Auswirkungen der Züchtung bei Winterweizen in einem landwirtschaftlichen System mit geringer Betriebsmittelzufuhr von außen

Impact of Wheat Breeding in an Agricultural Low External Input System
Low external input systems, e.g. ecological agriculture, are able to solve problems concerning environmental pollution, diminishing ressources, and overproduction. Since growing conditions of winter wheat are very different in ecological agriculture as compared to conventional systems, the impact of genetic improvement of winter wheat in low external input systems is not well known. Investigations were carried out in two years at two ecologically managed farms using 24 genotypes of winter wheat of different periods of release (about 1900 to 1983). The results can be summarized as follows:
1. The tendency towards higher yields among modern varieties as compared to older cultivars in ecological agriculture was highly significant.
2. The rate of yield improvement was smaller under low external input as compared to conventional conditions results. Yield improvement was greatest in recent decades.
3. In ecological agriculture higher yields among modern varieties resulted from an increased harvest index along with an unchanged biomass production, improved resistance properties, and higher ear weight. Reduced plant height probably has negative effects.
4. Baking quality was improved clearly by wheat breeding.
5. Further genetic improvement of winter wheat yields in low external input systems may result from increased biomass production along with a constant or enhanced harvest index, improved resistance properties, increased plant height, and pronounciation of ear weight.     

Zum Einfluß von Saatzeiten, Saatstärken und Sorten auf agronomische Merkmale von Winterweizen in einem System mit geringer Betriebsmittelzufuhr von außen

The influence of sowing date, seed rate, and variety on agricultural characteristics of winter wheat in a low external input system
Growth conditions of winter wheat in agricultural low external input systems, e.g. ecological agriculture, are very different compared to conventional agriculture (mineral nutrition, impact of diseases, competition of weeds). In 1986, 1987, and 1988 the influence of sowing date and seed rate on crop development and grain production was studied with two varieties of winter wheat in field experiments in Northern Hessia.
Drilling after the first decade of October decreases grain yield of both varieties significantly. The decrease was due to poor emergence, low plant densities, and low grain weights. Tillering could not compensate low plant densities, presumably because of low mineralization of nutrients in cold soils during respective growth stages.
Variation of seed rate (350, 500, and 650 viable seeds/m²) had little influence on grain yield. Low plant densities and low numbers of ears per nr after sowing in the end of October could not be improved satisfactorily by increased seed rates.
The ability of varieties of winter wheat to compensate unfavourable growth conditions due to "late" sowing varies considerably. Cultivars which are able to develop a high plant density seem to be more suitable for delayed sowing dates, as compared to varieties which own a high grain weight.
Further investigations concerning wheat production are needed to optimize agricultural low external input systems. Especially sandy soils with quick response to increased ambient temperature, and sites with favourable growth conditions in late autumn and early spring should be considered.     

有效分蘖终止期控制措施对小麦群体质量影响的研究

研究表明,在总头数与预期穗数相等的有效分蘖终止期,采取深中耕与镇压相结合的控制措施,可使有效分蘖与无效蘖间形成一个“断档”阶段,拉大有效生育与无效生育的距离,减少无效生产,提高有效蘖整齐度,促进根系发育,协调群体与个体的矛盾及地上部生长与地下部生长的矛盾,明显改善群体质量。这项措施提高了分蘖成穗率,增强了植株抗倒伏能力,降低了群体对个体的制约,干物质生产和源库关系更趋合理,产量和经济系数显著提高,     

雨养条件下植物生长调节剂对冬小麦根系生长和产量形成的调控研究

为了探讨雨养模式下植物生长调节剂协同调控冬小麦根系生长和产量形成的机理,在华北平原雨养条件下,研究烯效唑和矮壮素复配剂以及清水对照对冬小麦产量形成、群体数量和根系生长的影响。结果表明:植物生长调节剂处理显著提高冬小麦穗数和籽粒产量,但是对小穗数和穗粒数没有显著影响。植物生长调节剂可以促进冬小麦冬前分蘖,明显提高生育前期群体数量。植物生长调节剂处理下,冬小麦分蘖期单株根系根长和根表面积显著降低,但是冬小麦单株根直径、根条数、根重和根冠比显著增加。植物生长调节剂处理主要影响冬小麦分蘖期0~30 cm土层的根长密度和0~50 cm土层的根重密度,而对深层土壤中的根长密度和根重密度影响较小。植物生长调节剂可以协同调控冬小麦根系生长和分蘖形成,从而有利于塑造合理群体结构和提高产量。     

长江中下游小麦品种根系改良特征及其与产量的关系

为探明小麦品种更替过程中根系改良特征对氮肥的响应及其与产量形成的关系,从而为高产品种选育及根冠构型建成提供理论依据。本研究以长江中下游不同年代大面积推广的代表性小麦品种南大2419、扬麦1号、扬麦158和扬麦16为材料,采用大田和盆栽试验,研究了3个施氮水平(纯氮0、225和300 kg hm–2)下小麦根系形态与生理特性的差异及其与产量的关系。结果表明,小麦籽粒产量随品种育成年代推进逐步增加,现代品种对施氮的响应较早期品种大。现代小麦品种拔节至开花阶段根系干物质积累量和生长速率显著高于早期品种,而播种至拔节期早期品种的根系生长在无氮条件下具有较强的生长优势。小麦根系总根长、表面积、根体积、0~60 cm土层根重密度、根系活力和SOD活性随品种育成年代逐步提高,而MDA含量显著降低。增施氮肥促进了不同年代品种根系生长,但现代品种增幅较早期品种大,说明品种改良提高了小麦根系对氮肥的响应。籽粒产量与开花期根系总根长、表面积、根系生物量和0~60 cm根重密度呈显著正相关。因此,增加根系与土壤接触面积和高氮适应性、提高根系生理活性、延缓根系衰老是长江中下游小麦品种演变的重要特征也是高产高效栽培调控的重要目标。     

断根对不同根型小麦光合和生长的影响

通过对不同根型的2个小麦品种盆栽起身期断根,研究了断初生根和部分次生根对小麦后期光合特性和生长的影响。结果表明,断初生根和部分次生根,均使得断根后期小麦光合速率升高,小根系旱地品种晋麦47断初生根光合速率较对照增幅较大,而大根系品种石4185断部分次生根光合速率较对照增幅较大;断根降低了成熟期小麦根系干质量、地上部干质量,同时晋麦47产量降低,而石4185在断部分次生根后产量增加;断初生根比断部分次生根对小麦的影响较大。     

Effects of Nitrogen and Plant Density on Growth, Yield and Chemical Composition of Two Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Cultivars

A field study was conducted on the winter wheat cultivars Arminda and Okapi , using two seed rates (80 and 160 kg/ha) and three N applications (40, 80 and 120 kg/ha).
The cultivars did not differ in total dry matter production but did differ in grain yield. The difference in grain yield was mainly attributable to a higher harvest index (HI).
Increased plant density reduced HI; it resulted in more shoots per m², but in a lower grain yield. The reduction in grain yield was caused by fewer kernels per ear and a lower 1000-grain weight in both cultivars.
A higher rate of N increased total dry matter production and grain yield, except in Okapi at the high plant density. The number of kernels per ear increased, but 1000-grain weight fell.
The higher the N applications, the higher the N-content of the roots was.
Total N yield was greater in Arminda than in Okapi. The cultivars differed in the amount of nitrogen they took up after anthesis.
The content of water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC) differed between the cultivars, N treatments and growth stages. Carbohydrate formed before anthesis accounted for 23 % of Arminda's grain yield and for 10 % of Okapi's grain yield.
The content of cell-wall constituents (CWC) depended on cultivar, growth stage and the rate of the N dressing. Differences in CWC were more pronounced in Arminda than in Okapi. During leaf, stem and ear development there was a strong increase in content and amount of CWC. Concomitantly, WSC decreased. This implies that a large consumption of WSC is necessary for the formation of CWC. The competition for the WSC, necessary for CWC and shoot and ear development influences kernel initiation. Per unit of dry matter Okapi contained more CWC than Arminda. This was not in agreement with differences in straw sturdiness.     

Genetic improvement trends in agronomic performances and end-use quality characteristics among hard red winter wheat cultivars in Nebraska

Evaluation of wheat cultivars from different eras allows breeders to determine changes in agronomic and end-use quality characteristics associated with grain yield and end-use quality improvement over time. The objective of this research was to examine the trends in agronomic and end-use quality characteristics of hard red winter wheat cultivars grown in Nebraska. Thirty historically important and popular hard red winter wheat cultivars introduced or released between 1874 and 2000 were evaluated at Lincoln, Mead and North Platte, Nebraska in 2002 and 2003. An alpha lattice design with 15 incomplete blocks of two plots and three replications was used at all locations. Agronomic (days to flowering, plant height, spike length, culm length, grain yield and yield components, and grain volume weight) and end-use quality (flour yield, SDS-sedimentation value, flour protein content, and mixograph time and tolerance) traits were measured in each environment. Highly significant differences were observed among environments, genotypes and their interactions for most agronomic and end-use quality characteristics. Unlike modern cultivars, older cultivars were low yielding, and less responsive to favorable environments for grain yield and yield components. Semidwarf cultivars were more stable for plant height than traditional medium to tall cultivars. All cultivars had high grain volume weight since it is part of the grading system and highly selected for in cultivar release. Modern cultivars were less stable than older cultivars for SDS-sedimentation and mixing tolerance. However, the stability of older cultivars was attributed to their having weak mixing tolerance and reduced SDS-sedimentation values. The reduced protein content of modern cultivars was offset by increased functionality, as measured by mixograph and SDS sedimentation. In conclusion, breeders have tailored agronomic and end-use quality traits essential for hard red winter wheat production and marketing in Nebraska.     

不同产量水平下冬小麦水肥利用特性研究

根据黄淮海地区冬小麦多年不同产量需肥特征进行配方施肥,来模拟冬小麦不同产量水平,进而研究不同产量下冬小麦生长发育及水肥利用等特性,为田间水肥管理和高效用水及合理施肥提供理论依据。本试验于2018—2019年在中国农业科学院新乡综合试验基地进行,试验设置4个产量水平,分别为7.50 t/hm²(C₀),8.25 t/hm²(C₅),9.00 t/hm²(C₁₀),9.75 t/hm²(C₁₅),以不施肥为对照处理(CK)。结果表明,随产量的增加,冬小麦株高、SPAD、穗数、穗长、穗粒数、千粒重和生物量均呈上升趋势,无效小穗数呈下降趋势,较CK处理相比,C₁₅处理株高、SPAD、穗数、穗长、穗粒数、千粒重和生物量分别提高17.8%、69.1%、68.6%、15.3%、16.5%、17.3%、34.9%,收获指数达到53.2%。随产量的增加,冬小麦耗水量显著增加,水分利用效率呈上升趋势,C₁₀耗水量增加22.8%,水分利用效率增加9.9%;收获后C₁₀土壤全氮全磷较播前显著增加,C₁₅显著减少,肥料贡献率随产量增加显著提高,偏生产力显著降低。冬小麦产量的提高主要依赖于较高的穗数和全生育期干物质的积累,结合冬小麦产量、耗水量,水分利用等认为C₁₀处理水肥利用最佳。     

Winter Wheat Cultivar Responses to Fungicide Application are Affected by Nitrogen Fertilization Rate

Foliar fungicides are important management inputs for winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in high-yielding areas of Europe, but their effectiveness may interact with cultivar selection and nitrogen (N) fertilization. No information is available on the potential use of fungicides in reducing yield losses from foliar diseases in Croatia, where wheat crop is extensively grown under low N inputs. Field experiments were conducted during 2000–02 to evaluate the agronomic responses of six winter wheat cultivars to fungicide application (tebuconazol around heading) compared with untreated plots at low (67 kg N ha⁻¹) and high (194 kg N ha⁻¹) N fertilization rates. Grain yields tended to increase in all years following fungicide treatment at high N rate by an average of 10.1 % (773 kg ha⁻¹), but improved significantly in one year only at low N rate. When these occurred, yield increases were associated with larger grain weight per ear primarily due to heavier 1000-kernel weight. Cultivars differed in their responses to fungicide application across growing seasons and N fertilization rates. Under low disease pressure in 2000 and 2001, improved yields with fungicide use occurred for few susceptible cultivars only, whereas all cultivars significantly increased yields under higher disease severity in 2002 by an average of 383 kg ha⁻¹ (5.0 %) at low N rate and 1443 kg ha⁻¹ (19.0 %) at high N rate. Following fungicide application at high N rate, some susceptible cultivars outyielded resistant cultivars, whereas opposite responses occurred in untreated plots. High N fertilization rate consistently produced larger grain yields except under high disease severity and no fungicide sprayed in 2002, when it had no benefits at all over low N rate. Fungicide application showed limited importance for wheat performance at low N rate; however, cultivars significantly differed in yield responses as well as in rankings after fungicide use at high N fertilization rate.     

小麦玉米周年生产中耕作对夏玉米产量及抗倒伏能力的影响

针对黄淮海平原冬小麦夏玉米周年生产的特点,将冬小麦夏玉米播前耕作统筹结合,以期为冬小麦夏玉米周年生产体系耕作方式的改良提供依据。以郑单958为验材,设冬小麦播前旋耕夏玉米播前免耕(RN)、冬小麦播前翻耕夏玉米播前免耕(MN)、冬小麦播前翻耕夏玉米播前旋耕(MR) 3个处理,探讨冬小麦夏玉米周年生产条件下不同耕作方式对夏玉米抗倒伏能力及产量的影响。2年研究结果表明,MR处理夏玉米的株高、穗位高增加,MN与MR处理的地上第3茎节变粗,MN处理的地上第3节间茎粗系数最大。MR与MN处理间抽雄期的基部茎节穿刺强度无显著差异,但较RN均显著增强,茎秆皮层厚度和维管束密度及维管束鞘面积较RN也显著增大,茎秆伤流速率较RN分别提高60.60%和46.70%,茎秆质量显著提高。此外,MN与MR的根重和根冠比较RN显著提高,地上节根根条数与干重也显著提高。MN与MR较RN处理分别增产26.33%与39.21%。冬小麦播前翻耕可显著提高夏玉米产量及抗倒伏能力。     

Ergebnisse zur Ertragsbildung bei ökologisch orientiertem Winterweizenanbau auf Lößschwarzerdeböden in trockenen Lagen

Results of yield formation at ecological oriented winter wheat cultivation on Calcic Chernozem soil in arid areas
The influence were examined in field experiments of wheater elements (air temperature, precipitation), nitrogen fertilization, sowing rate and irrigation on the yield and yield formation of winter wheat stands. The average level of yields amounts to 81.3 dt/ha (76…93.8 dt/ha). Limiting factor for yields is the availability of water in the soil. In humide seasons 9…12 % higher yields were obtained then in dry seasons. Without nitrogen fertilization yields of winter wheat are lower by 18 % than with nitrogen fertilization. At very high level of N fertilization only vegetative biomass increases, and the water use efficiency decreases.
Increase in plants/m² caused a rise of vegetative biomass and of ears/m², kernels per ear strongly decreased in the same time. At winter wheat cultivation in low input farming systems without nitrogen fertilization high yields will be obtained with 320…370 plants/m² and 15,000 kernels/m². Nitrogen uptake from the soil amounts to 180 kgN/ha. Because of great amounts of inorganic in the soil (70…200 kgN/ha) sufficient nitrogen is available until heading of the wheat plants. The nitrogen supply of wheat plants in later stages of development is influenced by wheater conditions.     

The Influence of Different Nitrogen Levels and Seeding Rates on the Dry Matter Production and Nitrogen Uptake of Spelt (Triticum spelta L.) and Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under Field Conditions

Dry matter production of two different spelt (Oberkulmer, Hercule) and wheat varieties (Arina, Iena) were investigated at two different seeding rates (S1 = 200 grains/m²; S2 = 400 grains/m²) and two nitrogen levels (N1 = 80 kg N/ha; N2 = 110 kg N/ha). The plot experiments were carried out at two contrasting locations (Muri: altitude 459 m asl); Oberwallestalden: altitude 1011 m asl) over three years (1988–1990). In addition nitrogen uptake and the photosynthetic rate of flag leaves was measured. Neither growth regulators nor fungicides were applied. The average grain yield of spelt was 25 % lower than that of wheat (32 % at Muri, 18 % at Oberwallestalden). At the reduced seeding rate (S1) grain weight and grain number per ear was increased by 33 % and 31 %, respectively as compared to the normal seeding rate (S2). The increase of the grain weight and the grain number per ear was larger for the two varieties of spelt (47 % and 42 %, respectively) than for the wheat varieties (23 % and 22 %, respectively). The photosynthetic rate of the flag leaf of spelt and wheat was not significantly different, at the two growth stages measured (anthesis, anthesis + 23 days). Nitrogen yield in the above ground biomass (g N/m²) was not significantly different between spelt and wheat, neither at the beginning of stem elongation, nor at anthesis. At anthesis the nitrogen yield at the reduced nitrogen level (N1) was 16 % and 13 % lower than at the higher level (N2) for spelt and wheat respectively. A higher nitrogen efficiency of spelt under low input conditions was not apparent. Therefore it was concluded that under low input conditions, spelt is not more efficient in dry matter production than wheat. By comparing the “husked” yield of spelt (grains + glumes; representing the trade form) with the grain yield of wheat, spelt is higher yielding than wheat but only at marginal areas of cereal production.     

Efficiency of grain production of winter wheat as affected by N fertilisation under particular consideration of single culm sink size

Grain yield and yield components of winter wheat were recorded during 2-year field trials in Southern Bavaria, Germany. The impact of single ear sink size on the efficiency of grain production was studied in plants differing in single ear weight. While total grain yield showed only slight differences between N fertiliser treatments, significant variations were detected in harvest index and N harvest index. For single culms, a decrease in ear weight was related to decreasing values of harvest index and N harvest index. This correlation could not be altered by means of N fertilisation. The most efficient grain production, i.e. high value of harvest index and N harvest index, was regularly recorded in plant stands developing large single ear weights. The study confirms that with increasing sink size, the efficiency of grain production in winter wheat is improved. A N fertilisation strategy, favouring the formation of a large sink size, is described. In this respect, lower N rates in early spring and emphasis on N fertilisation during stem elongation proved to be decisive. This strategy favoured the generative growth at the expense of vegetative growth without excessively decreasing the corresponding source size.     

起身期断根对冬小麦后期光合和生长的影响

通过盆栽小麦起身期断根试验,研究了断初生根和部分次生根对小麦后期光合和生长的影响。结果表明:断初生根和部分次生根,均降低了断根初期小麦光合速率,而促进后期光合速率;同时,断根降低了成熟期小麦根系干质量、地上部干质量以及产量;断初生根比断部分次生根对小麦的影响更明显。     

DROUGHT STRESS: Soil Water Availability Alters the Inter‐ and Intra‐Cultivar Competition of Three Spring Wheat Cultivars Bred in Different Eras

Competition for water generates a classic aspect of the tragedy of the commons, the ‘race for fish’, where crops must allocate more resource to acquisition of the limiting resource than is optimal for crop yield allocation. A pot experiment using a simple additive (target–neighbour) design was conducted to examine the above‐ground and below‐ground growth of three spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars when grown alone and in mixtures at three levels of water availability. The effects of competition and water availability were compared by observing patterns of growth, biomass allocation and below‐ground outcomes. Competitive interactions were investigated among cultivars ‘HST’, ‘GY602’ and ‘LC8275’, target plant of each cultivar grown without neighbouring plants are referred to herein as control plant and one target plant of each cultivar sown surrounded either by same or another cultivar as intra‐ or inter‐cultivar competition. Competitive ability was assessed as the response ratio (lnRR) between the target plant surrounded by six other plants and the target plant in isolation. Our results showed that the cultivar ‘HST’, released over a century ago, produced a higher biomass and grain yield than the more recently released cultivars ‘LC8275’ and ‘GY602’ when grown as isolated plants with sufficient water supply. However, competition for resources from neighbours led to target plant biomass and grain yield being significantly reduced relative to controls in all three cultivars, particularly in ‘HST’. When subjected to intra‐cultivar competition, the two recently released cultivars ‘LC8275’ and ‘GY602’ had higher grain yields and water use efficiency for grain than ‘HST’ in all three water regimes. The landrace ‘HST’ had better and significantly linear relationships between biomass and biomass allocation, root length and specific root length, whereas the recent and modern cultivars had much more water‐related species‐specific changes in root morphology and allocation patterns. These results suggest that crop traits that influence competitive ability, such as biomass allocation to roots and root plasticity in response to drought have changed in modern wheat cultivars because of breeding and selection.     

不同矮秆基因对冬小麦农艺性状的影响

利用以冬麦品种ＭａｒｉｓＨｕｎｔｓｍａｎ为背景的含有不同矮杆基因Ｒｈｔ１,Ｒｈｔ２和Ｒｈｔ３及其不同结合形式的６个近等基因系,研究了不同矮秆基因对小麦农艺性状的作用,结果表明,Ｒｈｔ１半矮秆基因显著提高了单株穗数,粒数和粒重,地下部生物产量,经济系数和倒二叶面积,Ｒｈｔ２半矮秆基因显著提高了单株（或单穗）粒数和粒重,经济系数和倒二叶面积,显著降低了千粒重,Ｒｈｔ３矮秆基因对单株粒数,地上部生物产量     

Selection for biomass yield in wheat

Summary Biomass (above ground plant parts) yield may be a useful selection trait for yield improvement in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). This study was conducted to estimate realized heritability of biomass yield and to determine the response to selection for high and low biomass yield in 8 genetically diverse populations of spring wheat under two production systems. Selections were made among the F₃ lines. Progenies of the selected lines were evaluated in replicated field tests in the F₄ generation under high fertility and low fertility production systems at Rampur, Nepal, in 1991. Fertility level had a significant effect on biomass yield, grain yield, effective tiller number, number of kernels per spike, thousand kernel weight, and harvest index. Selection in the F₃ for high and low biomass yield was effective in identifying F₄ lines with high and low biomass yield, respectively. Biomass yield differences between high and low selection groups in the F₄ generation, expressed as percent of the mean of the low selection group and averaged over the eight populations, were 53.9 and 36.5% higher than the mean of the low selection group under the high and the low fertility production systems, respectively. The corresponding figures for grain yield were 48.8 and 34.9% under the high and the low production systems, respectively. Also, selection for high biomass yield resulted in higher effective tiller number, and number of kernels per spike, but lower harvest index. Realized heritability estimates for biomass yield were greater at high fertility (range 0.49 to 0.85) than at low fertility (range 0.22 to 0.44). Biomass yield showed positive genotypic correlations with grain yield, effective tiller number, and number of kernels per spike but a negative correlation with harvest index. The results indicated that selection for high biomass yield should bring about positive improvements in biomass yield, grain yield, effective tiller number, and number of kernels per spike. The correlation between F₃ and F₄ generations suggested that biomass yield in the F₃ generation was a good predictor of biomass yield and grain yield in the F₄ generation. Selection for biomass yield in wheat should be made under the standard production system to obtain a realistic response.     

Die Ertragsbildung von Dinkel (Triticum spelta L.) und Weizen (Triticum aestivum L.) unter verschiedenen Umweltbedingungen im Freiland

Dry Matter Production of Spelt ( Triticum spelta L.) and Wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) under Different Environmental Conditions in the Field
The primary aim of our work was to obtain information regarding the germination characteristics of spelt under different environmental conditions in field experiments, and to trace possible differences between spelt and wheat, with regard to crop production. For the present study two spelt varieties ( Ostro/Rouquin) and two wheat varieties ( Arina/Probus) were used. In addition the spelt cultivars Altgold, Oberkulmer and Hercule were included in some of the experiments. To obtain information on the influence of the glumes, spelt was planted in the hulled (SP +) and dehulled (SP-) form.
Field emergence of spelt SP- was up to 40 % lower than that of SP+, Under water logged soil, the percentage of germination was higher for spelt SP+ than for wheat.
Spelt produced more tillers per plant than wheat. However, tiller reduction was also higher for spelt so finally both species had similar numbers of ears per plant. Plants with a high tiller production might be more flexible in response to unfavourable growing conditions.
Grain yield of spelt and wheat was developed in different ways. Spelt produced fewer but larger kernels per ear, whereas wheat produced more but smaller kernels. In 1986 grain yield was up to 20 % higher in wheat than in spelt. In 1987, an unfavourable year for cereal crop production in marginal areas, grain yield was higher for spelt than for wheat. For the farmer, the "husked" form of spelt is economically important. This was equal or higher than the grain yield of wheat in both years.
The high germination rate under unfavourable conditions, in combination with a high tillering capacity and the production of large kernels appear to be the major reason for the stable yielding ability of spelt.     

Ear:stem ratios in breeding populations of wheat: significance for yield improvement

Earlier studies showed that the ratio of the weight of the wheat ear to stem at anthesis (ear:stem ratio) may give a better indication of potential yield than harvest index because it is determined early in the life cycle and is not affected by post anthesis stress. These studies concluded that selection for high ear:stem ratio at anthesis may lead to further improvement in grain yield of wheat. The present work was undertaken in the field to identify lines varying in ear:stem ratio in breeding populations and to study its implications for yield improvement.At anthesis stem length, ear length, tiller number, dry weight of stem and ear and ear:stem ratio were measured in 14 crosses on F₂ single plants and F₂ derived lines grown in the F₃, F₄, and F₅ at three locations in Western Australia over four seasons. In addition, biomass, grain yield and yield components were measured on selected crosses at two locations on F₂ derived lines grown in the F₄ and F₅. There was a considerable range of ear:stem ratio between and within the crosses studied. Although ear:stem ratio was strongly correlated with stem length, there was substantial variation within stem length classes. Ear:stem ratio had a high mean broad sense heritability (82%), whereas HI, grain yield and above ground biomass had lower heritabilities, 68, 55 and 35% respectively. Ear:stem ratio was strongly correlated between generations and sites indicating stability of this character. Ear:stem ratio had a significant positive correlation with grain yield, HI, grains per ear and per m². The correlation of grain yield with HI was equal or slightly higher than that of grain yield with ear:stem ratio.Ear:stem ratio offers promise as a predictor of HI and yield potential where post-anthesis moisture stress can influence HI. Ear:stem ratio measurement is unlikely to be adopted for selection purposes in routine breeding programs, as it is laborious and time consuming. However, ear:stem ratio could be used to identify superior parental genotypes and early generation selections from special crosses in terms of its ability to partition assimilate.