Effects of the supression partial and total of the frutification on stalks traits of maize cultivars

Abstract

A study was carried out to evaluate the potential of the stalks of maize cultivars for both sugar content and alcohol production, as influenced by partial and total supression of the frutification. The informations obtained are considered important not only to know more about the energetic potential, but also increase the knowledge of the physiologic processes of the corn plant. The experiment was carried out in Piracicaba, São Paulo State, Brazil, during the 1980/81 growing season, using a randomized block design with split-plots and six replications. Plots were represented by eight cultivars as follows: one double cross, two single crosses, and five open-pollinated populations. The following treatments were applied to sub-plots: female shoots protected to avoid pollination (SP); female shoots removed (SR); ears at the milks stage removed (GC); and mature kernels produced (MC). Stalks were analized immediately after harvest. In general, the open-pollinated varieties (mainly the populations selected for high sugars in the stalks) were superior to the hybrids for most of the tecnological traits evaluated. The SP, SR, and GC treatments did not differ and were superior to the MC treatment for most of the traits studied. The results obtained in this study suggest the possibility of producing corn at milk stage for human consumption with utilization of the stalks for alcohol production.