Influence of Sowing Dates on Physiological Traits, Yield Components and Grains Rot Disease Resistance in Maize (Zea mays L.) Cultivars

Elsayed, Abdelaziz S.A.; Mohamed, Abdulwahed A.E.; Abo-Marzoka, Elsayed A.; Megahed, Allam A.

doi:10.21608/ejbo.2025.359877.3190

	Influence of Sowing Dates on Physiological Traits, Yield Components and Grains Rot Disease Resistance in Maize (Zea mays L.) Cultivars
Egyptian Journal of Botany
Article 45, Volume 65, Issue 3, July 2025, Page 545-556 PDF (1.6 MB)
Document Type: Regular issue (Original Article)
DOI: 10.21608/ejbo.2025.359877.3190
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Authors
Abdelaziz S.A. Elsayed¹; Abdulwahed A.E. Mohamed¹; Elsayed A. Abo-Marzoka²; Allam A. Megahed ³
¹Agronomy Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafr Elsheikh University, Kafr Elsheikh, Egypt
²Crop Physiology Res. Dept., Field Crops Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center (ARC) (P.B.12619), Egypt
³Agricultural Botany Dept. (Plant Pathology), Faculty of Agriculture, Damietta Un
Abstract
The study investigated the impact of three sowing dates (May 15, June 15, and July 15) on physiological traits, yield components, and grain rot disease infection rates in maize cultivars, including single-cross hybrids (SC131 and SC168) and the three-way cross TWC324 during the 2023 and 2024 growing seasons. Early planting (May 15) resulted in the highest significant values for dry matter accumulation (g/m²) and leaf area per plant (cm²). Additionally, early sowing significantly enhanced photosynthetic pigment content in leaves, yield and yield components (plant height [cm], ear diameter [cm], ear height [cm], ear weight [g], ear length [cm], 100-grain weight [g], grain weight per ear [g], grain yield [ard/feddan]), as well as grain crude protein and carbohydrate content (%). Furthermore, early planting reduced infection levels by Fusarium verticillioides, F. semitectum, Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, and Penicillium spp. compared to later sowing dates (June 15 or July 15). Among the tested cultivars, SC168 outperformed the others in all measured traits. The highest mean values for physiological parameters, yield characteristics, grain quality components, and resistance to grain rot disease were achieved by planting SC168 at the early sowing date (May 15) in both growing seasons. Therefore, this combination is recommended for optimal maize production under similar conditions.
Keywords
Maize; Sowing dates; Physiological characters; Yield characters; Grains rot


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