Foliar diseases affect the eco-physiological attributes linked with yield and biomass in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Foliar diseases are the main biotic cause of yield loss in wheat crops (Triticum aestivum L.) in Argentina and other regions around the world. Most of the studies on foliar diseases take a phytopathological perspective, but few studies have analyzed the problem with an eco-physiological approach aimed at the understanding of which crop traits are affected by foliar diseases. The present study was designed to determine the effects of a foliar disease complex (including leaf rust, Septoria leaf blotch and tan spot), on (i) grain yield and (ii) the physiological components of biomass production; intercepted radiation (RI) and radiation use efficiency (RUE), in bread wheat crops growing under contrasting agronomic and environmental conditions (i.e. different cultivars, years, location and nitrogen supply). The experiments were carried out during 4 years in different locations (three in the rolling pampas of Argentina and one in northern of France). Five different commercial wheat cultivars were sown on early (E) and late (L) sowing dates (SD); and two contrasting nitrogen availability and two fungicide treatments (protected and unprotected) were applied. Foliar diseases appeared during the grain filling period and affected both, leaf area duration (LAD) and healthy area duration (HAD) during that period. Foliar diseases reduced both, above-ground biomass at harvest (1533 and 1703 g m⁻² for unprotected and protected treatments, respectively) and grain yield (646 and 748 g m⁻² for unprotected and protected treatments, respectively) without important effects on harvest index. Biomass reductions after anthesis, due to the effects of foliar diseases, were associated with a reduced capacity of the canopy to absorb solar radiation more than any effect on RUE. However, RUE was consistently lower—when leaf rust was the predominant disease in the crop, suggesting that this biotrophic pathogen could affect the photosynthetic activity at the leaf or canopy level.     

施氮量对冬小麦灌浆期光合产物积累、转运及分配的影响

采用花前¹⁴C-同位素标记旗叶的方法, 研究了盆栽条件下不同施氮量对两种穗型冬小麦品种光合产物转运及¹⁴C同化物积累、分配的影响。结果表明, 冬小麦成熟期¹⁴C-同化物主要分配在茎鞘中, 其分配率为44.31%~60.96%; 其次在籽粒中, 分配率为31.81%~40.67%; 其中大穗型品种兰考矮早八茎鞘、叶片中的分配率高于多穗型品种豫麦49-198, 表明成熟时大穗型品种有更多的同化物滞留在茎鞘和叶片中。施氮量对¹⁴C-同化物分配率有影响, 在施氮量36 g m^-2处理的茎鞘中分配率下降, 而籽粒中的分配率增加, 表明增施氮肥促进花前同化物向籽粒中分配。随着籽粒灌浆进程, 光合产物在营养器官中的分配率逐渐下降, 在籽粒中的分配率逐渐增加, 表明营养器官的同化物逐渐向籽粒转运。小麦籽粒的同化物有34.94%来自花前贮藏物质的转运, 65.06%来自开花后同化量, 但不同品种、不同氮素水平处理之间有较大差异。施氮量36 g m^-2处理的花前转运量、转运率、花前贮藏物质对籽粒贡献率均下降, 但花后同化量、对籽粒贡献率以及单穗粒重均增加; 其中兰考矮早八和豫麦49-198的花后贡献率分别为77.84%和56.29%, 表明兰考矮早八花后同化量对籽粒的贡献大于豫麦49-198。两品种籽粒产量均表现为施氮量36 g m^-2处理高于18 g m^-2处理, 并且大穗型品种的增产幅度大于多穗型品种, 表明增施氮肥对不同冬小麦品种的增产效应存在差异。     

Modelling Biomass Accumulation and Partitioning in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Quantitative information regarding biomass accumulation and partitioning in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is limited or inconclusive. The objective of this study was to obtain baseline values for extinction coefficient (K_S), radiation use efficiency (RUE, g MJ^?1) and biomass partitioning coefficients of chickpea crops grown under well‐watered conditions. The stability of these parameters during the crop life cycle and under different environmental and growth conditions, caused by season and sowing date and density, were also evaluated. Two field experiments, each with three sowing dates and four plant densities, were conducted during 2002–2004. Crop leaf area index, light interception and crop biomass were measured between emergence and maturity. A K_S value of 0.5 was obtained. An average RUE of 1 g MJ^?1 was obtained. Plant density had no effect on RUE, but some effects of temperature were detected. There was no effect of solar radiation or vapour pressure deficit on RUE when RUE values were corrected for the effect of temperature. RUE was constant during the whole crop cycle. A biphasic pattern was found for biomass partitioning between leaves and stems before first‐seed stage. At lower levels of total dry matter, 54 % of biomass produced was allocated to leaves, but at higher levels of total dry matter, i.e. under favourable and prolonged conditions for vegetative growth, this portion decreased to 28 %. During the period from first‐pod to first‐seed, 60 % of biomass produced went to stems, 27 % to pods and 13 % to leaves. During the period from first‐seed to maturity, 83 % of biomass was partitioned to pods. It was concluded that using fixed partitioning coefficients after first‐seed are not as effective as they are before this stage. Environmental conditions (temperature and solar radiation) and plant density did not affect partitioning of biomass.     

Light interception and radiation use efficiency in temperate quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) cultivars

Sea level quinoas are grown at low altitudes in Central and Southern Chile. Both sensitivity to photoperiod and response to temperature largely determine quinoa adaptation, but crop biomass production must be quantified to evaluate agronomic performance. The objectives of this work are: (i) to characterize development effects on leaf area evolution for genotypes of sea level quinoa differing in cycle length, (ii) to quantify the extinction coefficient (k) for photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and radiation use efficiency (RUE) from emergence up to the beginning of grain filling and (iii) to identify which crop attributes related to canopy architecture should be considered to improve biomass production. Four cultivars (NL-6, RU-5, CO-407 and Faro) were cropped in Pergamino (33°56′S, 60°35′W, 65 m a.s.l.), Argentina, at three densities (from 22 to 66 plants m⁻²) in two consecutive years under field conditions with adequate water and nutrient supply. Thermal time to first anthesis and maximum leaf number on the main stem were linearly correlated (r² = 0.87; p < 0.0001). Leaf area continued to increase during the flowering phase, notably in NL-6, the earliest genotype. There were significant differences in maximum plant leaf area between cultivars. Increasing density reduced plant leaf area but effects were comparatively small. Estimated k was 0.59 ± 0.02 across genotypes and was higher (p < 0.05) for 66 plants m⁻². Values for RUE changed as cumulative intercepted PAR (IPAR) increased; at initial stages of development RUE was 1.25 ± 0.09 g MJ IPAR⁻¹, but if cumulative IPAR was higher than 107.5 ± 10.4 MJ IPAR m⁻², RUE was 2.68 ± 0.15 g MJ IPAR⁻¹. That change occurred when leaf area index (LAI) and fraction of PAR intercepted were still low and ranged from 0.61 to 1.38 and from 0.33 to 0.51, respectively. No significant association was found with any developmental stage. Our results agreed to the notion that RUE variation during pre-anthesis phases is largely determined by LAI through its effect on radiation distribution within the canopy. Biomass production could be improved if periods of interception below 50% of incoming PAR were reduced to ensure high RUE. This seems to be possible in temperate areas both by the use of late genotypes with a higher number of leaves on the main stem and by early genotypes provided adequate plant density is chosen. Early increment in LAI and overlapping of the leaf area increase period with the flowering phase are desirable strategies for earliest genotypes to maximize yield.     

Allocation of Photosynthates and Grain Growth of Two Wheat Cultivars with Different Potential Grain Growth in Response to Pre- and Post-anthesis Shading

Grain yield in wheat is dependent on photosynthate production and allocation. Light intensity is one of the main factors affecting photosynthate production and allocation, and grain yield. This study was conducted to determine whether cultivars varying in grain number per spike and grain weight respond differently to pre‐anthesis shading (PRE) and post‐anthesis shading (POST), and to characterize the responses in production and allocation of photosynthate, yield and yield components, and spike traits. Both PRE and POST caused a decrease in both dry matter (DM) accumulation and allocation to grain. Cultivar Lumai 22, which has a large spike and large grains, was more sensitive to either PRE or POST. PRE reduced photosynthate production and partitioning to the spike in Lumai 22 at anthesis. In contrast, PRE had little influence on these parameters in the small‐spike, small‐grain cultivar Yannong 15. POST reduced the partitioning to the grain, especially in Lumai 22, for which marked reductions in biomass and grain yield were found for both the PRE and POST treatments. Changes in yield components attributable to shading varied with cultivars. The number of spikes m^?2 was not affected by either PRE or POST. Lumai 22 was more seriously affected by shading than Yannong 15 in terms of grain number per spike and weight per grain. The decreases in grain number or weight per spikelet in both the PRE and POST treatments took place mainly in the upper and basal spikelets, especially in Lumai 22. We concluded that the adaptability of the small‐spike, small‐grain cultivar Yannong 15 to either PRE or POST was much greater than that of the large‐spike, large‐grain cultivar Lumai 22 in terms of many characteristics closely related to grain yield. Hence, we suggest that, in areas where low light intensity often occurs, the small‐spike, small‐grain cultivar would be more likely to produce high, stable grain yields.     

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.     

Differential reaction of wheat cultivars to hot environments

Summary Ten to 20 spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars of Israeli origin were grown in three winter (normal) and two summer (abnormal) growing seasons. During the period of emergence to anthesis mean daily temperature was on the average 12°C higher and photoperiod was about 3 h longer in the summer than in the winter. Data was collected on the durations of the periods from emergence to double-ridge (GS1), double ridge to anthesis (GS2) and anthesis to grain maturation (GS3), as well as on yield and yield components.The duration of all developmental stages was reduced by high temperature. While the duration of GS2 was the most thermo-sensitive, it may also have been reduced by the longer summer photoperiod. The effect of photoperiod on GS2 could not be isolated, but the results were interpreted to show that the effect of photoperiod on the duration of GS2 was relatively small.The most heat-affected yield component was number of grains per spikelet and the least affected component was the number of spikes per plant. High temperature reduced grain weight via reduced grain growth duration and not grain growth rate. A general linear regression model of yield on its components revealed that while variation for number of spikes per plant had the greatest effect on yield variation among cultivars in the winter, variation for number of grains per spikelet and spikelets per spike were by far the most important in the summer. Grain weight was the least important component, in this respect, in all seasons. Varieties which sustained the highest yield in hot environments were able to maintain the longest duration of GS2 and the highest number of grain per spike.     

Quality and Distribution of Assimilates within the Whole Plant of Lupines (L. albus and L. mutabilis) Influenced by Water Stress

Lupine crops (Lupinus albus and L. mutabilis) often experience water deficits during grain filling, thereby altering partitioning of assimilates. Water deficit, imposed at the beginning of seed production (15 days after anthesis, daa), brought about differences in assimilate partitioning and chemical composition within the whole plant. In both species, water stress (ws) was responsible for a significant decrease in plant water status and gas exchange. In spite of little effect on total biomass, leaf area was reduced for approximately half of the control treatment. The main effects of ws on chemical composition of different organs were a decrease in total oil and an increase in total soluble sugar content in leaves; an increase in both oil and soluble sugars in stems; and a decrease in total oil and total soluble sugar content in seeds. The data suggest that under ws conditions, imposed at flowering, lupine assimilates are stored in stems and pods and later retranslocated to the developing seeds.     

Shade Effects on Phaseolus vulgaris L. Intercropped with Zea mays L. under Well-Watered Conditions

Field experiments were carried out under unstressed conditions of soil water during two summer crop growing seasons (1998–99 and 1999–2000 seasons) in a South African semi‐arid region (Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa). The aim of this study was to investigate shade effects on beans intercropped with maize in terms of plant mass and radiation use. The experimental treatments were two cropping systems (no shading/sole cropping and shading/intercropping) and two row orientations (north–south and east–west). At the top of bean canopies shaded by maize, incident radiation was reduced by up to 90 %. Shading reduced total dry matter of beans by 67 % at the end of the growing season, resulting in yield losses. The dry matter partitioning into leaf and stem (the ratios of leaf and stem to total biomass) was about 50 % higher in intercropping than sole cropping. In contrast, intercropped beans had 40 % lower dry matter partitioning into pod (the ratio of pod to total biomass). Fraction of radiation intercepted by sole‐cropped beans steeply increased until canopy closure (0.9) and then slowly decreased, while fraction of radiation intercepted by intercropped beans remained constant between 0.0 and 0.2 throughout the growing seasons. However, intercropped beans had 77 % higher radiation use efficiency (RUE) than sole‐cropped beans. In contrast, for maize, no effect of intercropping (shading) was found on growth, partitioning, yield, radiation interception or RUE. Consequently, lower bean yield losses can be attained in association with late shading rather than early shading. This can be controlled by growing crops with different temporal and spatial treatments. As regards row treatment, no effect of row direction was found on growth, partitioning, yield, radiation interception or RUE.     

四川盆地9000kg hm~(-2)产量潜力小麦品种的花后冠层结构、生理及同化物分配特性

四川盆地小麦高产育种取得了突破性进展,但高产生理研究相对滞后。本研究以2011—2015连续5年的田间试验,比较了高产和一般产量潜力品种花后群体冠层结构、主要生理指标和同化物的转运分配特性,旨在揭示四川小麦9000 kg hm-2高产品种的生理基础。选择代表性高产潜力品种和一般产量潜力品种各3个,高产潜力品种产量平均9422 kg hm~(-2),比一般产量潜力品种高14.3%,增产原因是生物量或收获指数的提高。相比一般产量潜力品种,高产潜力品种旗叶短且宽,长宽比低于10,开花初期至灌浆中期叶基角和开角增加明显。开花至灌浆后期,高产潜力品种顶三叶的SPAD值及花后0 d和20 d的群体光合速率显著高于一般产量潜力品种,群体光合速率以10:00–12:00的差异最大。此外,高产潜力品种在开花期茎鞘生物量所占比例较高,而成熟期籽粒所占比例较一般产量潜力品种高1~4个百分点。籽粒产量与小麦形态、生理参数关系密切,与灌浆期旗叶基角(r=0.947,P0.01)和倒二叶基角(r=0.963,P0.01)呈正相关,与旗叶长宽比(r=-0.913,P0.01)和倒二叶长宽比(r=-0.911,P0.01)呈负相关;与开花期顶三叶SPAD值呈正相关,r值分别为0.75、0.90和0.82(P0.01);与成熟期穗轴干重比例呈负相关(r=-0.956,P0.01)。本研究表明,株高适中、株型紧凑,花后冠层叶绿素含量和群体光合速率较高,以及合理的物质分配,是高产潜力品种获得高产的生理基础。     

Photosynthesis and Remobilization of Dry Matter in Wheat as Affected by Progressive Drought Stress at Stem Elongation Stage

With increasingly erratic rainfall patterns particularly in drought‐prone production systems, the capacity of plants to recover productively from drought spells becomes an important feature for yield stability in rainfed agriculture. Consequently, effects of water management at the stem elongation stage on partitioning and remobilization of dry matter, alteration in photosynthesis and water‐use efficiency (WUE), and yield components of wheat plants were studied in a glasshouse pot experiment. The plants were subjected to three soil moisture regimes: well watered during all phenological stages (WW), drought affected during stem elongation and post‐anthesis stages (DD) and drought affected during stem elongation and rewatered at post‐anthesis stage (DW). Total dry weight substantially decreased by both drought treatments. However, DD plants allocated relatively higher assimilates to roots whereas DW plants remobilized them to the grains. Drought applications resulted in a decrease of grain yield and thousand grain weight while reduction was more pronounced in DD treatment. Relative contribution of post‐anthesis photosynthesis to dry matter formation in grain was higher in WW treatment (72.6 %) than DD (68.5 %) and DW (68.2 %) treatments. Photosynthetic rate, gas exchange and transpiration decreased whereas leaf (photosynthetic) and plant level WUE increased with drought applications. However, all these parameters were rapidly and completely reversed by rewatering. Our findings showed that partitioning of dry weight to grain increases with rewatering of wheat plants subjected to drought during stem elongation phase, but the relative contributions of remobilization of stem reserves and post‐anthesis photosynthesis to grain did not change. Moreover, rewatering of plants at booting stage after a drought period lead to full recovery in photosynthesis and WUE, and a significant although partial recovery of yield components, such as grain yield, TGW and harvest index.     

氮肥运筹对弱筋小麦群体指标与产量和品质形成的影响

以弱筋小麦品种扬麦9号和宁麦9号为材，研究了不同施氮水平及基追比对群体指标、产量和品质的影响。结果表明，孕穗期叶面积指数（LAI）随施氮量的增加而提高；小麦籽粒产量及成熟期生物产量、花后干物质积累量与施氮量均呈二次曲线关系；籽粒蛋白质含量、湿面筋含量与施氮量呈极显著正相关。增加后期追氮比例及同比例2次追氮均提高了成熟期生物产量、花后干物质积累量、茎蘖成穗率、孕穗期LAI、籽粒产量、蛋白质含量和湿面筋含量。花后干物质积累量、成熟期生物产量、成穗数、茎蘖成穗率与产量呈显著或极显著正相关，拔节期、孕穗期、开花期和灌浆期LAI与产量呈显著或极显著二次曲线关系。弱筋小麦实现优质和产量7 000 kg hm^-2的氮肥运筹技术以施氮量200 kg hm^-2和基肥∶拔节肥∶孕穗肥为7∶2∶1，其高产优质协调的关键群体调控指标，最适LAI为6.9，花后干物质积累量和成熟期生物产量分别为5 300和16 500 kg hm^-2，成穗数为466×104 hm^-2，茎蘖成穗率为50%。     

水分亏缺对小麦穗部光合特性及花前14C-同化物分配的影响

为明确干旱胁迫对小麦穗部花前同化物合成和转运的影响,选用旱地品种西农928和水分敏感品种郑引1号,通过¹⁴CO₂标记技术研究了水分亏缺下穗部光合特性及穗部花前同化物的转运和分配规律。水分亏缺条件下,西农928灌浆前期、中期的穗部净光合速率、颖壳中叶绿素含量及可溶性总糖含量略有下降,而郑引1号显著下降。成熟期西农928的水分利用效率上升1.7% (P>0.05),籽粒中¹⁴C-同化物分配率略降3.2% (P>0.05);而郑引1号水分利用效率下降16.9% (P<0.05),籽粒中花前¹⁴C-同化物分配率上升7.8% (P<0.05)。试验表明,水分亏缺对西农928穗部光合的影响有限; 适度水分亏缺促进了水分敏感品种郑引1号颖壳及内外稃中花前¹⁴C-同化物向籽粒的转运, 相对提高了其穗部花前光合同化物对籽粒灌浆的贡献率。     

Evaluation and reduction of Lr19-149, a recombined form of the Lr19 translocation of wheat

The Lr19 translocation was introgressed from Thinopyrum ponticum in 1966. It has not been used in wheat breeding in many countries despite it being an excellent source of leaf rust resistance as it carries an undesirable gene(s) coding for yellow endosperm pigmentation. A shortened form, Lr19-149, was since produced and lacks the yellow pigment genes. A yield trial with near isogenic lines of both the original and shortened translocations suggested that Lr19 may cause a small reduction in kernel size and anincrease in loaf volume, effects which are not associated with Lr19-149. In Lr19-149 heterozygotes the translocation generally showed reduced pollen transmission whereas its transmission through egg cells was mostly normal. An attempt to shorten Lr19-149 through allosyndetic recombination in the absence of Ph1b produced four recombinants which were characterized by means of RFLP and AFLP polymorphisms and physically mapped with a set of 27 deletion lines. In three recombinants (252, 299 and 462) Thinopyrum chromatin proximally to Lr19 was exchanged for wheat chromatin. In one recombinant (478) chromatin distally from Lr19 was replaced. Based on physical map distance estimates it appears that the Lr19 translocation in the shortest recombinant (299) may have been reduced to about one third or less of its original size. It may now be possible to obtain a further, albeit relatively small, decrease in the size of the translocation through homologous crossover between recombinants 299 and 478. Similar to Lr19-149, the new recombinants show self elimination in heterozygotes and they have apparently retained the Sd2 locus. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

稻–麦轮作下9000kg hm~(–2)产量水平扬麦20的群体质量及花后光合特征

在稻麦两熟制条件下,于2010—2011和2011—2012年度,通过氮肥施用量、施用时期及比例的调控,建立了扬麦20不同产量水平群体,比较≥9000 kg hm–2群体(P1)与9000 kg hm–2群体(P2)的产量构成、群体质量及花后光合特征,为稻茬小麦大面积高产提供理论依据和技术支撑。P1较P2群体产量高约10%,每穗粒数高约5.5%,差异显著,但两群体的穗数和千粒重差异不显著。P1群体的穗数、穗粒数和千粒重分别为482~538万hm–2、47~49粒和34~39 g。籽粒产量与孕穗和开花期叶面积指数(LAI)及花后LAI衰减率和光合势呈抛物线关系,与乳熟期LAI、粒(重)/叶比和群体生长率呈显著线性正相关。两年度试验结果表明P1群体具有以下特征,孕穗期、开花期和乳熟期的LAI分别为6.5~7.0、5.0~6.0和4.0~4.5;粒(数)/叶比为0.37~0.39,粒(重)/叶比为13.5~14.5;花后LAI衰减率、群体生长率、光合势和净同化率分别为0.13~0.15 d–1、19~20 g m–2 d–1、103×104~118×104 m2 d hm–2和9~11 g m–2 d–1。花后21d和28 d,剑叶SPAD值、净光合速率、丙二醛(MDA)含量及3种抗氧化酶(CAT、POD和SOD)活性与产量相关性均达极显著水平。研究表明,稻–麦轮作体系中,扬麦20达到9000 kg hm–2产量水平的栽培技术关键点是获得适宜穗数的基础上,主攻每穗粒数与千粒重的协调增加,使群体在花前具有较高的光合面积和光合速率,花后光合面积衰减速率低,维持较高的光合面积,从而充分积累花后光合物质,在适宜库容基础上保障对库充实的需求。     

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.     

Genetic improvement of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Argentina: relationships between nitrogen and dry matter

Summary Changes in nitrogen (N) economy and N to dry matter (DM) relationships were studied for six cultivars of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) released in Argentina at different times between 1912 and 1980. Experiments were performed on two successive years.N partitioning to reproductive organs was changed both at anthesis and at maturity. Grain N yield (GNY) was associated to both total N accumulated and N partitioning. Most of the changes produced by genetic improvement on N economy at maturity could be explained by parallel changes at anthesis. Neither biological N yield (BNY) at anthesis nor BNY at maturity showed any trend with the year of release of the cultivars.Grain N concentration (GNC) showed a negative trend with the year of release, and was inversely correlated to both grain yield (GY) and harvest index (HI). However, GNC was positively and significantly associated with NHI to HI ratio, indicating that the main reason for its behaviour along this century was the dilution of N on non N compounds.The N utilization efficiencies (NUE) for both GY and grain number were positively affected by breeding. Moreover, modern Argentinian cultivars are as efficient as the best cultivars showed by other authors.It is suggested that to increase GNC together with GY, breeders should improve N accumulation at anthesis maintaining high remobilization of vegetative N.     

Pre-anthesis development and number of fertile florets in wheat as affected by photoperiod sensitivity genes <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ppd-D1</Emphasis>and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ppd-B1</Emphasis>

Lengthening the late reproductive phase (LRP) of stem elongation in wheat (Triticum aestivumL.), by changing its photoperiod sensitivity independently of the preceding phases, would improve the yield potential through increasing spike weight and the number of fertile florets at anthesis. This paper presents results of a two-year field experiment designed to determine the impact of Ppd-D1and Ppd-B1on (i) the duration of three pre-anthesis developmental phases, and (ii) spike weight and the number of fertile florets at anthesis under two photoperiods during the LRP (natural and an extension of six hours over that). Near isogenic lines of Mercia and single chromosome recombinant lines of Cappelle Desprez were used. Under natural photoperiod, Ppd-D1hastened time to anthesis ca. 500^∘C d in both backgrounds by reducing each of the three pre-anthesis phases. Ppd-B1hastened the time to anthesis under natural photoperiod by 178^∘C d, mainly by reducing the early reproductive phase. The response to photoperiod of the LRP under extended daylength depended on the Ppdlocus present: Ppd-D1was insensitive while Ppd-B1and the recessive controls were sensitive. For all lines, photoperiod treatments and years, the number of fertile florets was associated with spike dry weight at anthesis (R ²≅ 80%, p< 0.01) which, in turn, was positively related to the intercepted radiation accumulated during the LRP (R ² 45%, p< 0.05). Changing the duration of the LRP through extended photoperiod or through Ppd-D1produced similar results in both backgrounds and years. Thus, altering the duration of the LRP by manipulating photoperiod sensitivity may be an alternative to changing the fertile floret number in wheat. Nevertheless, as no particular allele was responsible for the photoperiod sensitivity only during the LRP, new alleles should be studied to identify the control of photoperiod sensitivity of individual phases to fine-tune the pre-anthesis wheat development.     

不同穗型小麦花后物质运转及产量对氮肥的响应

在大田条件下,以多穗型小麦‘烟农19’和大穗型小麦‘兰考矮早8’两个不同穗型的冬小麦为材料,研究了不同施氮量及氮肥基追比例对小麦营养器官花前贮藏同化物再运转,花后同化物输入籽粒量,产量及产量构成因素的影响。结果表明,氮肥水平在225~300 kg/hm2范围内,多穗型小麦‘烟农19’和大穗型麦‘兰考矮早8’籽粒产量的形成均以花后绿色器官光合同化为主,其次才是花前积累干物质的再动员分配。大穗型品种‘兰考矮早8’籽粒产量的形成较多穗型品种‘烟农19’更依赖于花后绿色器官同化,积累干物质再运转分配只占籽粒产量的15%左右。两种穗型品种小麦花前贮存物质再动员分配对籽粒产量的贡献都随着氮肥后移而降低。随着施氮量的增加,运转物质对籽粒产量的贡献率呈降低趋势。综合物质运转和产量表现,‘烟农19’施氮量300 kg/hm2,基追比例5:5时较适宜;‘兰考矮早8’施氮量262.5 kg/hm2,氮肥基追比例7:3时较适宜。     

Heterotic effects of wheat-rye chromosomal translocations on agronomic traits of hybrid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under an adequate moisture regime

Translocated chromosomes T1BL⋅1RS and T1AL⋅1RS have been widely used in many wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) breeding programs to develop high yielding cultivars. The objective of this study was to evaluate the heterotic effects of T1BL⋅1RS + T1AL⋅1RS, T1BL⋅1RS, and T1AL⋅1RS on yield and yield components of hybrid wheat grown under adequate moisture regimes. Thirteen hybrid wheats and seven parents with different chromosome constitutions relative to T1AL⋅1RS and T1BL⋅1RS were evaluated in a randomized complete block design. Variable performance was observed among the hybrids tested. Two of the three hybrids with T1BL⋅1RS + T1AL⋅1RS, produced 25.26% and 44.64% more grain than the hybrids with only T1BL⋅1RS. This was due to increased biomass, harvest index (HI) and spike density. However, the combination of these two translocations resulted in reduced kernels/spike, spikelets/spike and spike length compared to the T1BL⋅1R Stranslocation alone. When comparing closely related parents, the parent with T1AL⋅1RS produced 23.51% more grain yield than the non-translocated parent. The presence of T1AL⋅1RS resulted in 10.37% heterotic advantage for yield due to increased biomass, KW, and spike density. When the two wheat-rye translocated chromosomes are present in the same hybrid, T1AL⋅1RS seems to have a positive effect on yield through spike density and HI, but masks the effects of T1BL⋅1RS for some agronomic traits. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.