Effects of Low Temperature Stress on Germination and Physiological Characteristics of Different Sweet Maize Varieties

[Objectives]The paper was to explore the effects of low temperature stress on germination and physiological characteristics of different sweet maize varieties.[Methods]Taking Taitian 264,Zhexuetian 1 and Chaotian 4 as the research objects,the changes in germination potential,germination index,plant height,biomass,and antioxidant enzyme activity of maize seeds were studied under optimal temperature conditions(25℃)and low temperature stress conditions(10℃).[Results]Under 10℃stress,the germination rate and germination index of Taitian 264 were higher than that of Zhexuetian 1 and Chaotian 4.Under low temperature stress,Taitian 264 exhibited the least reduction in height and biomass,while Zhexuetian 1 had the most reduction.Additionally,the SOD and POD activities of Taitian 264 were higher than that of Zhexuetian 1 and Chaotian 4 under both temperature conditions,while the MDA content of Taitian 264 was lower.Taitian 264 showed strong germination ability against low temperature stress.[Conclusions]This study provides a basis for timely sowing practices of sweet maize in agricultural production.

Effect of Intercropping Ginger and Sweet Maize on Growth,Yield and Benefits

Ginger is an important cash crop in Shandong Province and it usually takes the sole cropping in the production.In order to explore new ginger cultivation patterns and improve planting benefits,sweet maize(Jingengtian 1)was intercropped with ginger(Laiwu ginger).The plug seedling was performed for sweet maize on April 18.Ginger was planted with plastic film mulching on April 20,and double-row sweet maize seedlings were transplanted on the ridges of interlaced ginger fields on May 2.The sweet maize was harvested from July 18 to 25,and the tillering rate of sweet maize reached 100%.The number of tillers in intercropping was more than that of sole cropping,and the highest average tiller reached 5.32 per plant;when sweet maize was intercropped,the number of ears decreased by 17.35%and the ear weight decreased by 8.07%.Ginger was harvested on October 20,the number of branches of intercropping ginger decreased by 5.12%to 6.47%,and the rhizomes weight per plant decreased by 5.64%to 16.43%.The economic benefit of ginger intercropping sweet maize was higher than that of sole ginger cropping.The intercropping model increased the efficiency by 6.28%and 2.87%respectively in the two bases,and increased the net income by 12000 and 5000 yuan/ha,respectively.