Summary
A plant pulling device was developed to measure vertical pulling resistance in maize as evaluation method for root lodging resistance. This device allows pulling in a standardized way because it is operated by an alternating current motor with ample capacity so as not to slow down during pulling. Due to its small proportions it remains easily manoeuvrable within the experimental field. Four replicated experiments (three with single cross hybrids and one with populations) on two locations (with sandy and clay soil) were carried out to estimate various statistical and quantitative genetic parameters of pulling resistance. The number of plants pulled per plot ranged from four to seven. The mean coefficient of environmental variation was 0.14 and the heritabilities for pulling resistance in the used material, based on experimental units, ranged from 0.61 to 0.77. Selection for pulling resistance seems therefore very well possible. The correlation between the pulling values from a location with clay soil and a location with sandy soil was 0.87, so genotype × environment-interaction was small. It is argued that one obtains reliable results with the least effort by using three replications and pulling four plants per plot.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arihara, J. & T.M. Crosbie, 1982. Relationship among seedling and mature root systems traits of maize. Crop Sci 22: 1197–1202.
Arndt, H., 1979. Zugkraftwiderstandsmessungen bei Maiswurzeln und ihre Anwendung in der Züchtung. Arch für Züchtungsforsch 9: 407–413.
Beck, D.L., L.L. Darah & M.S. Zuber, 1987. An improved technique for measuring resistance to root pulling in maize. Crop Sci 27: 356–358.
Donovan, L.S., P. Jui, M. Kloek & C.F. Nicholls, 1982. An improved method of measuring root strength in corn (Zea mays L.). Can J Pl Sci 62: 223–227.
Jenison, J.R., D.B. Shank & L.H. Penny, 1981. Root characteristics of 44 maize inbreds evaluated in four environments. Crop Sci 21: 233–237.
Kevern, T.C. & A.R. Hallauer, 1983. Relation of vertical root-pull resistance and flowering in maize. Crop Sci 23: 357–363.
Melchinger, A.E., H.H. Geiger & G.A. Schmidt, 1986. Vertical root-pull resistance and its relationship to root lodging and forage traits in early maturing European inbred lines and F1 hybrids of maize. Maydica 31: 335–348.
Penny, L.H., 1981. Vertical-pull resistance of maize inbreds and their test crosses. Crop Sci 21: 237–240.
Peters, D.W., D.B. Shank & W.E. Nyquist, 1982. Root-pulling resistance and its relationship to grain yield in F1 hybrids of maize. Crop Sci 22: 1112–1114.
Rogers, R.R., W.A. Russell & J.C. Owens, 1976. Evaluation of a vertical pull technique in population improvement of maize for corn rootworm tolerance. Crop Sci 16: 591–594.
Thompson, D.L., 1972. Recurrent selection for lodging susceptibility and resistance in corn. Crop Sci 12: 631–634.
Thompson, D.L., 1982. Grain yield of two synthetics of corn after seven cycles of selection for lodging resistance. Crop Sci 22: 1207–1210.
Zuber, M.S., 1968. Evaluations of corn root systems under various environments. Proc Ann Corn and Sorghum Res Conf 23: 67–75.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Paper resulting from a study as part of the requirements for a Masters degree at the Agricultural University in Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dourleijn, C.J., den Nijs, A.P.M. & Dolstra, O. Description and evaluation of a device for measuring vertical pulling resistance in maize (Zea mays L.). Euphytica 39 (Suppl 3), 69–75 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00043369
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00043369