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Carbon Dioxide Assimilation Efficiency Of Maize Leaves Under Nitrogen Stress At Different Stages Of Plant Development, John Settimi, Jerry Maranville

John R. Settimi

Sub-optimal nitrogen (N) affects the N-rich carbon dioxide (CO2) assimilation enzymes which can limit maize (Zea mays) production. The status of the carboxylation system is closely correlated to the Assimilation Efficiency Index (AEI) which is the initial slope of the CO2 assimilation rate versus intercellular leaf CO2 concentrations. Experiments were undertaken to ascertain the effect of soil N nutrition on the AEI, determine genotypic variability for AEI under N-deficiency, determine how leaf and plant development affect treatment differences, and examine correlations between the AEI and plant development. Studies were conducted in the field and greenhouse on five maize genotypes on …