Effect of wind damage on grain-filling characteristics, grain quality and yield of spring maize (Zea mays L.)

A field experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of lodging caused by wind in Aug. 2012 in Changchun, Jilin Province, on grain-filling characteristics, grain quality and yield of spring maize (Zea mays L.). The maize plants were divided into four groups (treatments)-no lodging (CK), disposition of lodging plants (DL), lower part of the lodging layer (LL), and upper part of the lodging layer (UL). The results showed that grain-filling and kernel dehydration rates were significantly affected by wind-caused lodging. Compared to CK, grain-filling rate and moisture content of LL treatment respectively increased by 26.9% and 136.0% at 6 days after lodging. Under DL, UL and LL treatments, maize yield respectively dropped by 11.75%, 10.51% and 29.88% compared with CK. This suggested that lower layer part maize yield was most affected by wind damage. Seed yield component analysis showed that the yield reduction was mainly due to the reductions in effective grain per spike and the 100-kernel weight, both caused by reduced grain-filling rate. Statistical analysis showed that the maximum and average yield reduction rates were respectively 29.68% and 14.75%. This, further strongly indicated that wind damage significantly influenced maize yield. Lodging also influenced grain nutrient store. Fat and protein stores were more significantly affected than starch store. Correlation analysis showed that grain nutrient store was extremely significantly and positively correlated with kernel dry weight. The correlation coefficients between kernel dry weight and starch and then between kernel dry weight and fat were 0.618~0.861 and 0.580~0.797 (P < 0.01), respectively. Meanwhile, kernel dry weight was significantly negatively correlated with protein. However, taking timely anti-wind damage measures like bundles after lodging significantly reduced yield loss.