The vegetative plant is reaching full size in prolific-leaf hybrids . Silks from the basal ear ovules have been the first to elongate, followed by the silks from the ear tip ovules. Brace roots are now growing from above-ground nodes. These brace roots provide support to the plant and obtain water and nutrients from the upper soil layers during the reproductive plant stages. Ear development is continuing rapidly with the plant only one week away from viable silking at V18.
Unfertilized ovules result in missing kernels on the ear, especially at the ear tip.
Yield reduction depends on many variables including germination and upper soil profile moisture. Overall drought period will affect yield reduction. Stage VT occurs two to three days before silking, when the last branch of the tassel is completely visible but silks have not yet emerged from the ear shoot. The plant has reached full height and the pollen shed begins. The time between VT and R1 can vary with different hybrids and due to environmental conditions.