Effect of the Interaction between Cultural Condition and Genotype on Spike Morphogenesis in Spring Wheat

Abstract

The number of grains per spikelet and the number of spikelets per spike are important factors that influence grain yield in wheat. Three wheat genotypes in four foreign groups (OA, OC, OH and OJ) differing in spike type and Japanese cultivars (cvs) were grown under various combinations of seeding densities and fertilization levels. In all groups, the spikelet number per spike and the spike length at maturity were highest at low seeding densities and high levels of fertilization. The OA group (Nepal) and Haruyutaka (Japanese cv) gave a weak response in spikelet number per spike, while the OJ group (Xinjiang Uygur, China) gave a weak response in spike length. The OC group (except for T6), the OH group (Tibet) and Japanese cvs (except for Haruyutaka) responded to treatments in both spikelet number per spike and spike length. The T6 genotype in the OC group (Nepal) gave a weak response in both spikelet number per spike and spike length. Although the OA group had the longest spikes and the OJ group had the shortest spikes, there was no difference in the duration of spike elongation between the OA group and the OJ group. Spike length appeared to be determined mainly by the rate of spike elongation and was not restricted by the dry weight of the spike during the growth phase of the spike.     

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.     

施氮量对小麦穗花发育及穗粒数的影响

为了解小麦穗发育与氮素营养的关系,通过田间试验,设置90、180、270kg·hm-2三个施氮量水平(分别用N1、N2和N3表示),选用半冬性小麦品种豫麦49和弱春性品种太空6号为材料,研究了施氮量对小麦主茎幼穗长度、第九小穗小花发育进程、每穗总小穗数、不孕小穗数、小穗结实率、产量及其构成的影响。结果表明,随着时间的推移,小麦主茎幼穗长度对施氮量响应逐渐明显,豫麦49和太空6号分别表现为N3N2N1和N2N3N1。豫麦49第九小穗第4~6朵小花发育进程对施氮量响应差异显著,且分化程度随施氮水平的提高而增加;太空6号第3~6朵小花进程对施氮量响应差异显著,其中第3朵小花在发育进程前期N2处理快于N1、N3处理,中期和后期N2、N3处理快于N1处理,第4~6朵小花分化程度则一直表现为N2N3N1。不同施氮处理间总小穗数、不孕小穗数、小穗结实率、产量、穗粒数等指标差异亦显著,且品种之间对施氮反应存在差异,其中豫麦49的总小穗数、小穗结实率、产量、穗粒数呈N3N2N1,而太空6号呈N2N3N1;豫麦49小穗结实率呈N3N2N1,而太空6号呈N2N3N1。由此可见,施氮量对小麦产量的影响与其对小穗中部小花发育、每穗总小穗数、不孕小穗数和单穗结实率的影响相一致。     

Factors in the Reduction in Grain Number in Winter Wheat by Early-Sowing in Yamaguchi

Abstract

Grain number per spike of wheat is lower in early sowing than in the conventional standard cultivation in Yamaguchi, Prefecture, Japan. Components of the grain number per spike in five cultivars were analyzed with respect to temperature during the spike development period throughout three growing seasons 2001/2002, 2002/2003 and 2003/2004 to find the cause of the problem of early sowing cultivation. The plants sown in early-October and late-November were called the early sown group and the standard group, respectively, in the following. Three of the five cultivars, Hokushin, Akitakko and Nanbukomugi, showed a strong winter habit, which requires very cold temperatures for spike differentiation. The other two cultivars, Iwainodaichi and Airakomugi, had a moderate winter habit. Grain number per spike and grain yield were decreased by early-sowing (compare with the standard group) in almost all cultivars throughout the three growing seasons. The three cultivars which had a strong winter habit had fewer spikelets per spike in the early-sown group than in the standard group. The other two cultivars which had a moderate winter habit had fewer grains per spikelet in the early-sown group. The higher the temperature during the spikelet formation phase, which is from flag leaf initiation to terminal spikelet initiation, the higher the number of spikelets per spike in the standard group. The spikelet number per spike in the early-sown group increased with the increase in productive tillers under fertile conditions. Such conditions also increased the grain number per spike.     

The Early-Morning Flowering Trait of Rice Reduces Spikelet Sterility under Windy and Elevated Temperature Conditions at Anthesis

Abstract

We previously demonstrated that heat-induced spikelet sterility at anthesis could be mitigated by using an early-morning flowering (EMF) line of Oryza sativa L. cv. Koshihikari crossed with wild rice, O. officinalis. Another microclimate factor, high wind velocity, is known to increase the sterility induced by heat. In this study, we evaluated whether EMF rice could mitigate sterility under the combined stresses of heat and wind. Rice plants were exposed to three levels of wind velocity (1.1, 2.2, 3.4 m s^?1) from early-morning until 1500 in a glasshouse, where air temperature reached 30°C at 0800, 34°C at 1000 and 38°C around noon. Under these conditions, sterility steadily increased in Koshihikari, ranging from 28.4 to 86.9% as wind velocity increased. However, in the EMF line, low levels of sterility were observed since most spikelets flowered before 1000 when air temperature reached 35°C, the critical value for causing sterility. These results indicated that the increase in heat-induced spikelet sterility by wind can be potentially mitigated by using EMF rice.     

Effects of early planting and cultivars on the yield and agronomic traits of soybeans grown in southwestern Japan

Early planting contributed to increased soybean yields in the U.S. Because a double-cropping system dominates in southwestern Japan, early planting is not performed; it is thus unclear how much the yield potential could be increased by early planting. To address this question, we planted seven U.S. and five Japanese cultivars on around 20 May (early planting), measured the agronomic traits, including yield, yield components, and oil and protein contents, and compared these traits with those of the same cultivars planted on around 20 July (normal planting). In the early planting, the yields of the U.S. cultivars were 322–453 g m^?2, whereas the highest yield among the Japanese cultivars was only 315 g m^?2, which is significantly lower than those of the top five U.S. cultivars, indicating the adaptability of U.S. cultivars to early planting. The increases in yield obtained with early planting were 99–199 g m^?2 and ?26–144 g m^?2 for the U.S. and Japanese cultivars, respectively. The yield obtained by early planting was positively correlated with the pods m^?2, seeds pod^?1, and oil contents, but negatively correlated with the sterile pod rate, 100 seed weight and protein content. In the early planting, the U.S. cultivars had greater pods m^?2, seeds pod^?1 and oil content and less sterile pod rate, 100-seed weight, and protein content than the Japanese cultivars. These results suggest that early planting can increase the yield in southwestern Japan, if cultivars with agronomic traits observed in the U.S. cultivars of this study are grown.     

N applications that increase plant N during panicle development are highly effective in increasing spikelet number in rice

Efficient use of nitrogen fertilizer is critical in improving yield stability in rice. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of nitrogen (N) top-dressing on the number of total spikelet (fertile plus sterile) production and evaluate the effect among rice cultivars. We analyzed 136 sets of experimental data on growth and spikelet production for three lowland cultivars, grown under various regimes of N over 10 seasons at Kyoto, Ibaraki and Kanagawa, Japan. In each season, one to three of the lowland cultivars, Nipponbare (japonica), Koshihikari (japonica) and Takanari (indica), were studied. In 1986, 1995 and 1999-2001, the N regimes included basal application only, light basal and heavy top-dressing from the panicle initiation stage onward, heavy basal and heavy top-dressing from the spikelet formation stage onward, and no applications. In 2002 and 2005-2008, we set up experimental plots with varied time of N top-dressing, with or without N basal application. Takanari had the largest spikelet number averaged over all plots and was considered better efficient in spikelet production per applied N than the other cultivars. Although the trend is not clear, the effect of time of top-dressing on spikelet number was generally the greatest when N was top-dressed from 35 to 30 days before heading. The variation of observed spikelet number was analyzed with a linear regression of plant N 14 days before heading and by a model that estimates spikelet production accounting for plant N 14 days before heading and crop growth rate (CGR) during the 14-day period preceding heading. For the variation of spikelet number within each cultivar, the linear function model expressed the observed spikelet number than the two function model with R² 0.43** versus 0.13*-0.28** for the former and later models, respectively. When the results of all cultivars were combined, the two function model was much better for estimation of spikelet number than the linear function model (R² = 0.36** vs. 0.20*). This indicates that yearly and varietal variation of spikelet number was caused mainly by plant N status at the late spikelet differentiation stage. The varietal variation in spikelet production efficiency is explained by CGR during this 14-day period. We concluded that N applications that increase plant N 14 days before heading is highly effective in maximizing spikelet production among cultivars.     

三种山羊草细胞质对普通小麦F1代穗部性状的效应

为了研究3种山羊草细胞质对普通小麦穗部性状的遗传效应,以普通小麦品系303,706及利用其曰交转育的粘果山羊草(Ae.kotschyif）、瓦维洛夫山羊草(Ae．vavilavii)和牡山羊草(Ae．juvenalis)细胞质雄性不育系为母本、13个普通小麦品系为父本,进行不完全双列杂交,研究了瓦维洛夫山羊草、粘果山羊草、牡山羊草三种细胞质对普通小麦F1代穗部性状的细胞质效应。试验结果表明,与普通小麦细胞质相比,三种山羊草细胞质对普通小麦有效小穗和无效小穗数不产生正向和负向的细胞质效应。     

肥料无机有机配施对稻茬小麦产量与肥料利用率的影响

为了解无机肥与有机肥配施对稻茬小麦产量与肥料利用率的影响,于2016-2017小麦生长季,在湖北省襄阳市通过田间试验,设置不施肥（CK）、传统测土配方施肥（T1）、90%的传统测土配方施肥量+有机肥（T2）和80%的传统测土配方施肥量+有机肥（T3）4个处理,探讨不同施肥模式下小麦产量、分蘖动态、肥料利用效率和经济效益的差异。结果表明,施肥处理的籽粒产量、穗数和穗粒数均显著高于CK,千粒重较高。T2处理的籽粒产量、穗数、穗粒数和千粒重均高于T1和T3处理。施肥处理间群体密度、有效分蘖数和分蘖成穗率均无显著差异。与CK相比,T1、T2和T3处理的有效分蘖数分别提高51.6%、55.9%和53.8%,分蘖成穗率分别降低11.4%、8.8%和14.7%。T3处理的化肥农学利用效率和偏生产力以及N、P、K肥偏生产力均显著高于T2处理,T1处理最低。T1处理的小麦产投比和净收益均高于其他处理,分别为3.9和5 464.5元·hm^-2。综合来看,在本试验条件下,T2处理是相对高产高效的处理。     

Simulation of the effects of genotype and N availability on rice growth and yield response to an elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration

The objective of this study was to identify physiological processes that result in genotypic and N fertilization effects on rice yield response to elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentrations ([CO₂]). This study conducted growth and yield simulations for 9 rice genotypes grown at 4 climatically different sites in Asia, assuming the current atmospheric [CO₂] (360 ppm) and elevated [CO₂] (700 ppm) using 5 levels of N fertilizer (4, 8, 12, 16, 20 g m⁻² N fertilizer). A rice growth model that was developed and already validated for 9 different genotypes grown under 7 sites in Asia was used for the simulation, integrating additional components into the model to explain the direct effect of [CO₂] on several physiological processes. The model predicted that the relative yield response to elevated [CO₂] (RY, the ratio of yield under 700 ppm [CO₂] to that under 360 ppm [CO₂]) increased with increasing N fertilizer, ranging from 1.12 at 4 g m⁻² N fertilizer to 1.22 at 20 g m⁻² N fertilizer, averaged overall genotypes and locations. The model also predicted a large genotypic variation in RY at the 20 g N treatment, ranging from 1.08 for ‘WAB450-I-B-P-38-HB’ to 1.41 for ‘Takanari’ averaged overall locations. Combining all genotypes grown at the 5N fertilization conditions, a close 1:1 relationship was predicted between RY and the relative [CO₂] response in spikelet number for crops with a small number of spikelets (less than 30,000 m⁻²) under the current atmospheric [CO₂] (n = 18, r = 0.89^***). In contrast, crops with a large number of spikelets under the current atmospheric [CO₂] showed a significantly larger RY than the relative [CO₂] response for spikelet number per unit area. The model predicted that crops with a larger number of spikelets under the current atmospheric [CO₂] derived great benefit from elevated [CO₂] by directly allocating increased carbohydrate to their large, vacant sink, whereas crops with a smaller number of spikelets primarily required an increased spikelet number to use the increased carbohydrate to fill grains. The simulation analyses suggested that rice with a larger sink capacity relative to source availability under the current atmospheric [CO₂] showed a larger yield response to elevated [CO₂], irrespective of whether genotype or N availability was the major factor for the large sink capacity under the current [CO₂]. The model predicted that the RY response to nitrogen was brought about through the N effects on spikelet number and non-structural carbohydrate accumulation. The genotypic variation in RY was related to differences in spikelet differentiation efficiency per unit plant N content. Further model validation about the effects of [CO₂] on growth processes is required to confirm these findings considering data from experimental studies.     

小麦穗部性状和株高的QTL定位及T6VS·6AL易位效应分析

为了发掘新的穗部性状和株高QTL,利用扬麦17与扬麦18杂交后代206个单株组成的F2群体,构建了一个由141个SSR标记组成的全长1005.1cM的遗传图谱。该图谱包括26个连锁群,覆盖15条染色体,标记间平均距离为7.03cM。结合F2和F2:3群体的表型数据,对穗部性状和株高进行QTL分析,利用复合区间作图法检测出15个QTL,分布在2B、2D、4B、5A、5B和7A染色体上,其中4个QTL能够同时在两个世代被检测到,表型变异解释率为1.93%~20.78%,穗长QTLQSl-YY-2D、QSl-YY-5A和株高QTLQPh-YY-4B的贡献率超过10%。根据6VS特异性标记鉴定和表型调查结果,推测扬麦18的6VS上携带有增加穗长和穗粒数的基因,且为部分显性。2B染色体上总小穗数和5B染色体上穗粒数、穗基部结实粒数的QTL增效等位基因及2D、4B染色体上降低株高的QTL增效等位基因均来自扬麦18,表明该品种可作为具有高产潜力的小麦育种材料加以利用。     

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.     

The response of a perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) seed crop to nitrogen fertilizer application in the absence of moisture stress

Responses of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) to nitrogen (N) fertilizer application rates and timings vary widely, because water is often limiting. Yield response to N fertilizer application during autumn, late‐winter and spring, and the associated efficiency of use of these inputs, was assessed under conditions of non‐limiting soil moisture during two, one‐year lysimeter studies in Canterbury, New Zealand. There were significant (P < 0·05) increases in seed and herbage yields with increasing N fertilizer application. Seed yields differed with year; greatest yields were 300 g m^?2 in 1996 and 450 g m^?2 in 1997. Seed head numbers (r²=0·77), seeds head^?1 (r²=0·92) and herbage yield (r²=0·92) were the major determinants of seed yield in both years. Irrigation required to maintain the soil between 70% and 90% of field capacity was directly related (r²=0·94 and 0·99 in 1996 and 1997 respectively) to increases in herbage yield. Seed yield, seed quality (thousand seed weight and percentage of seed > 1·85 mg), efficiency of water use, efficiency of N fertilizer use and apparent N fertilizer recovery were greatest when N fertilizer was applied at a rate of 50 kg N ha^?1, 50 or 100 kg N ha^?1 and 150 kg N ha^?1 in autumn, late‐winter and spring respectively; further increases in spring N fertilizer stimulated vegetative growth, but not seed yield. As a management strategy, applying N fertilizer to match the N requirements of the crop during the reproductive stage of growth will result in high yields of high quality seed while minimizing environmental impact.     

内源激素与多小穗小麦幼穗分化持续时间的关系

以多小穗小麦品系１０－Ａ及其改良系为供试材料,在小麦幼穗分化发育过程中,研究了吲哚乙酸（ＩＡＡ）、玉米素（ＺＴ）、赤霉酸（ＧＡ３）和脱落酸（ＡＢＡ）等４种内源激素与小麦幼穗分化持续期和小穗数间的关系。结果表明,小穗数与单棱分化和二棱分化持续期具有显著的正相关关系（ｒ值分别为０．７６和０．８８）。相对较高水平的ＺＴ含量、ＺＴ／ＩＡＡ值、ＺＴ／ＡＢＡ值和ＧＡ３／ＩＡＡ值具有延长小麦幼穗分化持续期的作用     

小麦玉米杂交中麦穗小花穗位间的成胚率差异研究

为了进一步提高小麦×玉米单倍体胚的成胚率和小麦双单倍体的产生效率,以小麦不同穗位小花对小麦×玉米单倍体胚成胚率的影响进行探讨。利用同一玉米品种给13个小麦DH株系授粉,对授粉后的麦穗进行剪穗离体培养,并镜检不同穗位小花的成胚情况。结果表明,13个DH株系下、中、上3个穗位小花的平均成胚率分别为30.71%、27.83%和11.46%,表现为下部中部上部,下部和中部小穗的成胚率差异不显著,但均极显著高于上部小穗;13个DH株系从麦穗基部到顶部21个小穗的平均成胚率仍以顶部小穗最低、下部小穗最高,变幅为2.1%~37.96%;3个穗位小穗间成胚率变异系数的大小为中部(CV=10.99%)下部(CV=17.45%)上部(CV=58.28%),表明中部小穗单倍体胚的形成最稳定。用营养液对离体培养的9个DH系的麦穗进行3种喷穗处理,结果表明,在穗培养的前3d用穗培养液喷穗,显著提高了中部和上部小穗的成胚率,同时降低了各小穗穗位间成胚率的差异。说明剪穗离体培养中营养供给的差异是造成麦穗小花间成胚率差异的原因之一。     

利用永久F2群体定位小麦穗部性状相关的QTL

为发掘与小麦穗部性状相关的QTL,利用普通小麦BS366与白玉149杂交组合培育的73个DH群体为材料,构建了一套包含232个杂交组合的小麦永久F2群体,基于90K SNP芯片标记构建了高密度遗传图谱,并利用该图谱对2个环境下的穗长、小穗数、穗粒数和千粒重进行QTL定位.结果发现,所构建的图谱总长19 533 cM,含...     

超大穗小麦穗长和小穗数的配合力及遗传模型分析

为充分挖掘超大穗小麦在遗传育种中的应用潜力,采用Griffing完全双列杂交法,以3个超大穗小麦品系及2个普通小品种为亲本材料,对超大穗小麦的主茎穗长和小穗数进行了遗传分析。结果表明,穗长和小穗数的遗传均符合加性-显性遗传模型,基因作用以加性效应为主,显性程度为部分显性。在主茎穗长上,86（306）和90（151）具有较高的一般配合力和较多控制主茎穗长遗传的显性基因,而成农151和84（79）具有较多控制穗长遗传的隐性基因;在小穗数上,86（306）和90（151）的一般配合力效应值较高,同时也具有较多控制小穗数遗传的显性基因,而小偃6号和成农151具有较多控制小穗数遗传的隐性基因。     

Ecophysiological determinants of biomass and grain yield of wheat under P deficiency

Grain yield of crops can be expressed as a function of the intercepted radiation, the radiation use efficiency and the partitioning of above-ground biomass to grain yield (harvest index). When a wheat crop is grown under P deficiency the grain yield is reduced but it is not clear how these three components are affected. Our aim was (i) to identify which of these components were affected in spring bread wheat under P deficiency at field conditions and (ii) to relate the grain yield responses to processes of grain yield formation during the spike growth period. Three field experiments were conducted in the potentially high wheat yielding environment of southern Chile. All experiments had two levels of P availability: with (155 kg P ha⁻¹) or without P fertilization (average soil P-Olsen concentration of 10 ppm, a medium level of P availability). High wheat grain yields were obtained varying between 815 and 1222 g m⁻² with P applications. Experiments showed a grain yield reduction caused by P deficiencies of 35, 16 and 18% in experiments 1, 2 and 3, respectively. This was related (R² = 0.99, P < 0.01) to a reduction in the total above-ground biomass at harvest and not to the harvest index. Reductions in above-ground biomass were due to a reduction in radiation intercepted under P deficiency without effecting radiation use efficiency. Grain number per square meter was the main yield component (R² = 0.99, P < 0.01) that explained the grain yield reduction caused by the P deficiency which was due to low spike biomass at anthesis (R² = 0.96, P < 0.05). The reduction in spike biomass at anthesis was related (R² = 0.86, P < 0.01) to reductions in crop growth rate during the spike growth period as a consequence of a lower radiation intercepted during this period. This study showed that under high wheat yield conditions the main effect of a P deficiency on grain yield reduction was a negative impact on the total above-ground biomass due to the negative impact on intercepted radiation, particularly during the spike growth period, affecting negatively spike biomass at anthesis and consequently grain number and yield.     

硅对小麦产量与籽粒品质的影响

为给小麦优质生产中硅肥的使用提供参考依据,采用大田小区试验,以两个春小麦品种龙麦26和克旱16为材料,研究了硅肥施用量(15～75kg.hm-2)对小麦植株形态、产量及品质的影响。结果表明,适量施硅可提高小麦籽粒产量,其中龙麦26的增产幅度大于克旱16,穗粒数和穗数的增加分别是两个品种增产的主要原因;施硅对小麦植株高度和茎秆基部粗度影响不显著,但不同程度地增加龙麦26的穗长;硅肥对千粒重、容重和蛋白质含量等籽粒品质影响不显著,但显著提高了龙麦26的干湿面筋含量、面粉吸水率和面团断裂时间等加工品质指标,同时改善了其面团的拉伸特性。在本试验条件下,龙麦26的适宜施硅量为30kg.hm-2,克旱16为60kg.hm-2,过量施硅不利于小麦籽粒产量和品质的形成。     

普通小麦及其近缘物种花序、小穗和小花的形态结构分析

花的发育影响着种子的发育。普通小麦是三大粮食作物之一,但对小麦花序发育的研究滞后于水稻和玉米。为揭示小麦花发育的机理,本研究采用体视镜观察、扫描电子显微镜观察和组织切片后光学显微镜观察等方法,对普通小麦及其近缘物种一粒小麦、拟斯卑尔脱山羊草、粗山羊草、二粒小麦以及二穗短柄草的花序、小穗和小花形态结构进行了系统观察和分析比较。结果表明,普通小麦与二倍体小麦、二粒小麦表现出一定差别:普通小麦每个小穗形成8~10朵小花,但在发育后期,大多数小花退化不育,每个小穗只有3~4朵小花能够形成种子;二倍体小麦和二粒小麦的小穗结构与普通小麦类似,但每个小穗发育形成3~5朵小花,小花数目明显减少。与普通小麦相似,二穗短柄草每个小穗同样分化形成多朵小花,不同的是,二穗短柄草的大多数小花发育正常,是可育的。以上这些研究结果暗示小麦具有巨大的增产潜力。