Critical period for grain number establishment of near isogenic lines of two- and six-rowed barley

In barley no studies have attempted to pinpoint the critical period for grain number determination, and it is frequently stated that the critical period is similar to that of wheat. However, there are important differences between the species and among barley genotypes (i.e. two- and six-rowed types) suggesting that this assumption requires testing. The objectives of this paper were (i) to determine the critical period for grain number determination in two- and six-rowed barleys, and (ii) to identify which yield components were more sensitive to changes in incident radiation during that period.

Two field experiments were conducted using two pairs of near isogenic lines differing only in the spike type. Shading was imposed at different periods throughout the crop cycle (from 60 days before heading to 15 days after) to reduce incident solar radiation approximately 70%.

The critical period for grain number determination tended to be slightly earlier in two- (ca. between 40 and 10 days before heading) than in six-rowed barleys (ca. between 30 days before heading until that stage). In terms of the external phenology, the beginning of the critical period for setting grains was 10 days after the beginning of stem elongation, and 10 days before flag leaf appearance in two- and six-rowed lines, respectively. Changes in the number of grains per unit area were correlated with crop growth rate during the critical period for yield determination.     

不同播期下小麦冬春性品种小花结实特性 及其与植株生长性状的关系

冬、春性小麦品种早播（9月30日）、适播（10月30日）的总小花数、可孕小花数及结实粒数均极显著高于晚播（3月2日）。晚播对春性品种小花分化发育与结实的不利影响小于冬性品种。穗粒数的多少与可孕小花数及其结实率密切相关,而与总小花数及其结实率无明显联系;同时大穗多粒基因型也以较高的可孕小花结实率为生理基础。孕穗期小花数均与叶面积、叶片重、叶鞘重和总干物重呈显著或极显著正相关,而与茎高的相关不显著。此外,冬、春性品种的结实粒数均与成熟期茎叶重、总单茎重、结实小穗数、穗长和穗粒重之间呈极显著正相关,表明良好、协调的营养生长与生殖生长的关系是改善小花发育质量、提高穗粒数的根本保证。     

不同穗型小麦小花生长发育及同化物分配变化的差异

为了解小麦小花发育成粒特性与同化物分配间的关系,以大穗型品种周麦16和多穗型品种豫麦49-198为材料,分析了两种穗型小麦小花发育成粒特性及同化物分配的差异。结果表明,周麦16的小花退化、败育速率较豫麦49-198缓慢,且在小穗结实率、小花结实率和可孕小花结实率上均高于后者。在小花发育中后期,大穗型品种周麦16转移到穗部的同化物比多穗型品种豫麦49-198多。经相关分析,花期完善小花(有完整绿色花药的小花)数与穗干重、穗氮积累量、茎干重、茎氮积累量呈微弱的正相关,与穗茎干重比、穗茎氮积累量比呈显著正相关,与穗干重/穗氮积累量比呈极显著正相关。周麦16的穗茎干重比、穗茎氮积累量比显著高于豫麦49-198,二指标均与穗干重/穗氮积累量比呈极显著正相关。进一步分析发现,周麦16的开花期单位面积完善小花数与成熟期单位面积粒数分别较豫麦49-198增加3.85%和4.65%,且品种间差异均达到极显著水平。     

大麦主茎穗与分蘖穗出穗差异及其对穗型的影响

为明确大麦主茎穗与分蘖穗出穗差异及其对穗型的影响,以1个二棱大麦和1个六棱大麦品种为材料,考察大麦主茎穗和不同分蘖穗的出穗顺序及其穗部性状。结果表明:供试品种主茎和分蘖的出穗期不一致,随出穗期延迟,穗长、每穗粒数和千粒质量呈下降趋势,主茎穗与分蘖穗1和分蘖穗2之间的差异较小。因此,大麦高产栽培应控制合理的基本苗和2个左右的分蘖穗。     

Floret development and spike growth as affected by photoperiod during stem elongation in wheat

A longer duration of stem elongation (from terminal spikelet initiation to anthesis) would result in a higher wheat yield potential as a consequence of the increase in both spike dry weight and number of fertile florets at anthesis. It is not clearly understood, however, which processes are involved in the increased spike dry weight and whether this variable accounts for the higher number of fertile florets when duration of stem elongation is modified by photoperiod treatments. As vernalization interacts with photoperiod during the stem elongation phase, a better understanding of the role of vernalization is also required. A field experiment was carried out using two wheat cultivars (Buck Manantial (BM) and Eureka Ferrocarril Sur (EFS)) subjected to diverse periods of vernalization (V₁₅ and V₅₀, plants vernalized for 15 and 50 days, respectively) and exposed to different photoperiods (NP+0 and NP+6, natural and 6 h extended photoperiod, respectively) only during the stem elongation phase. Floret development together with stem and spike growth during the stem elongation phase were studied. When the stem elongation phase was exposed to short photoperiod (i) duration of spike growth increased without any change in its growth rate, and (ii) most of the spike growth occurred during minimum stem growth rate as the onset of maximum stem growth rate was delayed. In EFS, the vernalization-sensitive cultivar, the former (i) and (ii) was true only when vernalization requirements were met. For both cultivars, the survival of the initiated floret primordia under short photoperiod increased, independently of vernalization. Both partitioning of assimilates to the spike and a direct photoperiod effect seemed to have been involved in the survival of floret primordia when the stem elongation phase was exposed to short photoperiod.     

Grain number and its relationship with dry matter, N and P in the spikes at heading in response to N×P fertilization in barley

The aim of this work was to study the effects of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) deficiencies and their interaction on spike N, P and biomass around flowering in barley (Hordeum vulgare spp. distichum L.) and its relationship with grain number and grain yield. Two experiments were carried out with microcrops grown in 200 l containers using malting barley (cv. Quilmes Palomar). Treatments were a factorial combination of two levels of N and two or three levels of P fertilization. Dry matter partitioning to spikes was not or only slightly affected by nutrient deficiencies. Then, the effects on spike biomass were similar to those on total aboveground dry matter. Although partitioning of N to the spike in N fertilized treatments was lower than in N stressed ones, spike N content was higher in the N fertilized.

Number of grains was positively associated with spike N and P content as well as spike dry matter at heading in both experiments. Number of grains per unit of spike dry matter at heading in N fertilized microcrops tended to be higher than in N stressed ones, though this effect was not associated with N fertilization effects on N concentration in spikes.

Combining these results with others from the literature from wheat crops, we found a strong relationship between number of grains and spike N content at flowering, but this relationship does not seem to be better than that with spike biomass, judged by the regression coefficients. This indicates that the early application of N may induce a higher number of grains than that predicted by increased spike dry weight at flowering, but this additional effect is not universally related to differences in spike N concentration.     

Spring wheat response to timing of water deficit through sink and grain filling capacity

Water and nitrogen (N) availability are the main factors influencing crop growth globally. Poorly distributed or insufficient water for crop growth requirements decreases yields in drought-prone areas such as those with a Mediterranean type environment. Cereal grain yield is a complex trait of interrelated components: plants per unit land area, spikes per plant, spikelets per spike, grains per spikelet, and single grain weight (SGW). The effect of water limitation and timing on development of yield components was studied in detail at the spike level in spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar Amaretto. An experiment with three watering treatments (control watering, CONT; drought prior to pollination, DR1 and terminal drought, DR2) was arranged in a large greenhouse (20 m × 30 m), with the use of standard field-trial machinery. Automated blackout curtains were used to control day length, which was set to correspond to that at 40°N. With watering treatments, two N application rates (60 and 120 kg N ha⁻¹) were used to investigate the N effect and potential watering × N interaction on yield formation and realisation. The water deficit effect exceeded the effect of N on fertile floret and grain number and SGW. DR1 strongly reduced the number of fertile florets and grains, whereas terminal drought reduced the number of grains per spike. Resuming the watering at pollination markedly enhanced photosynthesis, and hence grain filling capacity, resulting in the highest SGW in DR1. Enhancement in availability of key resources was associated with reduced rate of fertile floret and grain abortion, which resulted in higher grain to fertile floret ratio in DR1. Spikelets in the mid-section of the spike dominated yield formation in all treatments. In DR1 this was especially emphasised as 53% of the grain yield was produced in spikelets 4–6, whereas in DR2 and CONT this was 45 and 41%, respectively. Grains in proximal position in the spikelets produced about 80% of the spike grain yield, the proportion being slightly higher in stressed plants and plants receiving 60 kg N. No marked N × water deficit treatment interaction occurred for any of the measured parameters.     

Initiation and Development of Spikelets and Florets in Wheat as Influenced by Shading and Nitrogen Supply at the Spikelet Phase

Abstract

The spike of the main culm in winter wheat was examined by scanning electron microscopy from the double ridge to 6 days after the terminal spikelet stage to quantitatively evaluate the effects of shading and nitrogen supply at the spikelet phase on the numbers of spikelets and floret primordia, and the development of florets. Positional differences on a spike in grain setting at maturity were also investigated. Nitrogen supply affected neither the rate nor duration of spikelet initiation, the number of spikelets remaining unchanged. Although nitrogen supply positively affected the initiation and development of florets, it slightly reduced the grain weight per spike at maturity due to a decrease in the number of grains per spike and the reduced grain weight. These results suggested that under the field condition, nitrogen supply at the double ridge stage is too late to have a significant effect on the spikelet number, and might induce competition for nitrogen between the main culm and tillers, or induce mutual shading between plants, resulting in lighter grain weight per spike. Shading decreased the rate of spikelet initiation, resulting in a significant decrease in spikelet number. The initiation and the development of florets were also decreased by shading. Lower non -structural carbohydrate content at the terminal spikelet stage suggested that the limited assimilate supply by shading was likely responsible for the decreases in the initiation and development of spikelets and florets.     

秸秆覆盖与施磷对旱地小麦小花发育与结实特性的影响

中国西南丘陵旱地气候冬干春旱且速效磷缺乏,是冬小麦生产的主要限制因素。为明确秸秆覆盖与施磷对西南丘陵旱地小麦小花发育与结实特性的影响,以川麦104为供试材料,采用裂区设计,主区为玉米秸秆覆盖(SM)和不覆盖(NSM),裂区为0、75和120 kg P₂O₅·hm^-23个施磷水平,比较分析了不同处理下小麦小花分化及结实特性的差异。结果表明,秸秆覆盖与施磷均可提高小麦小花分化数和可孕小花数,且磷素效应大于秸秆覆盖效应。与不施磷相比,施磷75和120 kg·hm^-2条件下最大分化小花数分别增加了17.4%和78.0%,可孕小花数分别增加27.0%和94.1%,小花存活率提高了16.5个百分点。施磷后穗基部可孕小花数和结实粒数增幅较大,穗中部和顶部增幅较小。与不施磷相比,施磷75和120 kg·hm^-2条件下,穗基部可孕小花数均极显著增加,增幅分别为100.0%和127.2%;结实粒数显著增加,增幅分别为186.4%和193.2%。秸秆覆盖后产量较不覆盖提高20.5%;施磷75和120...     

Old and modern durum wheat varieties from Italy and Spain differ in main spike components

Four field experiments comparing 24 durum wheat varieties grown at different periods during the 20th century in Italy and Spain were carried out to assess the changes caused by breeding activities on the number of grains per main spike and its determinants: number of spikelets per spike, number of grains per spikelet, fertile flowering and grain setting. Increases of 0.14 grains spike⁻¹ year⁻¹ (0.43% year⁻¹ in relative terms) and 0.08 grains spike⁻¹ year⁻¹ (0.22% year⁻¹) were observed in Italian and Spanish varieties, respectively. The overall change in the number of grains per spike in Italian germplasm (29.5%) was due to increases in both, the number of spikelets per spike (7.5%) and the number of grains per spikelet (20.3%), while in Spanish varieties the increase in the number of grains per spike (19.5%) was only attributed to the improvement of the number of grains per spikelet. The increase in the number of fertile florets per spike (about 12%) was similar in both countries, but while it explained more than 70% of the changes in the number of grains per spike in Spanish varieties, grain setting was responsible for most of the improvement in the number of grains per spike in the Italian germplasm. The percentage of florets setting grains was 68 and 64% in modern Italian and Spanish varieties, respectively. Most of the changes in the number of grains per spikelet were found in the upper part of the spike on Italian varieties, whilst they were more evenly distributed in the Spanish ones. The main achievement derived from the introduction of the Rht-B1 dwarfing gene was an increase in the number of grains per spikelet, but it did not have any effect on the number of spikelets on the main spike. The lack of genetic associations between grain setting and both the number of spikelets per spike and the number of fertile florets per spike suggests that future yield gains may be obtained through increases in the three components independently.     

Two strategies for achieving higher yield under phosphorus deficiency in winter wheat grown in field conditions

Under field conditions, phosphorus (P) deficiency reduces wheat yield by affecting different yield components. However, the physiological strategies by which wheat genotypes with different yield structures respond to low-P stress are not clear. In the present study, we investigated tiller, floret, and root biomass, and P uptake and remobilization at two levels of P under field conditions in three winter wheat genotypes with different yield structures and P-efficiencies. Results showed that P-efficient cultivars CA9325 and ND139 got higher yield and total P accumulation than P-inefficient ND3291 at low-P, but not at normal P treatment. However, both the P-efficient wheat cultivars tend to have the same advantageous yield components at both high P and low-P stress. CA9325, a large-eared genotype, developed more fertile florets, and therefore had more grains at low-P stress. Increasing the number of grains formed a large sink for P demand during the grain-filling stage. Correspondingly, this genotype developed large roots for sustaining post-anthesis P uptake. ND139, a multi-eared genotype, developed many more tillers at low-P stress, and formed more ears at maturity. P from infertile tillers was probably reutilized by the surviving tillers to ensure floret development. Correspondingly, the contribution of pre-anthesis P uptake in ND139 and subsequent remobilization of P to the grains was higher. It was found that larger root rather than higher root activity was the determinant factor in efficient pre-anthesis P uptake in ND3291 and efficient post-anthesis P uptake in CA9325. It is concluded that increasing wheat yield at low soil P availability can be realized by either increasing ears per plant or increasing grains per ear through crop management or breeding.     

Early development and enlargement of wheat floret primordia suggest a role of partitioning within spike to grain set

Spike grain number, a major component in the yield of wheat, is suspected of being determined by the sudden death of most of the initiated floret primordia, which occurs at around booting. By counting twice weekly the number of floret primordia in the middle and top spikelets, the onset time for the death of floret primordia (T_d) was assessed in six genotypes of differing earliness and fertility subjected to three treatments that were applied during stem elongation. The variation in T_d was positively correlated with overall earliness, as well as with spike fertility. Ovary development and enlargement were quantified in eight specified positions within the spikes, but T_d could not be assigned to a developmental stage attained by any ovary. Development and enlargement were very strongly correlated with each other throughout the floret lifetime, yet with significant effects of genotype, treatment and position within spikes. In each position within a spike, the proportion of florets that set a grain correlated to the initial delay of development as compared to the most advanced floret (r² = 0.64), but this correlation was severely biased by genotype and the floret position effect. Better correlations were obtained with either the development or width of each ovary at T_d, thus highlighting the role of the preceding phase. The best prediction (r² = 0.93) was obtained from the ratio of ovary width to that of the most advanced floret at T_d. The importance of this width ratio emphasized the role of partitioning in grain set: only florets able to divert nutrients survived after T_d and eventually set a grain. This relationship was no longer biased by floret position, while some remaining variability due to genotype suggested potential for plant breeding: width ratios at T_d were generally related to the growth duration of various primordia, as well as to their relative growth rate.     

9个穗分枝裸大麦突变体的穗部特性及其差异分析

穗分枝突变体是大麦穗发育研究的重要种质。利用EMS诱变北青7号的成熟种子,再通过连续7年自交繁殖选育了9个裸大麦穗分枝突变(Ynbs)株系。在不同世代中9个Ynbs株系的穗分枝性状均可稳定遗传,多联穗明显退化,每个主穗着生2~5个分枝穗和10.53±0.53~13.23±0.22个多联穗,每个分枝穗具有1~3个分枝穗轴节,每个多联穗着生10~15个小花。为系统了解Ynbs株系的穗部特性差异,分析了不同材料多联穗数、小花数、结实粒数、结实率、穗茎轴长、穗长、穗轴节数和百粒重的表型差异和偏相关性。结果表明,多联穗数等8个穗部性状在不同材料间均有显著或极显著差异,9个Ynbs株系的多联穗数、结实率和百粒重显著低于诱变亲本,但其小花数极显著高于诱变亲本,多联穗减少、小花增多、结实率和百粒重下降是9个Ynbs株系的共有突变性状;穗分枝性状与多联穗数、结实粒数、结实率、穗长和百粒重5个穗部性状呈极显著偏相关,偏相关系数分别为-0.524、0.584、-0.646、0.418和-0.563。9个Ynbs株系具有穗分枝、多联穗退化、小穗增多等特性,是大麦穗发育等研究的不可替代种质。     

密度和肥料运筹对青稞秸秆产量及品质的影响

为探究二棱青稞在藏区的应用潜力及关键栽培技术，以二棱型青稞品系14-3492为材料，以六棱品种藏青3000为对照，设置不同种植密度、肥料运筹处理，研究了种植密度和肥料运筹对青稞秸秆产量及品质的影响。结果表明，秸秆产量和蛋白质含量在不同材料间差异显著；六棱品种藏青3000秸秆产量和蛋白质含量受密度影响较大，二棱品系14-3492的秸秆产量和蛋白质含量受肥料运筹影响较大。施用拔节肥青稞秸秆蛋白质含量最高，穗肥次之；相同施肥量，施用拔节肥+穗肥处理的秸秆产量显著高于单次施肥处理。从协同秸秆产量与蛋白质含量角度，低密度时，基肥+拔节肥的施肥模式可以同时提高分蘖成穗数及穗粒数；高密度时，基肥+拔节肥+穗肥的施肥模式可以保证青稞的稳健生长；二棱青稞品系14-3492的秸秆产量和品质总体优于六棱品种藏青3000。     

Effect of planting date on growth, development, aerial biomass partitioning and essential oil productivity of wild marigold (Tagetes minuta) in mid hills of Indian western Himalaya

A field investigation was conducted at the Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur during the year 2005 to study the effect of planting dates on duration of growth and development in wild marigold (Tagetes minuta). Duration of growth phases (vegetative phase to budding phase and budding phase to 50% flowering phase), aerial biomass partitioning and essential oil production were analysed. Plantings were done in seven consequent meteorological standard weeks (MSWs) starting from the 30th MSW (30 July–5 August). Planting time coincided with distinct changes in weather parameters and consequently significant variation in the performance of the crop. The results indicated that the crop planted in the 30th and 31st MSW had the longest duration of growth and highest aerial biomass. But it partitioned more biomass towards the stem, whereas the crop planted in the 35th MSW produced significantly less biomass than the former and partitioned more towards leaf and flower and had maximum essential oil content and production. The crop planted at the 36th MSW had the minimum field duration of growth of 50 days, but the partitioning towards leaf and flower were higher than the longest field duration of growth (30th MSW). The study clearly indicated that planting dates had profound influence on growth and development of T. minuta as reflected from the significant variation on growth phase duration, aerial biomass partitioning, herb and essential oil yield.     

Effects of enhanced ultraviolet-B radiation on crop structure,growth and yield components of spring wheat under field conditions

Spring wheat (Triticum aestivum) was grown in the field for two consecutive seasons under ambient and supplemental levels of ultraviolet-B (UV-B, 280–315 nm) radiation to determine the potential for alterations in community structure, developmental stages, growth and yield components. The supplemental UV-B radiation simulated depletions of 12, 20, or 25% stratospheric ozone. Spring wheat is a potentially UV-B sensitive species, showing the greatest sensitivity to UV-B radiation at 5.31 kJ m⁻². Delays in development and decrease in plant height were observed at early tillering stage under UV-B treatment, and slowly exacerbated during further development. UV-B radiation changed crop structure, by decreasing the total number of tillers produced and increasing dead shoot number, resulted in fewer head-bearing shoots at ripening stage, and decreased biomass and yield. UV-B radiation decreased the area of the last leaf and leaf area index, but increased specific leaf weight. UV-B radiation inhibited biomass accumulation and altered the patterns of biomass partitioning; these effects might be correlated with yield. Decreases in yield were the result of significant reductions in spike number, grain number per spike and thousand grain weight under UV-B. Generally, the effects of UV-B radiation on developmental stages and crop structure were the most important, they might change the other characteristics of spring wheat crop. The responses of spring wheat crop to enhanced UV-B radiation were assessed, decreases in some crop characteristics caused by a 10 or 20% global ozone depletion were predicted. Ozone depletion had the greatest decrease in yield and the least reduction in plant height.     

紫外线强度增加对小麦节间大维管束条数及穗部性状的影响

为了研究紫外线辐射对作物生长发育的影响，采用人工增加紫外线辐射的方法，研究了紫外线强度(UV-B)增加对小麦节间大维管束条数及穗部性状的影响，并分析了UV-B增加条件下，小麦节间大维管束条数与穗部性状的相关关系。结果表明：UV—B增加则每穗粒数显著减少，主要是由于每穗小穗数和每小穗小花数减少，而结实率无显著变化，同时UV-B增加小麦穗颈节间大雄管束条数也显著减少．穗下第二节间与穗颈节间大维管束条数百分率显著下降．在UV-B增加条件下，每穗小穗数和每穗粒教与穗颈节的节间大维管束条数呈极显著正相关．因此我们认为UV-B增加导致小麦节间大维管束条数的减少是每穗粒数下降的重要原因之一。     

以色列野生二棱大麦农艺性状差异及相关性分析

为给野生大麦的遗传和基因资源的研究提供依据,对起源于以色列不同地区6个群体的16个生态型野生二棱大麦的物候性状进行了研究.结果表明,不同生态型间的物候性状差异明显.从个体水平上分析,其最大值均出现在湿生生态型中,除旗叶面积外,其最小值则出现在旱生生态型中;从群体水平上分析,除每穗粒数外,湿生型平均值皆高于旱生型平均值.曼-怀氏等级和检验显示,湿生型和旱生型之间的这些物候性状差异达到显著水平.斯皮尔曼秩相关性检验则表明,9个物候与性状间,除三叶期与粒重、穗粒重无相关性外,其余物候性状间均呈显著的相关性,其中生长期与旗叶面积、株高、穗长、芒长等呈显著正相关,与每穗粒数则呈显著负相关;芒长与旗叶面积、株高,稳长与株高存在显著正相关,而每穗粒数则与芒长和旗叶面积分别呈显著负相关,芒长与穗长亦呈显著正相关.分析表明,以色列不同地区野生大麦物候性状差异是其生境主导下生存选择的结果,其丰富的表现型多样性,可用于遗传与育种研究.     

Effect of free-air CO2 enrichment on the storage of carbohydrate fixed at different stages in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Increasing global atmospheric CO₂ concentrations are expected to influence crop production. To investigate the effect on rice (Oryza sativa L.), plants were grown under ambient CO₂ (AMB) or free-air CO₂-enrichment (FACE) at CO₂ concentrations ranged from 275 to 365 μmol mol⁻¹ above AMB. We supplied ¹³CO₂ to the plants at different growth stages so we could examine the contribution of carbohydrate stored during the vegetative stage or newly fixed carbohydrate produced during the grain-filling stage to ear weight at grain maturity. In plants supplied with ¹³C at the panicle-initiation or pre-heading stages, plants grown under FACE had more starch in the stems at heading, but there was no difference in stem ¹³C content. Furthermore, there were no differences between treatments in whole-plant ¹³C contents at heading and grain maturity. In contrast, plants supplied with ¹³C at the grain-filling stage had more ¹³C in the whole plant and the ears at grain maturity under FACE than under AMB, indicating that the increased amount of photosynthate produced at the grain-filling stage under CO₂ enrichment might be effectively stored in the grains. Furthermore, regardless of when the ¹³C was supplied, plants had more ¹³C in starch in the ears at grain maturity under FACE than under AMB. Therefore, CO₂ enrichment appears to promote partitioning of photosynthate produced during both vegetative and grain-filling stages to the grains.