Effect of Planting Date on Yield and Yield Components of Grain Sorghum Hybrids

In Kansas, productivity of grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is affected by weather conditions at planting and during pollination. Planting date management and selection of hybrid maturity group can help to avoid severe environmental stresses during these sensitive stages. The hypothesis of the study was that late May planting improves grain sorghum yield and yield components compared with late June planting. The objectives of this research were to investigate the influence of planting dates yield and yield components of different grain sorghum hybrids, and to determine the optimal planting date and hybrid combination for maximum biomass and grains production. Three sorghum hybrids (early, medium, and late maturing) were planted in late May and late June without irrigation in Kansas at Manhattan/Ashland Bottom Research Station, and Hutchinson in 2010;and at Manhattan/North Farm and Hutchinson in 2011. Data on dry matter production, yield and yield components were collected. Grain yield and yield components were influenced by planting date depending on environmental conditions. At Manhattan (2010), greater grain yield, number of heads per plant, were obtained with late-June planting compared with late May planting, while at Hutchinson (2010) greater yield was obtained with late May planting for all hybrids. The yield component most affected at Hutchinson was the number of kernels∙panicle−1 and plant density. Late-May planting was favorable for late maturing hybrid (P84G62) in all locations. However, the yield of early maturing hybrid (DKS 28-05) and medium maturing hybrid (DKS 37-07) was less affected by delayed planting. The effects of planting dates on yield and yield components of grain sorghum hybrids were found to be variable among hybrid maturity groups and locations.

QTL Mapping of Yield and Yield Components for Elite Hybrid Derived-RILs in Upland Cotton

A population of 180 recombinant inbred lines （RILs） was developed by single seed descended from the cross of high yield Upland cotton （Gossypium hirsutum L.） varieties Zhongmiansuo12 （ZMSI2） and 8891, the two parents of Xiangzamian2 （XZM2）. A genetic linkage map consisting of 132 loci and covering 865.20 cM was constructed using the RIL population chiefly with SSR markers. Yield and yield components were investigated for RILs in three environments in China. The purpose of the present research was to analyze the relationship between yield and its components and to map QTL for yield and yield components in cotton. QTL were tagged with data sets from single environment （separate analysis） and a set of data from means of the three environments （joint analysis）. A total of 34 QTL for yield and yield components were independently detected in three environments, whereas fifteen QTL were found in joint analysis. Notably, a stable lint percentage QTL qLP-A10-1 was detected both in joint analysis and in two environments of separate analysis, which might be of special value for marker-assisted selection. The QTL detected in the present study provide new information on improving yield and yield components. Results of path analysis showed that bolls/plant had the largest contribution to lint yield, which is consistent with the mid-parent heterosis value in F1. Accordingly, in cotton breeding, bolls/plant can be considered first and other yield components measured as a whole to implement variety enhancement and hybrid selection of cotton.

Relationship between Grain Yield and Yield Components of Various Rice Cultivars

[Objective] The relationship between grain yield and yield components was investigated in .different rice cultivars at the target yield of 10.5-11.25 t/hm2, to provide theoretical basis for cultivation of high-yield rice. [Method] The yield performance of various super rice and non-super rice cultivars that were cultivated in large area in Sichuan Chengdu was studied under high-yielding cultivation conditions from 2006 to 2008. [Result] The rice yield was closely correlated with the productive panicle number, grain number per panicle, seed setting rate and 1 000-grain weight. The four yield components showed different influences on the yield of different rice culti- vars. By adopting the high yielding cultivation technology （that the seedlings were planted in a triangle shape） at the target yield of 10.5-11.25 t/hm~, we found that the rice yield of super rice cultivars was closely correlated with productive panicle number and 1 000-grain weight, negatively correlated with grain number per panicle, and significantly negatively correlated with seed setting rate; the grain yield of non- super rice cultivars was negatively correlated with grain number per panicle and seed setting rate, and significantly negatively correlated with the productive panicle number and 1 000-grain weight. [Conclusion] The results revealed the relationship between grain yield and yield components in different rice cultivars, which provided references for developing reasonable cultivation measures and thus to improve the yield of super rice in large acreage.

Characteristics of Retoon Rice Yield Components and Relationship of the Characteristics with Rate of Bud Emergence and Root Activity

[Objective] The aim was to study on characteristics of retoon rice yield components, and relationship of the characteristics with born bud rate and root ac- tivity of retoon rice before harvesting. [Method] Eighteen mid-season hybrid rice va- rieties approved recently were taken as materials in high-yield cultivation conditions. Characteristics of retoon rice yield components were analyzed, and relationship of yield components characteristics with the rate of bud emergence and root activity of retoon rice before harvesting was explored, based on related data. [Result] Highly- yielding retoon rice is characterized by high effective ear number （Xl） and high set- ting percentage （X4）; the number of germinated shoots the 5^＊ d after first-batch rice was cut is a key factor for retoon rice yield and was of positive correlation with re- toon rice seedlings and effective ears, with correlation coefficients at 0.80^＊＊ and 0.76^＊＊. In addition, bleeding sap was of positive correlation with grain number and setting percentage of retoon rice and correlation coefficients were 0.50^＊ and 0.48^＊＊, and of positive correlation with average panicle weight, with correlation coefficient at 0.63. [Conclusion] It is an effective way for the rate of bud emergence and root activity at lar ecological zones. mproving retoon rice yield to increase harvesting in the test sites and simi lar ecological zones.

Effect of Fulvic Acid on Growth and Yield Components of Direct Seeding Rice

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the effect of fulvic acid on the growth and yield components of direct seeding rice （Nanjing 44）. MethodThe rice seeds were soaked in 0 （water as a control）, 1, 2, 4 and 6 g/L fulvic acid （FA） before sowed. Then, the rice morphological indices, leaf chlorophyll content, photosynthesis parameters, root activity and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were measured in the following field studies. ResultCompared with the control, the leaf area index, chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and dry matter weight and some fluorescence parameters such as the maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II （PSII） （Fv/Fm）, excitation energy capture efficiency of opened PSII reaction center （Fv’/Fm’） and efficiency of the open reaction centre （ΦPS II） increased by different levels at both jointing stage and heading stage of direct seeding rice, whose seeds were soaked by FA with different concentrations. High FA concentration （4-6 g/L） significantly increased the cultivated rice leaf area index, chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate and dry matter weight by 10.32% -22.88% , 5.88% -13.11% , 12.16% -26.84% , 11.43% -88.46% , 10.63% -21.63% , 18.49% -19.68% , respectively, thereby improving the physiological function and light energy transform efficiency of rice at the growth stage. With FA concentration increasing, the yield, effective panicles, grain number per panicle and seed setting rate were increased significantly compared with the control by 17.52%-18.71%, 3.46%-3.85%, 6.30%- 6.51% and 7.82%-8.69% respectively. ConclusionSoaking rice seed with FA could be considered as an effective way to improve the rice competitiveness at early growth stage.

Effects of Different Transplanting Densities on Yield and Yield Components of Japonica Longke 16

[Objective] This study was conducted to improve unit yield of rice in Longyang District and find the relationship between transplanting density and rice yield. [Method] Under the condition of field plot test, effects of cultivation density on yield and yield components were investigated with japonica rice Longke 16 as a test material. [Result] Under a planting density of 2.7-3.3×10^5 clusters/hm^2, equivalent to a density of seedlings with tillers of 5.4-6.6×10^5/hm^2, the yield reached 11 250-12 000 kg/hm^2. [Conclusion] Longke 16 is a japonica rice variety with good comprehensive characters, and rational dense planting and accurate quantitative cultivation could give full play to its high yield potential.

Correlation Analysis Between Yield Components and Yield Per Plant of Double-low Hybrid Rapeseed

[Objective] The experiment aimed to study the relation between yield components and yield per plant of double-low hybrid rapeseed and provide reference for breaking yield limitation of rapeseed and culturing new double-low hybrid rapeseed variety. [Method]The yield components and yield per plant of two cross combination of double-low hybrid rapeseed (B02, D04) and Shuza 6 were correlatively analyzed and compared, besides, the path analysis was also carried on to them. [Result] Among B02, D04 and Shuza No.6, effective pod number per plant and seeds per silique, seeds per pod and 1 000-grain weight were all negative correlation. In high yield hybrid, pod number per plant, seeds per pod had more impaction on yield per plant than 1 000-grain weight and the difference was at 0.01 significant level. In the control variety Shuza No.6, the impactions of pod number per plant and seeds per pod on yield per plant were bigger than that of 1 000-grain weight on yield per plant, however, the difference was not significant. [Conclusion] The improvement of effective pod number per plant was an important aim of breeding work of double low rapeseed breeding in Sichuan ecological region.

Effects of Urea Ammonium Chloride of Different Fertilization Patterns on Maize Yield and Yield Components

[Objective] To understand the application effects of urea ammonium chloride fertilizer on maize production. [Methods] A field plot experiment was conducted to study the effects of urea ammonium chloride of different fertilization patterns on summer maize yield and yield components. [Results] Urea ammonium chloride had a long fertilizer effect and the same yield-increasing effect with urea, which could im- prove the agronomic traits and economic traits of maize apparently and the applica- tion of urea ammonium chloride with nutrient reduction of 40% （namely just use urea ammonium chloride equaled 60% pure nitrogen）, had the same yield-increasing effect with urea of traditional fertilization patterns, and input-output ratio was high and the economic benefit was remarkable. [Conclusion] To provide scientific theoretical direc- tion for large area popularization and application of urea ammonium chloride.

Relationship Between Canopy Temperature at Flowering Stage and Soil Water Content,Yield Components in Rice

The canopy temperature of rice at the flowering stage and the soil water content were investigated under different soil water treatments （the soil water contents were 24%, 55%, 90% and 175% at the flowering stage）. The canopy temperature was lower than air temperature, and the soil water content significantly influenced the canopy temperature. The lower the soil water content, the higher the canopy temperature, the less the accumulative absolute value of canopy-air temperature difference. Moreover, the maximum difference between treatments and CK in the accumulative absolute value of canopy-air temperature difference appeared at 13：00 μm. in a day, thus, it could be considered as a suitable measuring time. Under the lowest water content treatment, the peak flowering occurred in the first three days （about 70% of panicles flowered）, resulting in shortened and lightened panicle of rice. As to the CK and the high water content treatments, the peak flowering appeared in the middle of flowering duration, with longer panicle length and higher panicle weight. Results indicated the lower the soil water content, the less the filled grain number and grain yield.

Relationship Among Yield Components and Selection Criteria for Yield Improvement in Early Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)

The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between seed yield and other important agronomic traits of early-maturing rapeseed as a rotation crop in a double-cropping rice area using Pearson＇s correlation coefficient as well as to estimate direct and indirect effects of specific yield component traits on seed yield via path analysis. Nineteen rapeseed genotypes were grown at ten environments in South China during 2008-2009 and 12 characters were evaluated. Analysis of variance showed that environment had a significant impact on all characters. For most characters the genotype by environment interaction was weak and not statistically significant. Simple correlation analysis indicated that the number of primary branches （PB）, number of pods on the main raceme （PR）, and number of seeds per pod made significant contributions to seed yield per plant （SYP）, while 1 000-seed weight was negatively correlated with SYP （r=-0.485, P0.05）. Furthermore, number of pods per plant （PP）, PB, and PR had the greatest direct effects on SYP. In addition, PP and PB were the best indicators to predict seed yield in stepwise regression analysis. Finally, yield component differences between early- and medium-maturity varieties were compared; this showed that to improve the seed yield of early varieties, more emphasis should be given to increase PP, PB, and PR, and reduce plant height and shortening of growth duration in breeding practice.

Genotype and Environment Interactions of Yields and Yield Components of Tea (Camellia sinensis) Cultivars in Kenya

The tea crop provides income and employment to rural populations in many countries. In Kenya, tea, which is the leading export commodity crop, is grown in highlands east and west of the Rift Valley at altitudes ranging from 1300 m to 2700 m above mean sea level. Variable responses of tea genotypes to different environments have been demonstrated. This affects the growth, productivity, and quality of tea. However, most tea husbandry practices are uniform across tea growing regions leading to variations in yields and quality in the different environments. Understanding causes of variations in tea growth parameters and yields to varying environments is vital to optimizing husbandry practices for maximization of productivity. The responses in growth and yield parameters of clonal tea to locations of production and their contribution to yields were compared. A genotype × environment trial was conducted in three sites (Kangaita, Timbilil and Kipkebe). At each site, a trial comprising 20 cultivars was laid in a randomized complete design replicated 3 times. Yields, yield components and climatic data were collected then subjected to analysis of variance and regression analysis. There were significant (p ≤ 0.05) yield variations between clones and locations. Yields ranged from 5162 kg mt/ha on clone TRFK 303/577 at Kipkebe to 935 kg mt/ha/year on clone TRFK 7/3 in Kangaita, surpassing the maximum variation possible postulated in earlier studies. The responses of the tea yield components to weather parameters varied with genotypes and environments. Shoot growth rates in Timbilil (r = 0.476)) and shoot density (Kangaita (r = 0.652) significantly (p ≤ 0.05)) correlated with yields. Yield components and weather parameters contribution to the total yield also varied with locations. The variations demonstrated that not all yield components can be used universally as yield indicators for clonal selection in different locations. For optimal production, selected tea clones should therefore be tested before adoption for commercial planting in other locations.

Influence of Organic and Inorganic Nitrogen on Grain Yield andYield Components of Hybrid Rice in Northwestern Pakistan

Field experiments were conducted to assess the impact of various organic sources, inorganicnitrogen （N） and the different combinations of inorganic N （urea） ＋ organic source on the yieldcomponents （YC） and grain yield （GY） of hybrid rice （Oryza sativa L., Pukhraj） under rice-wheat system.The experiments were conducted at Batkhela （Malakand）, Northwestern Pakistan, in 2011 and 2012.Our results revealed that YC and GY ranked first for the hybrid rice when applied with sole inorganic N（urea）, followed by the application of N in mixture （urea ＋ organic sources）, while the control plots （no Napplied） ranked in the bottom. Among the six organic sources （three animal manures： poultry, sheepand cattle; three crop residues： onion, berseem and wheat）, application of N in the form of poultrymanure was superior in terms of higher YC and GY. When applying 120 kg/hm2 N source, 75% N fromurea ＋ 25% N from organic source resulted in higher YC and GY in 2011, while applying 50% N fromurea ＋ 50% N from organic sources caused higher YC and GY in 2012. Therefore, the combinedapplication of N sources in the form of urea ＋ organic source can produce good performances in termsof higher YC and GY of rice under rice-wheat cropping system.

Genetic Analysis of Yield and Yield Components Based on the Three Controlled Hybrid Populations in the Robusta Coffee （Coffea canephora Pierre）

Genetic analysis of yield and yield components were carried out on three parental clones of Coffea canephora Pierre and their controlled hybrid progenies. There is a possibility to estimate coffee yield capabilities in simply via the easier measuring traits of yield components since significant correlation between them were detected. We found that among parental show very few significantly differences of all observed characters and even not found between the overall mean of the descendants and their donor parents, whereas some particular descendants show higher values rather than their donor parent in one or more characters. Increased value between the best parent to the best descendent were detected varies from zero to 102%. This situation suggests the difficulty to find out the optimum yield in a single plant by accumulating all of yield components that actually can increase 143% to 278% from actual to potential yields. In addition, observed characters among population were also actually found highly varies from 159% in out-turn in population B to 28,333% in number of productive branch among population A. Low heritability （h2） that generally found in quantitative traits due to polygenic control was present in our studies in almost all characters observed. Therefore, selection for actual high yielding through conventional breeding will not efficient, and more convincing the power of selection using molecular markers to assist for cumulate additive effects in a single genotypes that resulted of high yielding in the future.

Combining Ability Analysis for Yield and Yield Components of Yinshui-type Japonica Hybrid Rice

[Objective] This study aimed to analyze the yield potential of newly developed Yinshui-type japonica hybrid rice parents and provide the theoretical basis for breeding of Yinshui-type japonica hybrid rice. [Method] An incomplete diallel cross of four cytoplasmic male sterile （CMS） lines and four restorer lines was designed to investigate the combining ability for yield and yield components of Yinshui-type japonica hybrid rice. [Result] The variances of general combining ability （GCA） for yield traits were extremely significantly different. GCA variances of male parents were higher than that of female parents except for seed-setting rate. The variances of specific combining ability （SCA） for grain yield per plant, number of effective spikes and seed-setting rate were significantly or extremely significantly different. 139A and Wanlun 422 exhibited higher GCA effects. Most yield traits of these two parents be- longed to type II. Combinations 139AxWanlun 422 and Liaojingl0AxWanlun 422 had relatively high grain yield per plant and SCA effects. GCA effects of restorer lines and SCA effects of combinations greatly affected yield traits, while GCA ef- fects of CMS lines slightly affected yield traits. [Conclusion] In this study, restorer lines exhibited greater genetic differences and impact on yield traits than CMS lines; 139A and Wanlun 422 possessed higher application potential.

Quantitative trait loci associated to agronomic traits and yield components in a Sorghum bicolor L.Moench RIL population cultivated under pre-flowering drought and well-watered conditions

The present study aims to identify QTL influencing agronomic traits and yield components under well-watered and pre-flowering drought stress conditions. One hundred F5 recombinant inbred lines (RIL) and the parental lines of a cross between a drought-tolerant and a susceptible line in a field experiment were carried out at Nong Lam University of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Drought stress was induced by withholding irrigation water from the plants at four weeks after sowing to flowering. Leaf area of the third leaf, stem diameter, plant height, days to heading, anthesis and maturity, panicle length, number of seeds per plant, hundred kernel weight and grain yield were measured. Plants were genotyped with 117 Diversity Arrays Technology (DArT) and eight expressed sequence tag (EST)-derived simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Composite interval mapping was carried out on the traits and significant QTL were claimed at a logarithm of the odds (LOD) score >2.5. A total of 50 QTL were detected on nine chromosomes or 13 linkage groups, respectively. Six promising QTL regions with seven QTL for yield and agronomic traits especially related to pre-flowering drought tolerance were identified on chromosomes SBI-01, SBI-03, SBI-04, SBI-05 and SBI-07.

Effect of Plant Density on Yield and Yield Components of Chickpea （Cicer arietinum L.） Grown under Environmental Condition of Golestan, Iran

Chickpea is a major food crop and the world＇s third most widely-grown legume after bean （phaseolus vulgaris L.） and pea （pisum sativam L.）. The yield of chickpea can be improved by planting of optimum density of chickpea cultivars. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of plant density on yield and some characteristics of chickpea （Cicer arietinum L. var. Philips）. A field experiment was conducted on research farm of, Gonbad High Education Center, Iran. The study was laid out factorial in randomized block design with four replications. The treatments were factorial row spacing （A1=35 cm, A2=45 cm and A3=55 cm） and plant spacing in the row （Plant-within-spacing row） （B1=5 cm, B2=7.5 cm and B3=10 cm）. AIBI=（35×5）=57.14, AIB2= （35×7.5）=38.09, A1B3=（35×10）=28.57, A2B1=（45×7）=44.44, A2B2=（45×7.5）=29.26, A2B3=（45× 10）=22.23, A3B1=（55×5）=36.36, A3B2=（55 ×.5）=24.24, A3B3=（55 × 10）=18.18 plant.m^-2. At the harvest time, 5 plants of each plot were selected randomly and used for determination of pods per plant, unfilled pod per plant, height and number of branches. Result showed the yield was not affected by density. The maximum yield obtained in row spacing 55 cm and plant spacing in the row 7.5 cm which was equal 1802.87 kg·ha^-1. Row spacing had statistically significant effect on the pod number per plant, branches number per plant and plant height.

Effects of Nitrogen Fertilizer on Seed Yields and Yield Components of Zoysia japonica Established by Seeding and Transplant

The study was conducted to determine the optimum fertilizer-N application rate formaximum seed yields of Zoysiagrass stands from seeding and transplant respectively, atJiaozhou, Shandong Province, China from 2001 to 2003. In the third year after establishment,seed yields and yield components for both stands showed a similar response to fertilizer-N. Maximum fertile tiller numbers (3342 heads m-2 and 2941 heads m-2 from stands seeded inrows and transplanted, respectively) and the highest seed yields (844.50kgha-1 and 874.65kg ha-1 from stands seeded in rows and transplanted, respectively) were obtained at a Nfertilizer rate of 20kgha-1 in autumn and 10kgha-1 in spring (30kgha-1 N in total). Thefertile tillers and seed yields decreased with further increasing of N fertilizer rate.Fertilizer-N application could increase the length of spike, spikelets per fertiletiller, seed number per spike, setting percentage and thousand seed weight. The 1000-seed weight and the length of spike from transplant plots were higher than that fromseeding plots. The optimal harvest time of zoysiagrass at Jiaozhou was on the 36th dayafter peak anthesis, near June 15th, when the seed moisture content was 26-28%.

Effect of Phosphorus and Potassium Foliar Treatment on Seed Yield and Yield Components of Red Clover （ Trifolium pratense L.） Cultivars

Proper mineral nutrition of red clover especially on the acid soils is a prerequisite for the realization of maximum potential for seed yield. The field experiment with four cultivars of red clover were established on soil having a pH （in H2O） of 4.8, in order to in conditions of dense planting （20 cm inter row） analyzes the effect of foliar application of phosphorus and potassium （PK） on yield and yield components （number of stems/m2, number of inflorescences/m2, number of inflorescences/stem, number of flowers/inflorescence, number of seeds/inflorescence and one thousand grain weight）. Regardless of foliar treatment with PK, varieties differed in the number of inflorescences/m2, number of flowers/inflorescence, number of seeds/inflorescence and seed yield. Foliar application of PK in the phase of intensive growth of red clover had a positive impact on number of stem/m2, number of inflorescences/m2 and seed yield in all varieties, as well as on the number of flowers/inflorescence, number of seeds/inflorescence in cultivar Viola.

Response of Yield, Yield Components and Fiber Properties of Cotton to Different Application Rates of Nitrogen and Boron

Nitrogen （N） was applied at rates of 0, 100, 200 and 300 kg.ha^-1 and boron （B） was applied as foliar at rates 0, 500 and 1000 g.ha^-1 to study the effect of different application rates of nitrogen and boron fertilizers on yield, yield components and fiber properties of cotton. Statistical results of study showed that N application significantly （P 〈 0.05） enhanced boll number, boll weight, seed cotton weight of boll, seed cotton yield and lint yield. Results of study also indicated that the maximum seed cotton yield was recorded in case of 200 kg.ha^-1 N application rate, and this application rate resulted in 19.6% increased seed cotton yield. Statistical results also indicated that foliar application of B significantly enhanced boll number, boll weight, seed cotton yield and lint yield. Results also demonstrated that the maximum seed cotton yield was obtained in case of 1000 g.hal foliar application of B, and this foliar application rate resulted in 25% increased seed cotton yield. Statistical results showed that effect of different application rates of N was not significant for all fiber properties （fiber length, fiber strength and fiber fineness）. Conversely, results of study indicated that different application rates of B significantly affected some fiber properties.

The Effects of Different Levels of Nitrogen on Yield and Yield Components of Rainfed Wheat in Two Regions of North Khorasan

To study the effects of different levels of nitrogen fertilizer on yield and yield components of cultivars of rainfed wheat a study was done in the crop year 2012-2013 as factorial in a randomized complete block design with 3 replications, in 2 research stations of Kohne Kand city in Bojnord and Shirvan dryland research station. The treatments of study contain cultivars of wheat in 4 levels (Rasad, Sabalan, Cross Sabalan and Azar 2) and 4 levels of nitrogen fertilizer (75, 50, 25 and 0 kilograms nitrogen per hectare). The results showed that the yield in Shirvan was significantly higher than that in Bojnoord. Moreover, the impact of cultivar and nitrogen on yield and yield components was significant in both regions and among different cultivars Azar 2 has the highest yield in both regions and the lowest yield was for cross Sabalsn in Shirvan and Sabalan in Bojnoord. Furthermore, yield increased by increasing the nitrogen in both regions but there was no significant difference between levels 50 and 75 kilograms per hectare. Among yield components except the number of spikes per square meter, others had a high correlation with yield.