Table 2.
Final kernel weight, maximum water content, duration of the lag phase and of the grain‐filling period, and growth rate of kernels from floret positions 10 to 15
| Stand density (plants m–2) | Pollination treatment | Final kernel weight (mg per kernel) | Maximum water content (mg per kernel) | Duration of the grain filling period (°Cd) | Duration of the lag phase (°Cd) | Kernel growth rate (mg 10–2 °Cd–1) |
| HoldensLH198 × LH185 | ||||||
| 1 | Natural | 364·4 | 314·4 | 1094 | 249 | 42·9 |
| Restricted | 364·3 | 306·2 | 1034 | 259 | 46·9* | |
| 8 | Natural | 310·7 | 249·4 | 1046 | 254 | 39·5 |
| Restricted | 371·8* | 309·7* | 1084 | 275 | 45·9* | |
| 18 | Natural | 291·4 | 230·7 | 1084 | 252 | 34·9 |
| Restricted | 337·8* | 272·3* | 1082 | 255 | 40·7* | |
| Dekalb DK611 | ||||||
| 1 | Natural | 349·9 | 270·1 | 1091 | 255 | 41·8 |
| Restricted | 364·7 | 283·9 | 1074 | 247 | 43·9 | |
| 8 | Natural | 268·8 | 192·6 | 1092 | 253 | 31·8 |
| Restricted | 333·0* | 262·3* | 1101 | 272 | 40·1* | |
| 18 | Natural | 252·7 | 179·5 | 1093 | 261 | 30·2 |
| Restricted | 313·9* | 232·5* | 1079 | 270 | 38·7* |
Holdens LH198 × LH185 and Dekalb DK611 maize plants were sown at three stand densities and exposed to natural and restricted pollination. Final kernel weight, duration of the phase, and kernel growth rate were calculated with a bilinear plateau model. Maximum water content was determined as the maximum value registered within each treatment combination. Statistical comparisons are for each hybrid × stand density combination.
* Significantly different from natural pollination at P < 0·05.