The efficacy and function of corn leaves

Corn is deeply loved by people in daily life. It is not only sweet and delicious, but also has very high nutritional value. However, its leaves also have many functions and effects that are often overlooked. Corn leaves play an important role in photosynthesis. Corn leaves also have certain medicinal value and have significant effects in treating some diseases. Friends in need can learn more about corn leaves.

1. Basic functions of corn leaves

Leaves are the main organs of photosynthesis. The maximum photosynthetic capacity of adult corn leaves is 60-80 mg CO2/dm2h. The photosynthetic productivity of the colony can reach 54.7 grams/㎡. Of course, the intensity of corn photosynthesis is also affected by various complex internal and external factors.

Stomata have the ability to close automatically. When the weather is dry, the stomata are closed and can be translocated by less water. In addition, there are some special large motor cells on the leaf epidermis. Their cell walls are very thin and the bubbles are larger. They also play the role of controlling the transpiration of water from the leaf surface. When there is sufficient water, the motor cells absorb a lot of water, which can keep the leaf surface flat. When the weather is dry, the water content in the motor cells decreases, causing their volume to shrink, and the leaves curl up and become tubular to reduce the transpiration area of ​​the leaves and reduce the transpiration intensity. Therefore, corn has a strong ability to tolerate Chihaya atmosphere.

Corn seedlings are small, with a transpiration to evaporation ratio of 0.38; in the early waxy stage, it is 1.2: maturity is related to the size of the stomata, the number of days and the thickness of the cuticle, and is also closely related to light, temperature, humidity, wind speed, etc. Within a certain range, the stronger the light, the higher the temperature, the drier the air, the larger the leaf area. Therefore, in production, irrigation must be carried out according to local conditions and time to meet the water requirements of corn plants. Corn leaves can also absorb mineral nutrients in solution into the interior of the leaves through stomata and epidermal cells.

The amount of mineral elements absorbed by leaves depends on the speed at which the mineral elements penetrate into the leaves, how quickly the solution dries on the leaf surface, and how the mineral precipitates on the leaf surface redissolve. The rate of permeation depends on factors such as the salt composition, the concentration and acidity of the solution, and the age of the leaves. Therefore, the rate varies greatly. Corn leaves can carry out normal photosynthesis and respiration. It is not only an alienation process that releases energy, but also a part of assimilation. Corn is a non-photorespiratory plant that fixes CO2 mainly through phosphoenolpyruvate fragmentation.

Corn's affinity for C0 is generally dozens of times higher than that of wheat, and it can make full use of CO2 in the air. In the mesophyll structure of the leaves, there is a layer of chlorophyll-containing pyrrolidone sheath, with tightly arranged mesophyll cells outside, so that the CO2 released by photorespiration can be reused in the body. Therefore, the light consumption of corn is small, accounting for less than 6% of the photosynthetic intensity.

2. Corn leaves at different nodes have different effects on organ formation

First, the root and leaf group: in the seedling stage of corn from emergence to jointing, the main growth organ is the root system, and the main leaves for growth are the expanded leaves with a leaf age index below 30. Second, the stem and leaf group: from jointing to the trumpet formation (differentiation period of male tetrads and female spikelets), the main growth organ is the stem, followed by the male spike, and the main leaves are expanded leaves with a leaf age index of 30 to 60. Third, leaf group: from the big trumpet mouth to pregnancy (the period when the contents of male and female pollen grains are enriched), the main growth organ is the female, and the main leaves for growth are the expanded leaves with a leaf age index of 60 to 80. Fourth, the grain-leaf group: After the gestation period, it enters a period centered on grain number and weight formation, and the main leaves grown are expanded leaves with a leaf age index of 80 to 100.

According to their functions, the leaves of the whole corn plant can be roughly divided into three groups: root leaf group, stem leaf group and ear (grain) leaf group. The number of leaves in each group accounts for about one-third of the total number of leaves in the whole plant. According to the observations of spring-sown Chendan No. 3 and Danyu No. 6 by Shenyang Agricultural College from 1981 to 1982: From the functional perspective of leaves at different nodes, the 16 early leaves of corn are mainly damaged due to field operations, and have a short lifespan, generally 28 to 37 days. The 7th to 19th leaves have a longer lifespan, which can last 55 to 77 days. The 13th to 18th leaves have the longest lifespan, reaching more than 90 days. After the 18th leaf, the lifespan begins to shorten again, and the top leaf is the filling leaf, which usually lives about 60 days.