Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 18,1984—A43 Corn studies examine photosynthesis UNIVERSITY PARK - Ex ploring ways to improve the ability of com plants to convert solar energy into increased yields is a key goal of crop scientists at Penn State. Daniel P. Knievel and Jack C. Shannon in agronomy are working to improve the efficiency of com plants to produce high levels of carbohydrates through the natural process of photosynthesis. They call carbohydrates the vital “building blocks” of plant growth. Knievel said the complex process of converting solar energy into grain in com plants is two fold. In addition to high rates of photosynthesis, plants must have the capacity to accumulate and store efficiently the resulting high levels of carbohydrates as grain. “Improved carbohydrate storage is essential,” he said, “since high photosynthetic rates do not necessarily lead to high grain production. That’s the crux of the problem,” he affirmed. Experiments at Penn State show that, after pollination, car bohydrates can accumulate in com plants during periods of high photosynthesis but without in creasing the growth rate of the developing grain. “To complicate the situation, we SimplicUigi Put your money where it will last. Simplicity builds the quality lawn and garden tractors The 7100 garden tractor series is a perfect example Compare features, like its tree floating mower for the smoothest cut Live power take off operate front, center 14 HP Kohler Engine, Semi-Autoi w/42" Mow *313 Come in now for special pre-season prices. NO MONTHLY PAYMENT FOR 90 DAYS Buy It Now And Make No Monthly Payment For 90 Days With The Simplicity Revolving Charge Ban. It’s Available To Qualified Customers With Approved Credit For 15% Down And Easy Month ly Payments At An Annual Percentage Rate of 18%. Ask For Details. jLtt/Slam & Ga*de* fyuipmad. 9hc. ' TWO CONVENIENT LOCATIONS: 1755 W. Main St. 1515 East Chocolate Ave. Ephrata, PA 17522 Hershey, PA 17033 Located on Route 322 Pll „- ,717^00 Phone (717) 738-1131 Phone (717) 533 ' 4060 also found that com plants ac cumulating high carbohydrate levels in their tissues during grain filling had lower than normal rates of photosynthesis,” Knievel stated. This means, he noted, that a scientific “breakthrough” to in crease plant photosynthesis would not, by itself, improve crop yields. Com plants would need the genetic ability to accept and convert ad ditional carbohydrates into grain. The growing crop also must be managed properly to fully utilize the improved potential, he added. The Penn Staters have grown com at high and low populations to vary the degree of shading bet ween plants. This helps to control the level of photosynthetic energy in the plant. Pollination was done by hand to control the number of grains per plant. Accumulation of carbohydrates in stalk tissue was high, it was observed, when the kernels were unable to accept all of the available energy from photosynthesis. Rate of grain growth in each kernel was the same for all treatments, regardless of the number of kernels per ear. Where kernel numbers were low, plants stored higher amounts of car bohydrates in stalk tissues than were kernel numbers were high. or rear attachments Controlled traction differential reduces traction loss due to wheel spin Available in 12 h p gear drive or 12 to 19 h p Hydrostatic drive It's the best value around. •e-season . Simple as :hat LANCAtm ■OPB ■ wbmt * Vlft A Jl VAM TRACTOR OF LANCASTER COUNTY EASY TO REACH (OFF FLORY MILL EXIT OFF RT. 283) SELLS DEPENDABLE FORD TRACTORS and EQUIPMENT OFFERS RELIABLE, DEPENDABLE FRIENDLY SERVICE FAST PARTS SERVICE OPEN: 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM Mon.-Fri 7:00 AM to 12:00 Noon Sat. FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE Tractors Equipment LOCATED IN THE Circle ’'four Calendar pen nr vnx go i igg4 v.aichsextwe^^det^^^ f< *A*CN fi ,s? 5 I '9 20 ?, i* ,d l?j ,«.*y Rt 340 Compass '^-^22£«Wle^^
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