Wheat Cultivar Susceptibility to Grain Damage by the New Zealand Wheat Bug,Nysius huttoni,and Cultivar Susceptibility to the Effects of Bug Proteinase on Baking Quality

Immature wheat grain in New Zealand is attacked sporadically by the native insect (bug),Nysius huttoni.This ‘bug-damaged wheat’ contains a bug salivary proteinase, and bread made from this wheat has a characteristically poor loaf volume and texture. Historical baking data suggest variations in wheat cultivar susceptibility to bug damage. This suggestion was tested in two trials (1992/1993 and 1993/1994) on immature wheat using nine or seven New Zealand cultivars and breeding lines enclosed together in nylon mesh cages with and withoutN. huttoni.Visible damage, bug-proteinase levels, electrophoretic protein patterns, and baking properties of the grain were analysed. Both trials showed that susceptibility to bug damage was significantly different amongst cultivars and breeding lines. The ranking of cultivar susceptibility was the same for the two trials, except for cv. Arawa, which was one of the most susceptible cultivars in the first trial, but one of the least susceptible in the second trial. Cultivars Domino and Oroua consistently showed less susceptibility to bug attack. The breeding line WW378 and the cultivar Otane were the most susceptible to bug attack. The high quality bread wheats (Otane, Oroua, Domino and Batten) were less susceptible to the effects of bug proteinase in baking than the poor baking quality wheats (Karamu, WW378, ASPS9927 and ASPS9928). Batten was significantly less susceptible than any other cultivar in test baking. There was no relationship between bug-damage susceptibility and grain characters such as colour, hardness and texture, or head characters such as shape, awns and waxiness.     

Continuous Spectrophotometric Assay and Properties of Ascorbic Acid Oxidising Factors in Wheat

A continuous spectrophotometric assay was developed to measure ascorbic acid oxidation in crude Na₂SO₄ extracts of flour. The rate of ascorbic acid oxidation in flour extracts measured using this method was similar to the rate in flour-water suspensions and 2–4 fold less than the rate in dough measured using an indophenol-xylene extraction method. Flour extracts appeared to contain two ascorbic acid oxidising factors; one with optimal activity at pH 6·3 and 30 °C and the other with optimal activity at pH 10 and 40 °C. The pH 6·3 factor had properties similar to those of ascorbate oxidase (EC 1·10·3·3) in its pH and temperature stability, strong inhibition by NaN₃, KCN and diethyldithiocarbamate, inactivation by proteases, and greater stereospecificity towards -ascorbic acid than -isoascorbic acid. The pH 6·3 factor was most concentrated in the pollard milling fraction of wheat and was lowest in flour. The pH 10 factor had several properties indicating non-enzymic oxidation of ascorbic acid; it was not inactivated by proteases, it was inhibited poorly or not at all by the above ascorbate oxidase inhibitors, and it had low specificity for stereoisomers of ascorbic acid.     

Fruit properties and genetic diversity of five ber (Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk) cultivars

The present study was conducted on five ber (Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk) cultivars (Komethry, Pakstany, Um-sulaem, Toffahy and Peyuan) grown in Saudi Arabia during 2005 and 2006 seasons. The aim of the present study was to investigate fruit properties (fruit weight, length, diameter, shape, specific gravity, seed weight, pulp percentage, total soluble solids (TSS), acidity percentage, TSS/acid, vitamin C content total, reducing and non-reducing sugars). Peyuan cv. had the heaviest fruit weight, fruit volume and reducing sugar content however, it was the lowest in pulp percentage and non-reducing sugars among the five cultivars in both seasons. Toffahy cv. had highest fruit diameter and seed weight while, had lowest TSS %, vitamin C and total sugars values. Um-sulaem cv. had highest acidity percentage and vitamin C content and lowest fruit weight, length and TSS/acid. On the other hand, Pakstany cv. had highest percentage of both pulp percentage, TSS, total and non-reducing sugars. Finally, Komethry had the longest fruit. The molecular characterization and fingerprint identification of the ber cultivars was conducted using the ISSR (Inter-Simple Sequence Repeats) technique. The ISSR technique was able to uniquely characterize and differentiate between the five ber genotypes. Moreover, the genetic similarity tree showed that the cultivar Um-slaem is genetically distant from the other four cultivars and the two cultivars Pakstany and Komethry were genetically identical.     

Effects of white clover cultivar and companion grass on winter survival of seedlings in autumn-sown swards

The aim was to study the effects of white clover cultivar and combinations with perennial ryegrass cultivars on seedling establishment in autumn‐sown swards and on winter survival of seedlings. Large‐leaved white clover cv. Alice and small‐leaved white clover cv. Gwenda, and an erect and a prostrate perennial ryegrass cultivar were sown in autumn in pure stands and as four binary grass‐clover mixtures. Mixtures of white clover cv. Huia and Aberherald with perennial ryegrass were also sown. Companion grasses had no significant impact on the establishment of white clover. The number of seedlings of white clover cv. Alice in mixtures (335 m^?2) was higher than cv. Gwenda (183 m^?2) and pure swards had similar white clover population densities as mixed swards. White clover cv. Huia tended to have more seedlings than Aberherald (355 and 205 m^?2 respectively). No stolons were produced prior to a severe winter, because of the late sowing date. Winter survival of clover seedlings was 0·56 in mixtures and 0·69 in pure stands, irrespective of white clover or companion grass cultivar. Stolon development of white clover in autumn is often considered essential for overwintering survival and spring growth. In this study, there was considerable survival of the non‐stoloniferous tap‐rooted seedlings of all four clover cultivars despite a severe winter.     

Seed development and seed yield potential of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) populations

Greenhouse and field experiments were carried out to study the seed development and seed yield potential of three populations of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.). These included an ecotype (Bb 1276) collected in the Lombardy Plain region of northern Italy, cv. Tribune, which was derived from this ecotype, and cv. Lemtal, a widely used cultivar from Belgium. Artificial seed shedding techniques in the green-house study showed that Bb 1276 began shedding seed at a higher moisture content than cv. Tribune which in turn was higher than cv. Lemtal. The pattern and rate of shedding was similar for all three populations and generally Bb 1276 and cv. Tribune gave a greater proportion of shed seed than cv. Lemtal. Although the pattern of decline in seed moisture content was similar for all three populations, generally cv. Lemtal had a higher moisture content than cv. Tribune with Bb 1276 the lowest. Cultivar Lemtal had the highest mean 1000 seed weight, and Bb 1276 the lowest, with cv. Tribune intermediate. The field study involving cv. Tribune and cv. Lemtal showed that with the exception of 1000 seed weight, which for cv. Tribune was some 6% lower than that of cv. Lemtal, all the seed yield components were similar. Seed yields taken every 3 days after the standing crop had reached 50% moisture content showed that both cultivars increased in yield until harvest 3. After this date the seed yield of cv. Lemtal remained stable up to harvest 5 while that of cv. Tribune declined. The maximum seed yield of cv. Tribune was achieved at a seed moisture content of 42·9% while that of cv. Lemtal remained stable from 42·3% to 37·5%. The seed moisture content of the two cultivars again showed a similar pattern of decline but it was not possible to show consistent differences between cv. Lemtal and cv. Tribune. The 1000 seed weight of cv. Tribune was lower than that of cv. Lemtal, and the maximum seed weight of cv. Tribune appeared to be achieved earlier. Germination counts taken after harvest showed both populations exhibiting a high level of post harvest dormancy. Later counts taken 3 months after harvest were significantly higher than those taken earlier and there were no differences between cultivars or harvests. The results are discussed in relation to the potential for selecting for improved seed yield potential in Lolium multiflorum Lam. Populations from northern Italy and suggestions are made for maximizing the harvested seed yield of cv. Tribune.     

Competition in perennial ryegrass–white clover mixtures under cutting. 1. Dry-matter yield, species composition and nitrogen fixation

Persistence of white clover (Trifolium repens) in mixtures was studied in a long-term experiment. Mixtures of two cultivars of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) with contrasting growth habits and three white clover cultivars differing in leaf size were sown in 1991 and evaluated at two cutting frequencies. During 1995 and 1996 mixtures with large-leaved white clover cv. Alice had the highest dry-matter (DM) content, clover and N yield, and the highest white clover content, and mixtures with medium-leaved Retor the lowest, whereas mixtures with small-leaved Gwenda yielded most grass DM. In 1995 averaged over cutting treatments and mixtures, the mixtures yielded 11·8 t DM ha^?1 with a white clover content of 0·6; the apparent N fixation was 393 kg N ha^?1. In 1996 these values declined to 8·5 t DM ha^?1, 0·48 white clover and 236 kg N ha^?1. There was no significant effect of cutting frequency on DM yield or white clover content, whereas the effects of grass cultivar were not consistent. In spring there was a peak in the DM production of the mixtures, coinciding with a peak in production of the grass component. However, in summer and autumn the seasonal pattern of DM production of the mixtures was similar to that of the white clover component. Both cultivars of perennial ryegrass showed the same seasonal response, but the seasonal growth pattern of white clover differed slightly between clover cultivars and cutting treatments. In later years only one cutting frequency was imposed, and no yield measurements were taken. White clover was judged to have performed well during 1997; the clover content in September was very high (0·76), whereas in October 1998 it was 0·45. Mixtures with Alice contained most white clover. Despite fluctuations in white clover content during 1991–98, all clover cultivars had persisted 7 years after sowing, irrespective of companion grass cultivar, at both cutting treatments.     

Rapid Tests of Wheat Nutritive Value for Growing Chickens

Two series of broiler chicken feeding experiments quantified the differences in growth performance of broiler chickens fed either six different U.K. wheat cultivars from one harvest year or six wheat samples that comprised two cultivars (Dean and Beaver) each grown in three harvest years. Differences in broiler growth performance were compared to four rapid tests of wheat quality (specific weight, Hagberg falling number, water-extract viscosity and endosperm hardness) and the determined true metabolisable energy. Broilers fed the cultivar Dean had higher (P<0·001) weight gains and lower (P<0·05) feed conversion ratios compared to those fed Beaver. Samples from a harvest year (1992) in which there was high rainfall in the month during which harvest occurred resulted in lower (P<0·05) broiler feed conversion ratios. Endosperm hardness and water-extract viscosity were both linearly related (P<0·05) to differences in broiler feed conversion ratios but there was no (P>0·05) reduction in unaccountable variation from including both variables in a multiple regression analysis. The measurement of endosperm hardness by near infra-red spectroscopy is rapid and has the potential to be used to discriminate nutritive value between wheat samples on their arrival at poultry feed mills.     

6-BA对Hg2+胁迫下小麦幼苗渗透调节物质及抗氧化特性的影响

为探讨6-苄氨基腺嘌呤(6-BA)对Hg2+胁迫下小麦幼苗生长的调节作用,采用营养液水培法,以小麦品种807为材料,分析了叶面喷施不同浓度的6-BA对Hg2+胁迫下小麦幼苗叶片中渗透调节物质含量、抗氧化酶活性及抗氧化物质含量的影响。结果表明,50mg·L-1 HgCl2处理后,小麦幼苗叶片的可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白含量显著降低,过氧化物酶(POD)和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性下降,还原型抗坏血酸(AsA)和还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量显著降低。叶面喷施一定浓度的6-BA能够提高Hg2+胁迫下小麦幼苗叶片的可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白含量,显著提高小麦幼苗叶片的POD、SOD活性和AsA、GSH含量,降低脱氢抗坏血酸(DHA)和氧化型谷胱甘肽(GSSG)含量,提高小麦幼苗叶片的AsA/DHA和GSH/GSSG比值,从而缓解Hg2+胁迫对小麦幼苗生长的抑制作用。叶面喷施10mg·L-1 6-BA对缓解小麦幼苗Hg2+胁迫效果最好。     

Phenolic acid profiles of Chinese wheat cultivars

Phenolic acid concentrations were determined in 37 Chinese commercial winter wheat cultivars grown at a single site over two seasons, and fractions comprising free and bound types were analyzed using HPLC with measurements of individual phenolic acids in each fraction. Most of the parameters were significantly influenced by cultivar, season, and their interaction effects, with cultivar variance being predominant. Wide ranges of concentration among the 37 cultivars were observed. The average concentration of bound type was 661 μg g⁻¹ of dm, making up 97.5% of the phenolic acid determined with ferulic accounting for 70.7% of it, while free type made up only 2.5% of the phenolic acid determined with syringic accounting for 44.7% of it. Bound type was the predominant source to the grain phenolic acid concentrations determined. There were highly significant and positive correlations between bound ferulic concentration and total bound phenolic acid concentration, and between free syringic concentration and total free phenolic acid concentration. Cultivars Liangxing 66 and Zhongmai 895 were stable in concentration of components of phenolic acids across seasons, with high values of free and bound phenolic acids indicating they could be selected as parents in wheat breeding for health beneficial phenolic acid.     

Phenolic acid profiles of Chinese wheat cultivars

Phenolic acid concentrations were determined in 37 Chinese commercial winter wheat cultivars grown at a single site over two seasons, and fractions comprising free and bound types were analyzed using HPLC with measurements of individual phenolic acids in each fraction. Most of the parameters were significantly influenced by cultivar, season, and their interaction effects, with cultivar variance being predominant. Wide ranges of concentration among the 37 cultivars were observed. The average concentration of bound type was 661 μg g⁻¹ of dm, making up 97.5% of the phenolic acid determined with ferulic accounting for 70.7% of it, while free type made up only 2.5% of the phenolic acid determined with syringic accounting for 44.7% of it. Bound type was the predominant source to the grain phenolic acid concentrations determined. There were highly significant and positive correlations between bound ferulic concentration and total bound phenolic acid concentration, and between free syringic concentration and total free phenolic acid concentration. Cultivars Liangxing 66 and Zhongmai 895 were stable in concentration of components of phenolic acids across seasons, with high values of free and bound phenolic acids indicating they could be selected as parents in wheat breeding for health beneficial phenolic acid.     

Effect of germination and subsequent oven-drying on folate content in different wheat and rye cultivars

Cereals are recognised as an important food source of folate, and germinated cereals are reported to contain even more folate. This study examined the effects of germination and oven-drying on folate content in different wheat and rye cultivars. The native folate content in four wheat cultivars ranged from 23 to 33 μg/100 g dry matter (DM) and that in six rye cultivars from 31 to 39 μg/100 g DM. Mean folate content in rye was 25% higher than in wheat. Germination of both cereals resulted in a 4- to 6-fold increase in folate content, depending on cultivar and duration of germination. The highest folate content in both cereals was found after 96 h of germination and was 181 μg/100 g DM for cv. Kaskelott (rye) and 155 μg/100 g DM for cv. Kosack (wheat). Germination increased the amount of 5-CH₃–H₄folate in both cereals from 45 to 75%. Oven-drying of germinated wheat grains (for 48 and 72 h) at 50 °C did not affect the folate content. In conclusion, germination increases the folate content in wheat and rye cultivars, while subsequent oven-drying does not affect the folate content. Germination can therefore be recommended for producing bakery ingredients with increased folate content.     

施氮量对强筋小麦产量、氮素利用率和品质的影响

为探明协同提高强筋小麦产量、氮素利用率和品质的施氮量,以强筋小麦品种济麦20（中穗型）和洲元9369（大穗型）为材料, 研究了180、240和300 kg·hm^-2三个氮肥水平（分别用N180、N240和N300表示）对强筋小麦产量、氮素利用率、品质及其相关指标的影响。结果表明,相同施氮量下,洲元9369的产量、氮素利用率、面团形成时间、面团稳定时间、面包体积和面包评分均高于济麦20。当施氮量由N180增至N240时,2个品种的产量无显著变化,但沉降值、面团形成时间、面团稳定时间、面包体积和面包评分均显著提高;施氮量增至N300后,2个品种的产量和品质又都显著下降,籽粒总蛋白含量、谷蛋白含量、SDS-不可溶性谷蛋白含量、醇溶蛋白含量和谷蛋白聚合指数均明显降低,而SDS-可溶性谷蛋白含量和谷醇比却表现为上升趋势。经相关分析,SDS-不可溶性谷蛋白含量、谷蛋白聚合指数与面团形成时间、面团稳定时间、面包体积和面包评分均呈显著正相关。以上结果表明,谷蛋白聚合程度降低是过量施氮条件下强筋小麦品质下降的主要原因。综合考虑小麦产量、氮素利用率和籽粒品质,240 kg·hm^-2为本研究条件下的最佳施氮量。     

Effects of region and cultivar on alkylresorcinols content and composition in wheat bran and their antioxidant activity

This study evaluated the effects of cultivar and region on the composition of alkylresorcinols (ARs) of 24 wheat bran samples from 6 cultivars grown in four locations (Bath, Nairn, Palmerstone and Ridgetown) in Ontario (ON), Canada, using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Total phenolic content (TPC) of wheat bran extracts was determined by the Folin–Ciocalteau method and the antioxidant activity of wheat bran extracts was measured by 2, 2-Dipheny-1-picryhydrazyl radical (DPPH) scavenging activity and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC). The highest ARs content (μg/g) was found in cultivars Emmit (1522), Harvard (1305), Warthog (1170), and Superior (853), grown in Ridgetown. The relative saturated and unsaturated ARs (%) were 89 and 11, respectively. Total ARs content, their composition, TPC and antioxidant activity of wheat bran extracts were significantly (P < 0.05) affected by location and cultivar and their interaction. TPC, %DPPH_dis, and ORAC values for different wheat bran sample extracts ranged from 3 to 58 (mg FAE/g), 5 to 68 (%), and 6 to 94 (μmol TE/g), respectively. Our work provides a detailed examination of region and cultivar effects on potential of ARs in wheat bran and the results can be used for screening and breeding purposes.     

不同生态条件下品种和施氮量对冬小麦产量及氮肥利用效率的影响

为给河南省不同生态区域小麦氮肥高效利用提供理论依据,于2012-2013年在南阳和信阳2个地点,2013-2014年南阳、信阳和郑州3个地点,通过田间试验研究了施氮量对10个小麦品种产量和氮肥利用效率的影响。结果表明,小麦产量和氮肥利用效率均显著受品种、地点和施氮水平的影响,同时显著存在品种×地点和地点×施氮量的互作效应;其中,品种效应相对较小,地点对产量和氮肥农学利用效率的影响较大,施氮水平对氮肥偏生产力的调控效应最大。10个品种中,周麦28在各地点均获得了较高的产量和氮肥偏生产力,表现出较好的适应性。3个地点中,郑州和南阳的小麦产量和氮肥偏生产力均显著高于信阳,而信阳具有较高的氮肥农学利用效率,说明适量的氮肥供给对于信阳改善小麦生产非常重要。增施氮肥可以显著提高小麦产量,但降低了氮肥偏生产力和氮肥农学利用效率,且不同地点和品种对施氮水平的响应存在差异。综合各品种产量和氮肥利用效率对施氮水平的响应,在3个地点小麦在较低施氮水平(120kg·hm-2)下均可达到高产高效的生产目标,但各地点也存在需要高氮肥投入的小麦品种,如郑州的郑麦3596、南阳的洛麦24及信阳的西农509和宛麦16。     

Salt Sensitivity of Acetic Acid-Extractable Proteins of Wheat Flour

The sensitivities of flour proteins to precipitation by NaCl at acid pH were investigated by extraction with 0·05macetic acid solution containing varying concentrations of salt and by precipitation of the proteins extractable in acetic acid solution by addition of salt to varying concentrations. Flours of two Canadian hard red spring wheat cultivars (Glenlea and Katepwa) were used because of their different dough strengths. Electrophoresis results showed that as the NaCl concentration was raised, higherM_rproteins of gliadins and glutenins were less extractable and were more easily precipitated. This tendency was more evident for the proteins of cv. Glenlea than those of cv. Katepwa, indicating that the former (stronger) is more sensitive to NaCl than the latter. SDS–PAGE results indicated that differences in the molecular size and subunit composition (i.e.relative proportion of high:lowM_rglutenin subunits, and relative proportion of x-:y-type highM_rglutenin subunits) of glutenin polymer contribute to differences in NaCl sensitivity. The differences appear to be related to the baking strength of the flour.     

小麦新品种郑麦9694配粉特性的研究

用小麦新品种郑麦9694与优质强筋小麦郑麦9023进行配粉,测定粉质仪参数和馒头加工品质,结果表明,郑麦9694的馒头加工品质较好,随着郑麦9023添加比例的增加,可使馒头的比容、宽高比、内部结构、弹性、韧性、黏性和食味得分显著提高,总分有了一定的提高;但郑麦9023的添加超过一定的比例后,馒头比容、内部结构和弹性得分则又下降了,表面色泽虽然没有变化,但表面结构得分则随着郑麦9023比例的增加呈下降趋势。最适宜的配粉比例为70∶30,即在郑麦9694中搭配30%的郑麦9023,其湿面筋含量、粉质仪参数等达到优质馒头粉标准,可显著改善馒头的加工和制作品质。     

盐胁迫对小麦根系氧化损伤及细胞程序性死亡的影响

为探究小麦根系响应盐胁迫逆境的生理机制,以耐盐性不同的三个春小麦品种新春11号(高耐)、新春29号(中耐)和新春6号(盐敏感)为材料,分析300 mmol·L~(-1)NaCl胁迫对耐盐性不同的小麦品种根系生长、活性氧含量、抗氧化酶活性及细胞程序性死亡的影响。结果表明,与对照相比,盐胁迫下三个品种根长显著下降,根系干、鲜重均呈下降趋势,新春11号和新春29号变化幅度较小,而新春6号变化幅度相对较大;根尖中超氧阴离子产生速率保持增长趋势,耐盐性强的品种上升速率慢于耐盐性弱的品种,过氧化氢含量先增后降,最后与对照基本相同。超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活性均在盐胁迫初期快速上升,胁迫30min后开始下降。SOD活性在耐盐性强的小麦品种中显著升高,而APX活性在耐盐性弱的品种中则显著升高。Evans Blue染色结果发现,随着盐胁迫时间的增加,死亡细胞数目逐渐增多。聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳显示,盐胁迫4h后即可检测到DNA片段化的发生,表明NaCl胁迫对小麦造成氧化损伤,诱导小麦根尖发生细胞程序性死亡。     

Differential resistance to tuber late blight in potato cultivars without R-genes

Summary In 1983 and 1984 there were reports in Norway of more severe late blight infection than usual on tubers of cv. Pimpernel, a cultivar without R-genes known to be somewhat resistant to both haulm and tuber infection. Results from routine tests confirmed earlier experience that cv. Pimpernel shows stable resistance to tuber late blight, although the ranking of cultivars may vary between years. In experiments during three harvest seasons tubers of different cultivars were inoculated with isolates ofP. infestans obtained from stocks of cv. Pimpernel with severe tuber late blight and with other isolates. In these experiments the isolates from cv. Pimpernel caused more rot on tubers of Pimpernel than did other isolates.     

Wheat Superoxide Dismutase Isoenzymes

Evidence was obtained indicating that the superoxide dismutase (SOD) A and B isoenzymes of the wheat cultivar Tonic are of the Cu/Zn type, whereas the SOD–C group are similar to manganese containing dismutases. Heat inactivation plots showed that the enzymic activity in crude extracts was relatively stable up to 50°C. The thermodynamic parameters enthalpy, ΔH#, free energy, ΔG#, and entropy, ΔS#, were estimated for the thermal inactivation of extracted SOD activity and a purified SOD–C isoenzyme. The SOD-C isoenzyme was purified extensively and shown to contain two closely related tetrametic isozymes (pI6·0 and 6·1) ofM_r80 000. AM_rof 20 000 has been calculated for the subunits. TheN-terminal amino acid sequence of the purified SOD–C could be aligned with that of the Mn–SOD enzyme of maize and showed 57% homology.     

Responses of the First Internodes of Hong Mang Mai Wheat to Ethylene,Gibberellins and Potassium

Abstract

Seedlings of Hong Mang Mai wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) emerge from much deeper in the soil than do other cultivars by elongating their first internode. We examined the roles of ethylene, gibberellins (GA) and potassium in the elongation of the first internode in wheat cultivars. Although ethylene stimulated the elongation of the first internode of Hong Mang Mai in the dark, the ethylene evolution and the expression level of ethylene-receptor-like gene of this cultivar were not greater than those of other cultivars.

In Hong Mang Mai, gibberellin A₃ (GA₃) substantially stimulated the elongation of the first internode in the dark. Maximum elongation of the first internode was obtained by GA₃ at the concentrations of 2.89 × 10^–6 to 2.89 × 10^–7 M. This cultivar responded markedly to gibberellins A₁ and A₃ by elongating the first internode in the dark. A mixture of gibberellins A₄ and A₇ (GA₄₊₇) was not effective in inducing the elongation. Haruhikari, a cultivar having no GA -insensitive-reducing-height (Rht) genes, substantially responded to GA₃, but other cultivars did not. The differences in the sensitivity to GA could account, at least in part, for the varietal differences in the elongation of the first internode in wheat. Takune-komugi, a cultivar whose first internode elongates in response to ethylene, did not respond to GA₃. Thus, there are different mechanisms for the GA- and ethylene-stimulated elongation of the first internode in wheat.

Also, it was suggested that potassium uptake from the soil might function together with endogenous GA in inducing the elongation of the first internode in Hong Mang Mai wheat.