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.