Many ear shoots are now easily visible upon dissection of a V9 plant, figure 13. An ear shoot (potential ear) will develop from every above-ground node, except the last six to eight nodes below the tassel. Initially, each ear shoot develops faster than the ear shoots originating above it on the stalk. However, growth of most lower stalk ear shoots eventually slows. and only the upper one or two ear shoots ever develop into a harvestable ear. Hybrids that produce more than one harvestable ear on the main stem are termed prolific. The tendency for a plant to display prolificness increases with low plant densities.

The tassel begins to develop rapidly now and the stalk is continuing rapid elongation. Stalk elongation actually occurs through elongation of its internodes. Each internode will begin elongation before the internode on the stalk above it, similar to initial ear shoot development.

By V10, the time between the appearance of new leaf stages will shorten, generally occurring every two to three days.

Management Guides - V9 Stage

At about V10, the corn plant begins a rapid, steady increase in nutrient and dry weight accumulation which will continue until far into the reproductive stages (see figures 53 and 54). Soil nutrients and water supplies are now in greater demand to meet the needs of this increased growth rate.

figure 12

figure 13

figure 53

figure 54

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