“Flowering corn” refers to a fundamental stage in the corn plant’s development, marking its shift from growing leaves and stalks to producing grain. This phase is paramount for the formation of corn kernels. It is a brief but intense period when the plant focuses its energy on ensuring the next generation.
The Corn Plant’s Flowers
Corn plants possess two distinct types of flowers. At the top of the stalk, the male flower, known as the tassel, emerges. The tassel is a branched structure that produces and releases pollen.
Further down the stalk, female flowers develop into ear shoots. From these developing ears, delicate strands known as silks emerge. Each individual silk connects to a single potential corn kernel on the developing ear and is receptive to pollen.
The Pollination Process
Corn is a wind-pollinated plant, relying on air currents to transfer pollen. Pollen shed, or anthesis, begins when the tassel is fully extended, often before silks fully emerge. The tassel releases millions of pollen grains.
These pollen grains are carried by the wind and land on receptive silks. Once a pollen grain adheres to a silk, it germinates, sending a pollen tube down the length of the silk. This tube reaches the ovule (potential kernel) at the base of the silk, leading to fertilization. Each successfully pollinated silk results in the development of one corn kernel.
Factors Affecting Flowering and Pollination
Several environmental and physiological factors impact corn flowering and pollination success. Drought stress significantly affects this process, as water deficits can delay silk emergence and reduce pollen viability. High temperatures can also reduce pollen viability and shorten the period of pollen shed.
Nutrient deficiencies, particularly nitrogen, hinder plant health and its ability to support flowering and kernel development. High plant density can lead to increased competition for resources, potentially causing asynchronous development between tassels and silks. If silks emerge too late after pollen shed, or if pollen shed is reduced, many kernels may not form on the ear.
Significance for Corn Yield
Flowering and pollination success directly impacts corn yield. The number of kernels that develop on an ear is determined by how many silks are successfully pollinated. Each unpollinated silk results in a missing kernel, creating “skips” on the cob. A well-formed ear can have between 400 to 600 kernels.
After successful fertilization, the kernels begin to fill with starch, contributing to the overall weight and quality of the harvest. Any disruption during this time can lead to significant reductions in the potential harvest.