文献类型：期刊文献

英文题名：Regulating female ear morphogenesis in maize by uniconazole and 5-aminolevulinic acid for yield improvement

作者：Xu, Lei[1];Wang, Huiquan[1];Huang, Xueying[1];Ye, Qinghua[1];Chen, Tingping[1];Jei, Vincent[3];Zheng, Dianfeng[2];Zhao, Yue[1,3]

机构：[1]Fujian Vocat Coll Agr, Fuzhou 350303, Peoples R China;[2]Guangdong Ocean Univ, Coll Agr, Zhanjiang 524088, Peoples R China;[3]Univ Kebangsaan Malaysia, Fac Sci & Technol, Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia

年份：2026

卷号：16

期号：1

外文期刊名：SCIENTIFIC REPORTS

收录：SCI-EXPANDED(收录号：WOS:001754534800009)、、WOS

基金：This research was funded by Fujian Provincial Education Department Key Research Projects for Young and Mid-career Teachers (grant number JZ240089), Introduction of Talents and Scientific Research Project of Fujian Vocational College of Agriculture (grant number ZZXYJ11525002) and University-Enterprise Collaborative Development Project (grant number 1048250100301).

语种：英文

外文关键词：Uniconazole; 5-Aminolevulinic acid; Ear; Morphology; Maize

外文摘要：Female ear development during the pre- and post-silking period is critical for maize yield. Although plant growth regulators can enhance yield, their specific effects on ear morphogenesis and underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, two maize hybrids were foliar-treated with uniconazole (UCZ, 25 mg L-& sup1;) or 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA, 40 mg L-& sup1;) at the 12-leaf stage. UCZ and ALA increased grain yield by 6.8% to 12.0% and 8.3% to 13.9%, respectively. This yield improvement resulted not only from increased 100-grain weight but, more importantly, from a greater kernel number per ear achieved through enhanced row number (by UCZ) and grains per row (by ALA). Morphological analysis revealed that UCZ significantly increased ear diameter, whereas ALA markedly promoted ear elongation. Physiologically, UCZ lowered IAA and GA levels but raised ABA, while ALA exerted opposite effects on these hormones. Both regulators enhanced ZR and carbohydrate contents. In conclusion, UCZ and ALA enhance maize yield through distinct pathways: UCZ favors radial growth and yield components related to ear thickness, whereas ALA promotes longitudinal growth and components related to ear length.