Effect of Waterlogging on Grain Filling and Quality of Summer Maize

Objective)This study is to investigate the effects of waterlogging on grain filling characteristics and quality of summer maize under field conditions.(Method) Two summer maize cultivars, Denghai605(DH605) and Zhengdan958(ZD958), were used as experimental materials. The field experiment was performed to explore the effects of waterlogging in different durations (3 and 6 days) on grain dry weight and volume, grain filling parameters, and grain quality of summer maize stalk at the three-leaf stage (V3), six-leaf stage (V6), and ten days after the tasseling stage (10VT).(Result)Results showed that the grain dry weight growth rate and grain filling parameters reduced significantly after waterlogging, and the decrease of two cultivars was the most in the treatment of waterlogging at V3 for 6 days. Days of maximum grain filling (Tmax), maximum grain filling (Gmax), weight of maximum grain filling rate (Wmax), and active grain filling period (P) of DH605 decreased by 25.18%, 18.44%, 48.21%, and 36.45%, while that of ZD958 decreased by 18.18%, 1.69%, 32.68% and 31.80%, respectively. Waterlogging increased barrenness, and decreased grain yield, kernel number per ear and 1000-grain weight, and the response to different waterlogging treatments showed: waterlogging at V3>waterlogging at V6>waterlogging at 10VT and waterlogging for 6 days>waterlogging for 3 days. Waterlogging significantly decreased grain crude protein, total starch, grain total soluble sugar and sucrose content. The decrease of amylopectin and increase of