Mapping quantitative trait loci associated with grain filling duration and grain number under terminal heat stress in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Terminal heat stress has the potential negative impact on wheat production across the world, especially in South Asia. Under the threat of terminal heat stress, wheat genotypes with stay green trait would suffer from high temperature stress during their long grain filling duration (GFD). The genotypes with short GFD would be advantageous. To identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) for heat tolerance, a RIL population of K 7903 (heat tolerant) and RAJ 4014 (heat sensitive) wheat genotypes was investigated under timely and late‐sown conditions. Heat susceptibility index of GFD, yield components and traits under late‐sown condition were used as phenotypic data for QTL identification. Stable QTLs associated with these traits were identified on chromosomes 1B, 2B, 3B, 5A and 6B. The LOD value ranged from 2.9 to 5.0 and the corresponding phenotyping variation explained ranged from 12.0–22%. QTL for heat susceptibility index for the grain filling duration were colocalized with QTL for productive tillers under late sown and GFD under late‐sown condition on chromosomes 1B and 5A, respectively. These genomic regions could be exploited for molecular wheat breeding programmes targeting heat tolerance.     

Association of staygreen trait with canopy temperature depression and yield traits under terminal heat stress in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

The presence or absence of the staygreen trait was screened for 3 consecutive years in 963 wheat lines from various sources, including Indian and CIMMYT germplasm. Staygreen was assessed at the late dough stage by visual scoring (0–9 scale) and the leaf area under greenness (LAUG) measurement. Around 5.5 % of the lines were staygreen, 10.5 % were moderately staygreen, and the remaining lines showed little or no expression of the trait. One hundred lines showing diversity for the staygreen trait were sown under three different sowing dates (timely, late and very late) for 3 consecutive years in three replications to determine the association of staygreen with heat tolerance. There was a decline in yield, biomass, grain filling duration (GFD) and 1,000 grain weight (TGW) under late and very late sowing conditions owing to terminal stress at anthesis and later stages. However, the decline was relatively less in staygreen genotypes compared to the non-staygreen (NSG) ones. The correlation study showed that LAUG and canopy temperature depression (CTD) were strongly correlated. LAUG and CTD were also significantly associated with grain yield, GFD and biomass. To further confirm the association of the staygreen trait with terminal heat stress, individual F₂-derived F₇ progenies from the cross of the ‘staygreen’ lines with NSG were evaluated for yield and yield traits at the three sowing dates. In each cross, the staygreen progenies showed a significantly smaller decline in yield and TGW under heat stress than the NSG progenies. These results appear to suggest an association between the staygreen trait and terminal heat stress and, thereby, that the staygreen trait could be used as a morphological marker in wheat to screen for heat tolerance.     

Farmer participatory evaluation confirms higher grain yields in spring wheat using a selection index for spot blotch resistance, maturity and kernel weight

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars for the warm regions of South Asia must produce high yields and possess resistance to spot blotch (Cochliobolus sativus), early maturity and high kernel weight. A study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of selecting for high grain yield based on a selection index for spot blotch resistance, maturity and kernel weight in four wheat crosses involving a susceptible cultivar and resistant genotypes. Initial selection of 40 progeny lines in each cross had been made using a selection index based on disease severity, days to heading and kernel weight as reported by Sharma and Duveiller [{Crop Sci 43 (2003) 2031}]. The five highest grain-yielding progeny lines from among the 40 lines in each cross, their parents and five popular commercial cultivars were evaluated in field trials at two sites in Nepal in the 2002 and 2003 wheat seasons. Multiple spot blotch assessments were made to determine the area under disease progress curve (AUDPC). Grain yield, thousand-kernel weight (TKW), days to heading and plant height were examined. The wheat genotypes in the farmer's field were also ranked on the basis of cultivar preference criteria by the local farmers. The 20 progeny lines always showed a higher (+11 to +125%) grain yield and heavier (+10 to +44%) kernels than their parents and a lower (−83 to −89%) AUDPC than the susceptible parent. The progeny lines showed 98–100% grain yield, 97–100% TKW and 66–78% AUDPC compared to the highest grain-yielding commercial cultivar. Based on the farmers' preference criteria for a desirable wheat genotype, the best progeny lines ranked from 3rd to 5th, whereas the two commercial cultivars ranked 1st (Gautam) and 2nd (BL 1473). Results indicated that selection was effective in combining adaptation genes present in a local cultivar with some level of tolerance to spot blotch and resistance genes from exotic genotypes, which translated into improved agronomic performance and disease resistance. The selection index and farmer participatory approach used in this study could serve as a guideline in breeding efforts targeted for high yielding genotypes for wheat-growing conditions in South Asia where spot blotch is a serious biotic constraint to yield.     

Helminthosporium leaf blight resistance and agronomic performance of wheat genotypes across warm regions of South Asia

Helminthosporium leaf blight (HLB) is the most important disease constraint to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivation in the eastern Gangetic Plains of South Asia. A Helminthosporium Monitoring Nursery (HMN) including potential adapted and exotic sources of HLB resistance was developed in Bangladesh, India and Nepal to assess the stability of genetic resistance across locations. The 8th, 9th and 10th HMN assessed the HLB resistance and agronomic traits of 17 wheat genotypes across 20 environments of Bangladesh, India and Nepal in the 1999‐2000, 2000‐2001 and 2001‐2002 cropping seasons, respectively. The area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) for HLB, grain yield, thousand‐kernel weight (TKW), days to heading, days to maturity, and plant height were examined. The 17 genotypes showed a range of variability for disease and agronomic characters. Disease severity (AUDPC) differed in the 3 years and showed the highest values in 2002. The increase in AUDPC in 2002 caused the lowest grain yield, with an average 18% reduction due to HLB. A few genotypes (SW 89‐5422, Yangmai‐6 and Ning 8201) appeared to have stable HLB resistance across environments. However, most of the higher‐yielding genotypes, except BL 1883, were unstable. The results suggest that careful selection of HLB resistance with acceptable grain yield, TKW and plant height may be possible using the wheat genotypes included in the HMN.     

Resistance to Helminthosporium leaf blight and agronomic performance of spring wheat genotypes of diverse origins

Helminthosporium leaf blight (HLB), caused by a complex of Cochliobolus sativus (Ito & Kurib.) Drechsler ex Dastur and Pyrenophora tritici-repentis Died, is a serious disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in the warm lowlands of South Asia. Wheat cultivars grown in the area are either susceptible to HLB or possess low levels of resistance to it. A replicated field study was conducted in 1999 and 2000 at two sites in Nepal to determine the level of HLB resistance and other desirable traits in 60 wheat genotypes of diverse origin. The test genotypes were planted in main strips divided into two strips one of which was sprayed four times with Tilt (a.i. propiconazole) @ 125 g of a.i. ha^–1. Four readings of HLB were recorded to calculate the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC). Other traits under investigation included biomass yield (BY), grain yield (GY), 1000-kernel weight (TKW), harvest index (HI), days to heading (DH) and maturity (DM), plant height (PHT), and effective tiller number (ETN). Wheat genotypes differed significantly for all traits. Mean AUDPC values ranged from 45 to 1268. A few exotic genotypes were highly resistant to HLB. Losses in GY due to HLB ranged from 2 to 26%, and TKW was reduced by up to 33%. A few genotypes showed HLB tolerance, i.e., relatively smaller GY and TKW reductions despite high levels of HLB. In general, medium to late maturity and higher levels of HLB resistance and low to high GY and TKW characterized genotypes exotic to South Asia. Biplot analysis identified several genotypes that were HLB-resistant and agronomically superior. Results suggest it is possible to improve HLB resistance of local wheat cultivars based on selective breeding using this pool of germplasm.     

Grain yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under long‐term heat stress is sink‐limited with stronger inhibition of kernel setting than grain filling

The aim of the study was to investigate source‐sink relations of wheat under continuous heat stress and to identify bottle necks of yield formation. A pot experiment was conducted in two climatic chambers exposing wheat plants (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Thasos) either to day/night temperatures of 20/20°C (control conditions) or of 30/25°C (heat stress) during the whole vegetation period in the absence of plant water deficit. Plants were harvested at four phenological stages: three‐node stage (DC 33), start of flowering (DC 61), grain filling (DC 75) and maturity (DC 94). Heat stress shortened the development phases of the plants and caused a significant decrease in total above‐ground biomass between 19% and 41%. At grain filling and at maturity, the reductions in total shoot biomass mainly resulted from grain yield depressions by 77% and 58%, respectively. The ear number per plant was significantly higher under heat stress in comparison with the control, at maturity it was more than doubled. On the contrary, under heat stress, the kernel number per ear was strongly decreased by 83% and 75% during grain filling and at maturity, respectively. The decrease in individual kernel weight was 23% at maturity. Thus, the heat‐stressed plants were able to strongly increase the number of ear‐bearing tillers which were able to set only a small number of kernels, yet these kernels showed good grain filling. The harvest index (HI) of heat‐stressed plants was significantly reduced by 36% (control: HI = 50.1% ± 0.4, heat: HI = 32.2% ± 0.9***). The plants in the stress treatment adapted to the adverse conditions by less biomass production which presumably allowed a higher transpiration without an increase in total water consumption. Nevertheless, under heat stress, the water use efficiency (WUE_grain) was strongly decreased by 62% as a result of a small grain yield. In ears and grains, the sucrose, glucose and fructose concentrations were not significantly different between control and heat stress at start of flowering and during grain filling. Thus, the supply of assimilates was not restricted (no source limitation). Sink capacity was reduced by heat stress, as lesser and smaller kernels were produced than in the control. Concerning sink activity, the sink‐limiting step during kernel set is probably the active transport of hexoses across the plasma membrane into the developing kernels, which could also affect grain filling. This needs to be investigated in more detail in further studies.     

从产量和品质性状的变化分析北方冬麦区小麦品种抗热性

培育抗热性强的品种对应对气候变化,保障小麦稳产性具有重要意义。选用北方冬麦区53份主栽品种和苗头品系,于2008—2009年度分别种植在北京、石家庄、衡水、安阳和泰安5点,各点设正常温度和塑料棚热胁迫处理。结果表明,千粒重可作为抗热性筛选的简易指标。农大189、CA0518和京冬8号的产量和千粒重在正常和热处理环境中均较高,抗热性好;衡观33和CA0736的产量在正常和热处理环境中均较高,但千粒重均表现中等,抗热性较好;农大211、石麦15、济麦22、农大3432和山农2149在正常环境中的产量和千粒重均较高,但在热处理环境中产量和千粒重均较低,抗热性差。53份品种按和面时间和峰值曲线面积可分为强筋、中强筋、中筋、中弱筋和弱筋5大类。热处理使所有类型材料的蛋白质含量和籽粒硬度增加,峰值带高、8min带高和8min带宽降低,并降低强筋、中强筋和中筋类型材料的和面时间与峰值曲线面积,增加中弱筋和弱筋类型材料的和面时间与峰值曲线面积。     

The effect of spot blotch and heat stress on variation of canopy temperature depression,chlorophyll fluorescence and chlorophyll content of hexaploid wheat genotypes

Spot blotch, caused by Cochliobolus sativus (Ito and Kurib.) Drechsler ex Dastur, and heat stress are two important stresses of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) causing substantial yield reduction in the warm areas of South Asia. These two stresses put pressure on at least 25 million hectares of wheat areas worldwide. This study was conducted to examine variation in physiological traits and its association with heat and spot blotch. Eleven diverse bread wheat genotypes were evaluated in replicated field trials under spot blotch epidemics and heat stress conditions in 2006 and 2007 at Rampur, Nepal. Canopy temperature depression (CTD), chlorophyll fluorescence (CF), chlorophyll content, percent disease leaf area, yield and yield components were recorded. Heat and spot blotch individually reduced CTD, CF, chlorophyll content, grain yield (GRY), and thousand kernel weight (TKW), with greater reductions recorded under combined stress. Genotypes showing lower GRY or TKW loss due to spot blotch also exhibited lower yield loss due to heat stress or combined heat and disease stress, suggesting an association between tolerance mechanisms to the stresses. The physiological traits chlorophyll content, CF and CTD showed higher correlations with GRY and TKW than with area under disease progress curve (AUDPC) suggesting their potential application in screening for heat and spot blotch tolerant genotypes. Genotypes with lower disease showed the highest values for chlorophyll content, CF and CTD. Our findings provide new information on the relationship of these physiological traits with spot blotch resistance and heat tolerance when examined in the same study. The physiological traits studied have potential application in integrative indirect selection criteria for improving spot botch and heat tolerance in wheat.     

Yield and Agronomic Characters of Tropical Maize (Zea mays L.) Cultivars under Different Irrigation Regimes

Drought spells are unpredictable under tropical conditions and can occur at every growth stage of the maize plants. Little is known about the reactions of tropical maize cultivars to water shortage. A set of Thai cultivars was examined in the field during the dry season. Three stress situations were imposed: prolonged stress throughout the growing season, pre- and post-anthesis stress. Pre-anthesis water stress delayed flowering and especially the data of silking. Thus, the anthesis-silking interval was wider. Prolonged water stress decreased grain yield mainly due to a low number of kernels and/or thousand kernel weight (TKW). Post-anthesis stress mainly reduced TKW grain set per ear. Relief from pre-anthesis stress increased grain yield by a grater number of kernels and higher TKW as compared to prolonged stress. Genotypic differences were high for the anthesis-silking interval following pre-anthesis stress. Low yielding, early but generally drought-stable cultivars existed as well as cultivars which were generally high yielding even under water stress because of a good residual yield. Some cultivars were resistant to pre-anthesis stress but not to post-anthesis stress and vice versa. It can be concluded that ample genotypic variability exists for adaptation to varying situations of pre-and post-anthesis stress within tropical maize cultivars.     

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.     

Does post‐anthesis heat stress affect plant phenology,physiology, grain yield and protein content of durum wheat in a semi‐arid Mediterranean environment?

Increasing air temperature due to changing climate is projected to decrease the length of the growing season, hasten vegetative development and maturation, and ultimately affect yield of many C3 crops. Previous multilocation trials highlighted strong relationships between thermal trends in the interval “beginning of flowering‐end of grain filling” and grain yield, and protein content in durum wheat (Triticum turgidum subsp. durum (Desf.) Husn.). With the aim to confirm these relationships, nine durum wheat genotypes, including old (Capeiti 8, Senatore Cappelli and Trinakria) and modern (Amedeo, Arcangelo, Mongibello, Simeto, and Svevo) varieties and a Sicilian landrace (Russello) were grown at three different sites representing a climate gradient in Sicily, Italy. Moreover, the effect of post‐anthesis heat stress on these durum wheats was further investigated in two contrasting environments: open‐field (control—C) and greenhouse heat stress (HS). HS shortened the interval “beginning‐end of flowering” of 1.5 days across genotypes, and the “end of flowering‐beginning of grain filling” and maturation of 4.9 days, with a range of 1 day in Arcangelo to 11 days in Cappelli. Advances in main phenophases significantly decreased kernel weight (KW) and grain yield (GY), whereas grain protein content (PC) increased. As expected, a negative relationship was observed between GY and PC, while positive relationships were found for GY and grain‐filling duration (GFD), and GY and KW. Genotypes responded differently to heat stress, as evidenced by the net photosynthesis, transpiration rate, instantaneous water use efficiency and dry matter accumulation in kernels. Genotypes were ranked according to the heat susceptibility index (HSI): Amedeo, Arcangelo, Capeiti 8, Svevo and Trinakria resulted heat‐tolerant. These varieties were characterized by an early trigger of dry matter accumulation in kernels under HS (Amedeo, Arcangelo and Trinakria), or showed similar length of the GFD (Capeiti 8) between environments. The multilocation trial confirmed a negative relationship between maximum temperatures and grain yield, and a positive relationship between minimum temperatures and protein content during grain–filling periods. Research focusing on agronomic strategies, phenology and breeding for tolerance to heat stress is of strategic importance to cope with the detrimental effect of global warming in semi‐arid climates.     

不同氮素处理对中麦175和京冬17产量相关性状和氮素利用效率的影响

本研究旨在了解我国黄淮和北部冬麦区不同施氮量和施氮模式对氮高效吸收和利用的影响,以及中麦175和京冬17产量对不同施氮处理的响应。2013-2014和2014-2015连续两年在河北吴桥和北京顺义两地种植两品种,观测不同施氮量和基追比处理下,冬小麦的群体特性、产量相关性状,以及氮素吸收效率(NUpE)和氮素利用效率(NUtE)。在吴桥点设0、60+0、120+0、120+60、120+120、120+180 kg hm?2 (基肥+拔节肥) 6个处理,在顺义点仅设前5个处理。在总施氮量0~240 kg hm?2 (吴桥)和0~180 kg hm?2 (顺义)范围内,随施氮量增加,归一化植被指数(NDVI)和气冠温差(CTD)提高,群体总粒数和成熟期生物量增加,进而产量提高;但继续增加施氮量会导致粒重、开花前干物质向籽粒转运量、转运率、对籽粒贡献率、收获指数、氮肥偏生产力、氮素吸收和利用效率降低。在不同施氮水平下,中麦175的产量和稳定性均优于京冬17,表现出穗数多、穗粒重稳定性好、群体活力持久、生物量和收获指数高、花前干物质积累量高和花后干物质转运能力强、氮素吸收效率高,这可能是其高产高效的重要基础。考虑到产量回报和经济效益,推荐中麦175和京冬17在黄淮麦区(北片)施氮量为180~240 kg hm?2,在北部冬麦区施氮量为120~180 kg hm?2。灌浆中后期,NDVI和CTD与穗数、产量和生物量相关性高,可作为快速评价品种氮肥敏感性的指标。     

Differential responses of bread wheat characters to high temperature

Summary Agronomic and yield data were collected from two trials each containing 16 bread wheat genotypes, planted two years under late sowing conditions of high temperature (above 30° C) and one year under a normal sowing time environment. The aim was to study the character response and yield correlations with yield components and other characters under high temperature conditions with full irrigation. The results show that yield, seeds per spike, biomass, and plant height are more thermo-sensitive than spike number per square meter, 1000 kernel weight, and test weight. The grain-filling rate was more temperature-sensitive than days to anthesis and duration of grain-filling. Simple phenotypic correlation analysis indicated that yield was highly and positively correlated with seeds per spike, biomass, and harvest index (HI), independent of seasons and genotypes under high temperatures. The seeds per spike accounted for variation of yield ranging from 35.2 to 78.1%. Effect of earliness on the yield under high temperature was highly dependent on the temperature regime during the heading stage. Grains per spike, biomass, HI, and test weight could be considered potential selection criteria for yield under high temperature. Analysis of yields under normal and late sowing conditions failed to reveal any association between the yield potential in normal sowing date and the performance of varieties under high temperature.     

种植密度、氮肥和水分胁迫对玉米产量形成的影响

为阐明种植密度、氮肥和水分胁迫对不同玉米品种产量形成的影响,选用6个玉米品种,在两种密度(45 000株 hm^-2和75 000株 hm^-2)、两种施氮水平(纯氮112.5 kg hm^-2和337.5 kg hm^-2)和两种水分(前期干旱控水和正常灌水)处理下进行大田试验,调查玉米源库性状的主要生理参数和籽粒产量。结果表明,在环境压力较小时(低密度、高氮和正常灌水),玉米品种间籽粒产量、源性状(叶面积指数、穗位叶净光合速率和群体源供应能力)、库性状(群体库容量)、源库协调性状(群体库源比值、籽粒灌浆速率和收获指数)以及成熟期干物质积累量和吐丝期至成熟期干物质积累量差异较小,而逆境胁迫下(高密度、低氮和干旱),差异较大。环境压力较大时(高密度、低氮和干旱),叶面积指数、群体源供应能力、成熟期干物质积累量、吐丝期至成熟期干物质积累量、群体库容量和收获指数与籽粒产量呈显著或极显著正相关。由此说明,在玉米品种产量改良中要强化逆境人工选择,以适应自然选择,改善玉米品种逆境下的群体源库性状,增强吐丝期至成熟期叶片的光合生产效率,强源促库,提高逆境下的生产能力和适应性。     

How do timing,duration, and intensity of drought stress affect the agronomic performance of winter rye?

Winter rye (Secale cereale L.) will be especially affected by drought induced yield losses in Central and Eastern Europe in the future because it is predominantly cultivated on low-fertile soils with a poor water-holding capacity. In order to examine the performance of winter rye under different drought conditions, field experiments were carried out during the years 2011, 2012, and 2013 near Braunschweig, Germany. Two sets of genotypes were tested under severe, mild, pre-anthesis, and post-anthesis drought stress in rain-out shelters as well as under rainfed and well-watered conditions. The grain, straw, and total above ground biomass yields, harvest index, grain yield components, leaf area index (LAI), and phenological characteristics were examined, as well as phenotypic correlations between grain yield and further characteristics. Drought induced grain yield reduction ranged from 14 to 57%, while straw yield and harvest index were lesser affected by drought than the grain yield. Under drought conditions, fully ripe was reached up to twelve days earlier than under non water-limited conditions. Pre-anthesis drought mainly reduced spikes m⁻² and kernels spike⁻¹ while drought during grain filling reduced the 1000-kernel weight (TKW) only. The grain yield was positively associated with straw yield, spikes m⁻², and kernels spike⁻¹ under water limited conditions while the TWK was only positively associated with grain yield under drought during grain filling. Consequently, high pre-anthesis biomass as well as high numbers of spikes m⁻² and kernels spike⁻¹ are especially important for obtaining high grain yields under water-limited conditions. Focusing on these traits is, therefore, recommendable for developing drought tolerant rye genotypes.     

直播种植模式下水稻剑叶光合、强弱势籽粒灌浆特性及产量的氮素调控

为探讨不同施氮水平对水稻剑叶光合、籽粒灌浆特性和产量的影响。以生育期较短的‘新稻567’、‘新稻568’和‘新科稻31’为试验材料,在直播种植模式下,设置3个施氮水平0、255、300 kg/hm²,分别测定抽穗后剑叶光合速率、强弱势籽粒灌浆速率和产量等指标,研究氮肥调控水稻产量的生理机制。结果表明,随着施氮量的增加,3个品种产量均呈先增加后降低的趋势;高效叶面积率和粒叶比表现为中氮水平较高,高氮水平较低。灌浆期剑叶光合速率呈先增加后降低趋势,不同氮肥处理间基本表现为中氮处理高于高氮处理;强弱势籽粒灌浆速率在整个灌浆期内呈开口向下的抛物线趋势,不同氮肥处理间的差异在灌浆盛期至灌浆中后期较大,表现为无氮和中氮处理高于高氮处理,灌浆末期处理间差异较小。产量与灌浆期剑叶光合速率呈正相关关系,与强弱势籽粒灌浆速率在灌浆初期呈负相关在灌浆中后期呈正相关关系。适度的氮肥施用量有利于提高直播水稻高效叶面积率、粒叶比,增加剑叶光合速率、强弱势籽粒灌浆速率,从而促进水稻高产。     

Variation and interrelationships of agronomic traits in Ethiopian tetraploid wheat landraces

Summary Sixty tetraploid wheat (Triticum turgidum L.) landrace agrotypes collected from the central highlands of Ethiopia and one commercial check cultivar (Boohai) were evaluated at Akaki experimental station for grain yield and 11 other component traits. The objectives were to estimate phenotypic (PCV) and genetic (GCV) coefficients of variation, broad-sense heritability (H) and genetic advance (GA), and to determine the interrelationships among the various traits. Genotypic differences among the agrotypes were highly significant for all the traits considered. Compared to Boohai, the landrace agrotypes were later in days-to-heading (DTH) and maturity (DTM), and had shorter grain filling period (GFP), lower fertility (KS) and lower 1000-kernel weight (TKW). By contrast, they were superior to Boohai in tiller number (TN), biological yield (BY) and grain yield plant^-1 (GYP). Intermediate to high order estimate combinations of GCV, H and GA (as % of the mean) were observed for TN, GYP, number of kernels spike^-1 (NKS), harvest index (HI) and TKW. GYP showed a moderate heritability which was higher than GFP, BY and Plant height (PHt). DTH and DTM were strongly correlated, but both were negatively associated with the rest of the traits except PHt. The negative correlation of DTM with GYP was largely indirect via other characters. PHt had either a weak or negative association with the other traits. TN and TKW were positively correlated with GYP, and had high and intermediate direct effects, respectively. These two traits, however, were negatively correlated and showed a substantial counter-balance effect via one another. It appears that, for the short-term, improvement of the Ethiopian wheat landraces may be possible through indirect selection for TN and TKW or direct selection for grain yield per se. In the long-run, crossing programmes between indigenous and introduced germplasm may be necessary.     

亏缺灌溉下小麦水分利用效率与光合产物积累运转的相关研究

在大田栽培条件下,以小麦旱地品种晋麦47和西峰20、水旱兼用型品种石家庄8号和水地品种4185为材料,分别进行0水(T0)、一水(T1)和二水灌溉(T2)处理(每次灌水量60mm),研究了光合速率、叶面积指数、干物质积累与分配、根系分布、耗水量、产量因子与水分利用效率(WUE)的关系。结果表明,在拔节前不灌溉,拔节到开花期亏缺灌溉,促进干物质积累和深根发育。随着灌溉水的增加,耗水量显著增加,产量和WUE与耗水量呈二次曲线关系。T0处理显著减少了干物质积累和成穗数,产量、经济系数(HI)和WUE最低。T1和T2产量的提高主要是增加了穗数和穗粒数。灌浆期水分亏缺降低了光合速率(Pn)和气孔导度(Gs),加速了功能叶片的衰老,但诱导了花前储存碳库的再转运,显著提高了HI和产量。因此,在拔节和开花期亏缺灌溉促进根系生长,提高了土壤水分的利用效率。而产量和产量WUE的提高主要是由于增加了灌浆期叶片的Pn和光合功能持续期,促进花前储存碳库的再转运,显著提高了HI。     

亏缺灌溉下小麦水分利用效率与光合产物积累运转的相关研究

在大田栽培条件下,以小麦旱地品种晋麦47和西峰20、水旱兼用型品种石家庄8号和水地品种4185为材料,分别进行0水（T0）、一水（T1）和二水灌溉（T2）处理（每次灌水量60 mm）,研究了光合速率、叶面积指数、干物质积累与分配、根系分布、耗水量、产量因子与水分利用效率（WUE）的关系。结果表明,在拔节前不灌溉,拔节到开花期亏缺灌溉,促进干物质积累和深根发育。随着灌溉水的增加,耗水量显著增加,产量和WUE与耗水量呈二次曲线关系。T0处理显著减少了干物质积累和成穗数,产量、经济系数（HI）和WUE最低。T1和T2产量的提高主要是增加了穗数和穗粒数。灌浆期水分亏缺降低了光合速率（P_n）和气孔导度（G_s）,加速了功能叶片的衰老,但诱导了花前储存碳库的再转运,显著提高了HI和产量。因此,在拔节和开花期亏缺灌溉促进根系生长,提高了土壤水分的利用效率。而产量和产量WUE的提高主要是由于增加了灌浆期叶片的P_n和光合功能持续期,促进花前储存碳库的再转运,显著提高了HI。     

Australian rice varieties vary in grain yield response to heat stress during reproductive and grain filling stages

Climate change may lead to an increase in both day and night time temperatures in rice (Oryza sativa L) growing regions, but the impact of such temperature increases on yields of Australian rice varieties is not known. We evaluated the biomass and grain yield response of eleven Australian rice varieties including long, medium and short grain types, and the Californian cultivar M205, to heat stress during the reproductive phase and grain filling stages. Heat stress (day/night = 35/25°C) was applied at one of three stages: from panicle exertion to anthesis (PE), from anthesis to 10 days after anthesis (EGF) and from 10–20 days after anthesis (LGF) periods after which the effect on biomass and grain yield was compared to control plants. When heat stress was applied at PE and early grain filling stages, mean grain yield losses across rice varieties were 83% and 53%, respectively, though significant genotype × heat stress treatment interactions were observed. Notably, three varieties—YRM 67, Koshihikari and Opus—appeared to possess greater tolerance to heat stress at these growth stages. A significant genotype × heat stress treatment interaction was also observed in the LGF treatment, where significant yield reductions were only observed in Opus (21% loss) and YRM 67 (25% loss). A lack of effect of heat stress on total grain yield in most varieties at late grain filling appeared to be due to late tiller grain yields which were either unaffected by the heat stress or increased significantly compared to control plants. While genetic variation for tolerance to heat stress across the three growth stages was observed, there was no rice genotype that was consistently tolerant (in terms of yield under stress) across all three heat stress treatments. In the absence of a genotype that showed broad heat stress tolerance during reproductive growth, we suggest screening of a wider pool of more diverse rice germplasm is warranted.