Stalk strength of maize synthetics grown at different plant densities in Hungary

摘要

The stalk strength of four maize populations representing the major heterotic groups in Hungary was evaluated in the experiment together with that of standard hybrids at three plant densities (40,000, 70,000 and 100,000 plants/ha). In addition to theoriginal variant of Mindszentpusztai Yellow Dent (MYD), two cycles of this genotype improved by recurrent selection were also examined. Stalk strength was evaluated on the basis of two parameters: lodging percentage and rind resistance. At all the plantdensities, MYD had the highest lodging percentage. On the basis of rind resistance values, Mv Synt 2 had the weakest stalks at the lowest plant density, while in stands with 70 and 100 thousand plants/ha MYD and Mv Synt 2 did not differ from each other,but were both weaker than any of the other genotypes tested. Recurrent selection did not result in any significant change in the stalk strength of the improved cycles of MYD.