This study was conducted aiming to identify morphological and physiological traits associated with the initial growth speed and to determine the importance of a vigorous early growth to set high grain yields. The study was conducted in Lages, SC, during 1998/99 and 1999/00 growing seasons. A randomized complete block design was used. Hybrids C901, AS 3601, C 505, AS 3466 and AS 32 were avaluated in 1998/99, whereas in 1999/00 the studied hybrids were C 909, AS 3601, DINA 500, AS 3466 and AS 32. Maize initial growth was evaluated through six samplings. Samples were taken weekly from plant emergence the ten fully expanded leaves stage. Leaf area, leaf area index, dry mass accumulation, cellular growth rate (CGR) and cellular expansion rate (CER) were estimated. Hybrid AS 3601 presented larger values of leaf area, IAF and CER than the other genotypes in 1998/99. In the second growing season, Hybrid AS 3466 had the highest values for dry mass and CGR. There was no significant difference among hybrids for grain yield. Low correlation values between initial growth parameters and maize grain yield were found. Otherwise, leaf area, leaf area index, dry mass accumulation, CGR and CER showed high correlation.
Zea mays; vigor; solar radiation; productivity
