Development of maize (Zea mays L.) types that produce leaf area and ma
ture quickly would increase production of maize in mid-to short-season
areas. The leafy (Lfy1) and reduced-stature (rd1) traits both make co
ntributions to this end. However, these two traits have not previously
been combined. Our objective was to evaluate the yield and yield comp
onents of non-leafy normal-stature (NLNS), leafy reduced-stature (LRS)
, non-leafy reduced-stature (NLRS), and leafy normal-stature (LNS) mai
ze inbred lines. The two genes, 'Lfy1' and 'rd1', were incorporated in
to a series of inbred lines resulting in a range of canopy architectur
es. Ten variables were recorded for each of 30 inbred lines over three
years. The 10 variables were: corn heat unit requirement from plantin
g to tasselling, corn heat unit requirement from planting to silking,
days between tasselling and silking, grain moisture content, husk dry
weight, cob dry weight, ear length, maximum ear circumference, grain y
ield and ratio of grain yield to moisture content. Reduced-stature inb
red lines reached anthesis more quickly than normal-stature inbred lin
es. Grain moisture content was less in reduced-stature inbred lines th
an normal stature trait groups. Leafy-reduced stature plants had the h
ighest ratio of grain to moisture content and the lowest grain moistur
e content at harvest. Inbred lines containing the rd1 trait matured mo
re rapidly than other trait groups. The LRS trait group yielded more t
han the other groups, and showed great potential for use in mid-to sho
rt-season environments.