Maturity Classifications Influence the Phenological Intervals of Different Maize Varieties

This field trial compared the growth stages of early, intermediate and late varieties of maize and evaluated the effect of maturity group on their phenological intervals. Fifteen maize varieties belonging to three different maturity groups were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. Data were collected on the days to leaf expansion from the early seedling stages to flowering. The results showed that maturity group effect was significant for all phenological intervals starting from the third leaf stage. Maturity group had the highest influence on the phenological intervals of the varieties during the period of seedling establishment at the fifth leaf stage. The contribution of maturity group to the total observed variability increased from seedling establishment to the late vegetative stages and peaked at the flowering stages. Varietal differences have a minimal contribution in ranking maturity in maize. In summary, maturity differences in maize varieties are initiated early, but their time-course effects on phenological intervals are more pronounced in the late vegetative and flowering stages.