3.6 Flowering dynamics of Te, Tr, and Te×Tr maize lines
Tasseling, pollen shedding, and silking time were all significantly earlier in Te than in Te×Tr and Tr at each of different sowing dates over four experimental years (Figure 6). On average, these three flowering times were earlier in the second sowing date (Apr. 28 in 2015 and May 24 in 2016) than in the first sowing date, with larger differences in 2016. From the first to the second sowing date in 2015, the advance in tasseling, pollen shedding, and silking time were significantly earlier in Te lines than in Tr and Te×Tr lines (Figure 7). Tasseling, pollen shedding, and silking time in 2018 were all earlier than in 2017. Anthesis – silking interval (ASI) on average increased from 1.8 days at the first sowing date to 2.1 days at the second sowing date in 2015 and from 1.9 to 2.6 day in 2016. ASI was significantly larger in Te than in Tr and Te×Tr at the second sowing date in 2015. In 2017 and 2018, ASI was not significantly different among three germplasms.