Maize Crop Productivity
  

Corn or maize (Zea mays) is a highly productive crop.  We are interested in the efficiency of the leaf canopy in producing dry matter.  We have studied the effect of foliage inclination on canopy productivity.  Generally, the idea has been that a steeper leaf angle may increase canopy productivity if the leaf area index of the crop is greater than 5, i.e., 1 m² of land area has 5 m² of leaf above it.  In joint research with Professor Elizabeth Van Volkenburgh we have found differences in yield between hydbrids where the more productive not only had more upright leaves but a smaller total foliage (Summary) and the effects of more upright foliage may include both greater penetration of light into the canopy and avoidance of high radiation loads (Summary).  Physiological analysis has shown that the more upright leaved hybrid had a difference in sensitivity to auxin.   In current research we are examining the physiological processes, particularly in photosynthetic rate, that are affected by leaves being more upright. We are also working to construct 3D models of maize canopies for use in scaling photosynthetic estimates from leaf to the whole canopy.