General information:
We need every year thousands of maize and lettuce seeds for our experiments and lab classes. On this plot we produce these seeds. In addition, we grow large amounts of maize plants to dissect and fix flowers and developing seed for further experiments. (Further information on our maize research projects: Dresselhaus lab (external link, opens in a new window), van der Linde lab (external link, opens in a new window)
After the plot prep the pregerminated maize seedlings were transplanted into the plot on 16.05.2024.
Maize plot (16.05.2024)
Irrigation system: Maize (C4 plant (external link, opens in a new window)) has a high water use efficiency and therefore requires little water compared to other crops. Nevertheless, we use a water drip hose-based irrigation system (black hose between the maize rows) to guarantee optimal plant growth.
Bird netting: After planting, the entire plot is protected from rodents and birds, which like to indulge on the maize seedlings and seeds, with bird netting for a few weeks.
Contraceptives for maize plants: To prevent unwanted cross-breeding between different maize lines, the maize ears are covered with small paper bags as soon as they are visible on the plant and before the silks emerge from the ear.
