Maize Leaf Phenotype
Maize growth and leaf senescence were assessed for 40 days from days after flowering under different light conditions (normal light (NL), partial light (PL), full shade (FS)). Notably, maize leaves maintained significantly more greenness and green leaf area per plant under PL than NL and FS (Fig. 1A-D, Supporting Information Figure S1). Similarly, the data analysis for days to yellowing at the bottom of a leaf, the total number of green leaves, and leaf nitrogen content showed the significant superiority under PL over the leaves under NL and FS conditions. Time taken to the first appearance of the yellow bottom leaves under PL treatment was delayed by 3.6 to 5.9 days with 2.2 to 3.3 more green leaves and 1.1 to 1.4 fold nitrogen uptake than NL and FS (Table 1, Supporting Information Table S1). Interestingly, the first yellow bottom leaf was found on the light side under PL. No difference was observed in the first yellow bottom leaf appearance in two side leaves of NL and FS treatment.