Performance of Two‐Ear Type of Corn Belt Maize¹

An ideotype of maize

“…One of the more important traits of our ideotype would be prolificacy, the ability of maize plants to produce more than one seed-bearing ear. ZUBER & GROCAN (1956) AND COLLINS et al (1965 showed prolific maize hybrids were more stable in yield responses to changes in stand density. 'Sink strength' is largely determined by grain size and grain numbers; and an increase in either component should enhance the 'attracting power' of the sink (BING-HAM, 1967).…”

Evaluation of tolerance to high plant densities and plant efficiency of maize breeding populations developed by recurrent selection for grain yield

“…Additionally, mean squares for crosses x densities interactions were not signifi cant for grain/plant and grain yield. These results were contrary to results reported by Mooers (1910), Collins et al (1965), Russell (1974), Prior and Russell (1975), Duvick (1976.…”

“…Hallauer and Troyer (1972) reviewed IS studies dealing with prolificacy in maize and concluded that prolific hybrids showed greater density tolerance and smaller genotype x environment interactions than nonprolific hybrids. Collins et al (1965) compared prolific and nonprolific hybrids at four plant densities in four environments and found that pro lific hybrids produced lower grain yields than nonprolific hybrids, but prolifics showed greater yield stability across densities and environments than nonprolifics. Evidently, second-ear development contributed developmental homeostasis to prolific hybrids (Collins et al, 1965).…”

“…Collins et al (1965) compared prolific and nonprolific hybrids at four plant densities in four environments and found that pro lific hybrids produced lower grain yields than nonprolific hybrids, but prolifics showed greater yield stability across densities and environments than nonprolifics. Evidently, second-ear development contributed developmental homeostasis to prolific hybrids (Collins et al, 1965). Russell (1968) reported that prolific three-way hybrids produced maximum grain yields at 53.6 M plants/ha, but maximum grain yields for nonprolific hybrids were obtained at 40.7 M plants/ha.…”

Response to eight cycles of full-sib reciprocal recurrent selection for grain yield and standability in BS10 and BS11 maize populations

“…The original BSll strain and inbred line B79 also seem to have masked differences in that trait among selected and original strains of BSll (Table 4). The prolificacy of the BSIO and BSll populations and their selected strains may have contributed to their stability (lack of significant genotype x environment interaction) across environments Collins et al, 1965 for Jarvis and Indian Chief.…”