased significantly. The 50% shading decreased the fresh ear yield, max weight per 100 fresh grains, and soluble sugar content of Xiantian 5 by 40.5, 31.3, and 19.5%, respectively, whereas those of Huazhen were decreased by 17.5, 19.8 and 10.1%, respectively. Shading furthermore suppressed the activities of sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) and sucrose synthetase (SS), and delayed the emergence of peak SPS activity.

Key words: Sweet corn, shading condition, yield, quality, sucrose-metabolizing enzyme.