Effects of Shading at the Whole Growth Stage on the Leaf Morphology and Function of Different Maize Varieties

The pot experiment was carried out to study the effects of shading at whole growth stage on the morphology and function of leaves for different maize varieties.The results showed that shading in all growth stage increased length and width ratio of leaf,leaf mass ratio,leaf mass fraction,leaf area ratio and specific leaf area,but decreased specific leaf weight.With the increase of shading degrees,photosynthetic rate of maize leaf at each growth stage were decreased,and the decrease of photosynthetic rate at anthesis was greater than that at booting and middle filling stage.Shading at the whole growth stage increased contents of chl a,b and contents of chl a+b,but decreased chl a/b.The increase of chlorophyll content after shading,especially chl b content,was an ecological adaptation to low light stress.