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Abstract
One of the factors limiting grain yield in maize is the prevalence of nubbins—ears with unfertilized and/or partially filled kernels at their tips or along their lengths. Several stress factors are known to result in nubbins, namely: high population density, shade, high temperature and water deficiency around pollination time, and deficiencies of N, P, K, Mn, Zn, and B. The single‐factor contribution and the interaction between some of the above factors for successful seed‐set and transport of assimilates to the fertilized kernels (grain filling) are reviewed. Observations show that under similar growth conditions, maize genotypes are differently susceptible to the barrenness disorder. The data indicate that under high population density (100,000 plants/ha), soil application of boron can, in some genotypes, increase the total length of the ear, increase the portion covered with fully developed kernels, decrease (but not eliminate) the apical barren section, and increase kernel yield.