Effect of foliar applications of urea on accelerated senescence of maize induced by ear removal

• Published in: Plant physiology (Bethesda) 1985-12, Vol.79 (4), p.1077-1079
• Main Authors: BELOW, F. E, CRAFTS-BRANDNER, S. J, HAGEMAN, R. H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: aging; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; aplicacion foliar; application foliaire; Biological and medical sciences; Chloroplasts; Corn; Ears; Economic plant physiology; envejecimiento; Flowering; Foliar application; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Genetics and breeding of economic plants; Grains; Growth and development; Heterosis. Floral biology applications: apomixy, male sterility, incompatibility, varia; Leaves; Morphogenesis, differentiation, rhizogenesis, tuberization. Senescence; Nitrates; Nitrogen fertilization; Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium fertilizations; Plant breeding: fundamental aspects and methodology; Plants; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; Stover; urea; uree; Varietal selection. Specialized plant breeding, plant breeding aims; vieillissement; zea mays
• ISSN: 0032-0889; 1532-2548
• DOI: 10.1104/pp.79.4.1077

Field grown maize (Zea mays L. cv B73 × Mo17) plants, with and without ears, were sprayed with urea solutions to determine whether foliar application of N could prevent or delay the accelerated loss of reduced N from the leaf and leaf senescence induced by ear removal. Urea sprays were applied at 7, 14, and 21 days after anthesis in three separate and equal applications that provided a total of 67 kilograms N per hectare or 1 gram N per plant. Treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial in a randomized complete block with five replicates. Appropriate plant and leaf samplings and assays were made. In response to spray treatments, net increases of reduced N were detected in the whole shoot and plant parts, especially the stalk of the earless plants and grain of the eared plants. There was no effect of urea spray treatment on the normal loss of N from the leaves or rate of senescence of the eared plants or on the accelerated loss of N from the leaves or rate of senescence induced by ear removal. Grain and stover yields were unaffected by the spray treatment. Apparently the plants were unable to utilize the urea N applied to the vegetation (primarily leaves) after anthesis to enhance or extend the accumulation of dry weight by either eared or earless plants.