Selection for maize (Zea mays L.) grain yield in high-yielding environments at high population densities has favored a compact phenotype tolerant to crowding stress, bearing a single, well-grained ear. However, by contributing to vegetative and reproductive plasticity (i.e., multiple shoots and ears per plant, respectively), tillering may be adaptive in environments with low and variable availability of resources, chiefly water and nutrients, where crops are sown at low plant population density. In this work we present a robust, new conceptual framework for vegetative and reproductive plasticity in maize with direct agronomic applications, combining original data from new experiments and data reviewed from the literature. First, we describe production systems where tillering in maize would be relevant in terms of grain yield. Next, we discuss possible masked effects of genetic selection at high plant densities on tillering and present novel experimental results showing genotypic variation of tillering in modern maize hybrids and genotype x environment x management effects (plant density x location x sowing date) on tillering expression. We follow with a two-part framework to analyze tillering and prolificacy. In the first part (from axillary buds to tillers), we integrate the early effects of the light environment (through photomorphogenesis) and carbon balance on tillering emission, and discuss the environmental factors (temperature, photoperiod, radiation, water, nitrogen) that modulate tiller emission and tiller growth. In the second part (from tillers to kernels), we summarize the functional relationships governing kernel set on the ears of main shoot (apical and sub-apical ears) and tillers, focusing on the growth rate of shoot cohorts, rather than the whole plant. We then provide examples of the diverse patterns of contribution of multiple shoots to crop grain yield for maize husbandry in low-yielding environments. Finally, we address the effect of tillering on resource capture and use efficiency of maize crops by discussing its relationship with biomass and grain yield and provide supportive experimental data. We conclude with identification of knowledge gaps leading to testable hypotheses.

选择玉米（玉米L.）在高密度人群中，在高产环境中的谷物产量偏向于紧凑的表型，能够耐受拥挤胁迫，并带有一个单一的，粒状的耳朵。但是，通过促进营养和生殖的可塑性（即，每株植物分别有多个芽和穗），分er可适应资源稀少且可变的环境（主要是水和养分）的环境，在这种环境下以低植物种群密度播种农作物。在这项工作中，我们提出了一个健壮的，具有直接农艺应用的玉米营养和生殖可塑性的新概念框架，将新实验的原始数据与文献综述的数据相结合。首先，我们描述了玉米分where与谷物产量相关的生产系统。下一个，我们讨论了高植物密度下基因选择对分till的可能掩盖效应，并提供了新颖的实验结果，这些结果显示了现代玉米杂交种中分的基因型变化以及基因型x环境x管理效应（植物密度x位置x播种日期）对分er表达的影响。我们遵循一个由两部分组成的框架来分析分and和繁殖能力。在第一部分（从腋芽到分till）中，我们整合了光环境的早期影响（通过光形态发生）和碳平衡对分emission发射的影响，并讨论了调节环境因素（温度，光周期，辐射，水，氮）分er排放和分er生长。在第二部分（从分ers到果仁），我们总结了控制主茎穗（顶穗和次顶穗）和分till上的籽粒集的功能关系，重点是芽群的生长速率，而不是整个植物的生长速率。然后，我们提供了在低产环境下多次芽对玉米育种作物籽粒产量贡献的多种模式的示例。最后，我们通过分its与玉米生物量和谷物产量之间的关系，探讨了分er对玉米作物资源捕获和利用效率的影响，并提供了支持性的实验数据。我们以确定导致可检验假说的知识差距作为结论。然后，我们提供了低产环境下多次芽对玉米育种作物籽粒产量贡献的多种模式的示例。最后，我们通过分its与玉米生物量和谷物产量之间的关系，探讨了分er对玉米作物资源捕获和利用效率的影响，并提供了支持性的实验数据。我们以确定导致可检验假说的知识差距作为结论。然后，我们提供了在低产环境下多次芽对玉米育种作物籽粒产量贡献的多种模式的示例。最后，我们通过分its与玉米生物量和谷物产量之间的关系，探讨了分er对玉米作物资源捕获和利用效率的影响，并提供了支持性的实验数据。我们以确定导致可检验假说的知识差距作为结论。