Studies On The Effect Of Ethephon On Lodging Resistance Of Summer Maize

Experiment was conducted at Shenzhou and Xinji experimental station of Agricultural Universityof Hebei. The effects of chemical regulation on lodging resistance of summer maize were studied onagronomic traits, mechanical traits, chemical composition and anatomical traits using two summermaize hybrids, Xianyu335(Low resistance), and Jinhai5(High resistance). The study could provide atheoretical support for high yield and lodging resistance of summer maize. The results were showed asfollows:1. Lodging capacity decreased with the increase of planting density of summer maize. Plant height,ear height and center of gravity height increased significantly with increasing density; Stem hardness,fracture resistance, tensile strength of stalk and uprooting force increased. Crusty tissue thickness, theratio of vascular area, and epidermal cell layer thick wall thickness were significantly reduced.Potassium and cellulose content of basal internodes were significantly reduced.2. Ethephon effect on agronomic traits of summer maize. The results showed that ethephonreduced plant height, ear height, center of gravity height and internode length of XY335on an average55.6cm,37.0cm,15.0cm, respectively; JH5was reduced on an average of65.9cm,35.0cm,12.9cmrespectively. Basal internodes of XY335shortened21.7%, thickened11.4%. JH5shortened25.6%,thickened11.3%3. Ethephon effect on root of summer maize. The results showed that ethephon increased uprootingforce of root of XY335and JH5on an average22.6%,28.8%, respectively, and increased tensilestrength of XY335on an average21.8%.4. Ethephon effect on mechanical traits of summer maize. The results showed that ethephonincreased stem hardness, fracture resistance, tensile strength and uprooting force of XY335and JH5onan average16.9%,32.5%,26.6%and13.2%,35.9%,27.3%, respectively, improving the mechanicalstrength of the stalk.5. Ethephon effect on chemical composition of summer maize. The results showed that ethephonincreased cellulose, potassium and soluble sugar content of XY335on an average of61.9%,31.0%,30.2%, respectively, JH5also increased significantly.6. Ethephon effect on anatomical traits of summer maize. The results showed that chemicalregulation had increased crusty tissue thickness, the thickness of the epidermal cell layers thick,vascular bundle area ratio of basal internodes.7. Agronomic traits, mechanical properties, chemical composition, anatomical traits and lodging resistance of summer corn had intrinsically contacted. Path analysis showed that plant height, stemhardness cellulose content and area ratio of vascular bundle had greater direct impact on the lodgingrate.8. Under the experimental conditions, the effects of ethylene on corn yield was not significant, butit can reduced lodging in a windy year, and keep stabilizing production.