Abstract:
In order to study the role of
leaf position on yield and yield component
of maize, this research was conducted based
on randomized complete block design with
three replicates at the research field of
Urmia University, Urmia, Iran, in 2011. For
determine the role of leaf position in maize
yield, we used the leaf removing (clipping)
treatments. Leaf clipping treatments contain
ear leaf clipping, above ear leaf clipping,
below ear leaf clipping and control (without
leaf clipping) that imposed at one week after
ear initiation. Leaf removing had a
significant effect on all measured traits
(number of seed per row, row number per
ear, ear length, 1000 seed weight, seed
yield, biological yield), except harvest
index. Removing of above leaves decreased
6.68% the number of seeds on ear compare
to control. The highest 1000 seed weight
(274 g) was observed in plants without leaf
clipping. Ear leaf clipping and below ear
leaf defoliation ranked second for 1000 seed
weight. Whereas plants without any leaf
clipping had the utmost seed yield (8.77 t
ha-1) but defoliating of leaf above ear lead to
lower seed yield (6.77 t ha-1). Leaf removal
above ear decreased 22.80% biological yield
compared to control. The correlation
analysis showed that all traits had positive
correlation with seed yield. The most
correlation was between ear length and
number of row per ear (r=0.89**). Also,
number of seed per row (r=0.71**), 1000
seed weight (r=0.67**), ear length
(r=0.65**), biological yield and harvest
index (r=0.59**) showed the most
correlation with seed yield, respectively.
Results revealed that the most reduction in
all traits accrued in maize plants with above
ear leaf clipping, this results indicated that
the important roles of leaves position
especially the role of above ear leaves in
yield and yield components of maize.
