Path analysis of genotype × environment interactions in rainfed durum wheat

This study was investigated to analyze genotype × environment (GE) interactions for grain yield and its components and to investigate the mechanism by which the stability of grain yield is achieved in rainfed durum wheat. Twenty-four durum wheat genotypes (breeding lines, old, and new varieties) along with one old bread wheat cultivar were tested in 21 diversified rainfed environments during 2010–2013 cropping seasons. The data were analyzed by path analysis model which is composed of a main effect and four multiplicative effects. The flowering time (X1), maturity time (X2), plant height (X3), and 1000-kernel weight (X4) were assumed to be sequential characters for the development of grain yield productivity (Y) in rainfed durum wheat. A high relationship (p < .01) between observed and expected yields of genotypes in different environments confirmed the validity of the causal scheme adopted in the analysis. Comparison the estimates of components provided information on the degree of response of each genotype to the environmental stresses. The results indicated that higher grain yields are associated with higher kernel weight (v₄), which resulted from early flowering (v₁), and so more emphasis should be given to these traits for the improvement of yield potential in durum wheat under highland rainfed conditions of Iran. Positive correlation of stability variance (σ²) with v₄ component indicated that the kernel weight is the main contributor towards GE interaction for grain yield in rainfed durum wheat.     

Wheat stem sawfly (Cephus pygmaeus L.) damage; impacts on grain yield, quality and marketing prices in Anatolia

This study aimed to draw the attention of the all stake holders attention to an underestimated insect pest of wheat in Southeastern Anatolia. The field studies were carried out in the experimental field of GAP Training, Extension and Research Center in Koruklu in 2003–2004 cropping season.

It was found that the number of sawfly damaged spikes varied between 6 and 12% in durum wheat and 8 and 12% in bread wheat. Comparing healthy grains, grain weight spike⁻¹ decreased significantly, giving 0.430 g less kernel weight in durum wheat and 0.385 g in bread wheat. Some of the grain quality characteristics of both sawfly damaged and healthy spikes were tested and it was found that protein content (%) in durum wheat, and 1000 kernel weight in bread wheat were reduced significantly, whilst, the SDS sedimentation value in bread wheat increased significantly for sawfly damaged grains. Grain yield losses by sawfly infestation were found to be 2.23% in durum wheat and 3.32% in bread wheat. Marketing price studies showed that sawfly damage reduced it significantly, resulting in $ 0.016 kg⁻¹ less price in bread wheat. But this was not serious for durum wheat.

It was concluded that income loss, depending on grain yield loss, un-harvestable broken spikes and lower marketing price of sawfly damaged grains, could be no less than $ 68.8 ha⁻¹ in durum wheat and $ 68.6 ha⁻¹ for bread wheat. Therefore, some control methods are required for sawfly infestation, where damage is already over the economic threshold (10–15% stem cut by pest) especially in bread wheat.     

Variation in mineral micronutrient concentrations in grain of wheat lines of diverse origin

150 lines of bread wheat representing diverse origin and 25 lines of durum, spelt, einkorn and emmer wheat species were analysed for variation in micronutrient concentrations in grain. A subset of 26 bread wheat lines was grown at six sites or seasons to identify genetically determined differences in micronutrient concentrations. Substantial variation among the 175 lines existed in grain Fe, Zn and Se concentrations. Spelt, einkorn and emmer wheats appeared to contain higher Se concentration in grain than bread and durum wheats. Significant differences between bread wheat genotypes were found for grain Fe and Zn, but not Se concentration; the latter was influenced more by the soil supply. Grain Zn, but not Fe, concentration correlated negatively with grain yield, and there was a significant decreasing trend in grain Zn concentration with the date of variety release, suggesting that genetic improvement in yield has resulted in a dilution of Zn concentration in grain. Both grain Zn and Fe concentrations also correlated positively and significantly with grain protein content and P concentration, but the correlations with kernel size, kernel weight or bran yield were weak. The results from this study are useful for developing micronutrient biofortification strategies.     

Genotypic increases in coleoptile length improves stand establishment,vigour and grain yield of deep-sown wheat

Timely sowing is critical for achieving high grain yields in winter cereals. However, inadequate seed-zone moisture for germination commonly delays sowing to reduce biomass and subsequent yield in semi-arid environments. Sowing deep to reach soil moisture is often avoided by growers of Rht-B1b and Rht-D1b semi-dwarf wheat as these wheat show poor emergence when sown deep. Their reduced cell elongation associated with insensitivity to endogenous gibberellins, results in shorter coleoptiles and smaller early leaf area. Alternative dwarfing genes responsive to endogenous gibberellins (e.g. Rht8) are available for use in wheat breeding. These reduce plant height without affecting coleoptile length and offer potential to select longer coleoptile wheat for deep sowing. Nine semidwarf (Rht8, Rht-B1b, and Rht-D1b) and seven tall (rht) wheat genotypes were sown at depths of 50, 80 and 110 mm at three locations in 2 or 3 years. Coleoptile lengths measured in a growth cabinet at four temperatures (11, 15, 19 and 23 °C) were strongly correlated with coleoptile length (r_p = 0.77–0.79^**) and plant number (r_p = 0.49^*–0.79^**) in deep-sown plots in the field. Furthermore, differences in coleoptile length were genetically correlated with greater numbers of emerged seedlings (r_g = 0.97^**), shallower crown depth (−0.58^**), greater seedling leaf area (0.59^**) and seedling biomass (0.44^*). Wheat containing the Rht-B1b or Rht-D1b dwarfing genes produced significantly (P < 0.01) shorter coleoptiles (97 mm) than both Rht8 (118 mm) and tall (117 mm) wheat. In turn, compared with emergence from 50 mm depth, the Rht-B1b and Rht-D1b wheat produced significantly fewer seedlings at 110 mm sowing depth (−62%) than either Rht8 (−41%) or tall (−37%) wheat. Effects of deep sowing early in the season were maintained with reductions in spike number and biomass at both anthesis and maturity. Kernel number was also reduced with deep sowing leading to reductions in grain yield. Over all entries, genotypic increases in plant number were associated with increases in fertile spike (r_g = 0.61^**) and kernel number (0.21^*), total biomass (0.26^*) and grain yield (0.28^*). Reduction in spike number and grain yield with deep sowing was smallest for the Rht8 (−18 and −10%) and rht (−15 and −7%) wheat, and largest for the Rht-B1b/D1b (−39 and −16%) wheat. Plant height and coleoptile length were independent among Rht8 and tall wheat genotypes. This study demonstrates the importance of good seedling emergence in achieving high wheat yields, and the potential use of alternative dwarfing genes such as Rht8 in development of long coleoptile, reduced height wheat suitable for deep sowing.     

Grain cadmium and zinc concentrations in wheat as affected by genotypic variation and potassium chloride fertilization

Thirteen bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and two durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum) cultivars were grown over six site-years to identify differences in grain Cd and Zn concentrations, as affected by genotypic variation and soil application of potassium chloride (KCl) fertilizer. Application of KCl fertilizer did not consistently affect grain Cd concentration of wheat cultivars, but increased average grain yield and decreased average grain Zn in 4 of 6 site-years. However, soil type and year had significant effects on grain Cd and Zn, indicating a strong environmental effect on grain quality. Grain concentrations of Cd and Zn were generally lower for the clay loam (CL) than the fine sandy loam (FSL) soils. The wheat cultivars showed significant genotypic differences in grain concentrations of Cd and Zn, suggesting the potential of breeding to reduce Cd and increase Zn concentrations in grain. The two durum cultivars contained high concentrations of Cd but not Zn compared to the bread wheat. The interaction between cultivars and site-years was significant for grain Zn, but not for grain Cd, suggesting that grain Cd is a more stable trait than grain Zn across environments. Grain Zn and Cd were not related to each other but they both correlated negatively with grain yield. The lack of relationship between Zn and Cd suggests that breeding for enhanced Zn concentration can be attained without necessarily affecting grain Cd concentration. The negative relationship between Cd and Zn concentration and dry matter yield was likely the result of biological dilution, suggesting that genetic improvement leading to increased yield may concurrently decrease mineral concentration. Results of this study are useful to improve the mineral composition of wheat used for human consumption through the development of cultivars and use of agronomic management practices that increase Zn and/or reduce Cd concentrations in wheat grain.     

Effect of the grain protein content locus Gpc-B1 on bread and pasta quality

Grain protein concentration (GPC) affects wheat nutritional value and several critical parameters for bread and pasta quality. A gene designated Gpc-B1, which is not functional in common and durum wheat cultivars, was recently identified in Triticum turgidum ssp. dicoccoides. The functional allele of Gpc-B1 improves nitrogen remobilization from the straw increasing GPC, but also shortens the grain filling period resulting in reduced grain weight in some genetic backgrounds. We developed isogenic lines for the Gpc-B1 introgression in six hexaploid and two tetraploid wheat genotypes to evaluate its effects on bread-making and pasta quality. In common wheat, the functional Gpc-B1 introgression was associated with significantly higher GPC, water absorption, mixing time and loaf volume, whereas in durum wheat, the introgression resulted in significant increases in GPC, wet gluten, mixing time, and spaghetti firmness, as well as a decrease in cooking loss. On the negative side, the functional Gpc-B1 introgression was associated in some varieties with a significant reduction in grain weight, test weight, and flour yield and significant increases in ash concentration. Significant gene × environment and gene × genotype interactions for most traits stress the need for evaluating the effect of this introgression in particular genotypes and environments.     

不同小麦种质资源耐深播能力的差异

为筛选耐深播小麦种质资源,以国内部分育成品种、地方种质及引进种质共100份小麦材料为对象,测定了7和15cm两种播种深度下小麦出苗率、胚芽鞘长、地中茎长和苗高,研究了小麦耐深播相关性状之间的关系,对100份小麦种质的耐深播能力进行了聚类分析和等级划分。结果表明,播种深度从7cm增加到15cm,小麦出苗率显著降低,而胚芽鞘长、地中茎长及苗高却显著增加。在7cm播种深度下,小麦出苗率与苗高以及胚芽鞘长与地中茎总长之和呈正相关;在15cm播种深度下,小麦出苗率与胚芽鞘长、地中茎长、苗高以及胚芽鞘长与地中茎长之和均呈极显著正相关。100份小麦种质可划分为强耐深播、中等耐深播及弱耐深播3种类型,其中富尔纳尼、红春麦、红齐麦、青芒麦、陕地535、三道塘(有芒)、陇春31号等29份材料为强耐深播小麦种质。     

Grain yield,zinc efficiency and zinc concentration of wheat cultivars grown in a zinc-deficient calcareous soil in field and greenhouse

Field experiments were carried out to study grain yield, zinc (Zn) efficiency and concentrations of Zn in shoot and grain of 37 bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) and three durum wheat (Triticum durum) cultivars grown in a Zn-deficient calcareous soil with (23 kg Zn ha⁻¹), and without, Zn fertilization in 1993–1994 and 1994–1995. The same Zn-deficient soil was used in greenhouse experiments to study shoot dry weight, Zn efficiency and shoot Zn concentrations of 21 bread and three durum wheat cultivars (same cultivars used in the field experiments). Zinc fertilization of cultivars in the field enhanced grain yield on average by 30% in both years. Increases in grain yield to Zn fertilization varied substantially between cultivars from 8% to 76%. Accordingly, there was large variability in Zn efficiency of cultivars, expressed as the ratio of grain yield or shoot dry-matter yield produced under Zn deficiency compared to that under Zn fertilization. On average, Zn efficiency values ranged from 57% to 92% for grain yield in field experiments and from 47% to 83% for shoot dry weight in greenhouse experiments. Most of the cultivars behaved similarly in their response to Zn deficiency in the field and greenhouse. The cultivars selected from local landraces had both, a high Zn efficiency and high yield under Zn-deficient conditions. The bread wheat cultivars, improved for irrigated conditions, had generally low Zn efficiency and low yield, both in the field and greenhouse. All durum wheat cultivars in this study also showed low levels of Zn efficiency, grain yield and shoot dry weight under Zn deficiency. Overall, there was no relation between Zn efficiency values and Zn concentrations in grain or shoot dry matter. The results presented here demonstrate the existence of substantial variation in Zn efficiency among wheat cultivars, particularly bread wheat cultivars, and suggest that wheat landrace populations are a valuable source of genes to improve high Zn efficiency of wheat for Zn-deficient soils.     

Do barley and wheat (bread and durum) differ in grain weight stability through seasons and water-nitrogen treatments in a Mediterranean location?

Under Mediterranean environments, farmers usually prefer to sow barley rather than wheat as it is generally believed that barley yields more under stressful conditions. As terminal stresses such as high temperature and water are common constraints in Mediterranean regions, higher grain weight stability may confer a clear advantage in order to maintain higher yields. The objective of the present study was to compare the stability in terms of grain weight and its components for barley, bread wheat, and durum wheat, exploring a wide range of nitrogen and water availabilities in experiments conducted in a Mediterranean region. Grain weight ranged from 23.8 to 47.7 mg grain⁻¹, being higher for durum wheat than barley and bread wheat. Durum wheat presented higher variability both in maximum grain filling rate and duration of grain filling period than bread wheat or barley. The three species responded similarly in terms of grain nitrogen content to changes in the environmental conditions explored. It is concluded that in terms of grain weight barley is as stable as bread wheat. However, durum wheat presented a lower stability than barley and bread wheat.     

部分印度小麦品种矮秆基因的检测及其对部分性状的影响

为了解印度小麦品种中矮秆基因的分布特点,明确矮秆基因对株高和胚芽鞘长度的影响,本研究利用8个小麦矮秆基因的特异分子标记结合赤霉素处理,检测21份印度小麦品种中的矮秆基因,并结合田间株高调查和室内胚芽鞘长度测量评价了该批材料中各种矮秆基因对株高和胚芽鞘长度的影响。结果表明,21份印度小麦品种中均检测到了相关矮秆基因,且均含有两个及其以上矮秆基因,其中含有3个矮秆基因的材料有13份,含有4个矮秆基因的材料有3份。该批材料中矮秆基因Rht8和Rht4的分布频率较高,分别占66.7%和61.9%;含有Rht5和Rht-B1b的材料也较多,分别占57.1%和52.4%;未检测到含有Rht12和Rht13基因的材料。赤霉素处理结果表明,该批材料中对赤霉素敏感的有4份。胚芽鞘长度调查结果表明,大部分材料的胚芽鞘长度比中国春的长,其中13份材料的胚芽鞘显著长于中国春。田间株高调查结果显示,该批材料株高均显著低于中国春。以上结果表明,这21份印度小麦品种中的矮秆基因降低株高的效应较强,且对幼苗胚芽鞘无不利影响,适于旱地矮秆小麦改良利用。     

春小麦品种农艺性状的主成分分析与聚类分析

为给春小麦育种中品种资源的合理利用提供依据,选取国内外43个春小麦品种为试验材料,根据株高、主茎穗长、主茎穗小穗数、单株有效穗数、主茎穗粒数、抽穗期、散粉期、成熟期、单株粒数、单株粒重和千粒重11个农艺性状进行主成分及聚类分析。结果表明,通过主成分分析将11个农艺性状简化为彼此互不相关的5个主成分,即籽粒产量因子、成熟因子、有效穗数因子、穗长因子和千粒重因子,提供的信息量占全部信息量的90.05%。利用这5个主成分因子进行系统聚类,将43个春小麦品种划分为7大类群,其中第4类群的品种综合产量性状好。分类结果与品种系谱基本一致。     

Baking quality of emmer-derived durum wheat breeding lines

Durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum) is used predominantly for pasta products, but there is increasing interest in using durum for bread-making. The goal of this study was to assess the bread-making potential of 97Emmer19, an Emmer wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. dicoccum) and in breeding lines derived from crosses of 97Emmer19 with adapted durum wheat cultivars. 97Emmer19 and its progeny were evaluated in 2005 and 2006 along with five durum wheat cultivars. Three bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars were included as checks to provide a baseline of bread making quality observed in high quality bread wheat cultivars. 97Emmer19 exhibited higher LV than all the durum wheat checks and approached the LV achieved with the bread wheat cultivar ‘AC Superb’. Breeding lines derived from 97Emmer19 had higher LV than those of the durum wheat checks, confirming that this trait was heritable. In general, durum wheat cultivars with elevated gluten strength and/or increased dough extensibility were noted to have higher LV. Dough extensibility appeared to be a more critical factor as gluten strength increased. These results indicate that there is potential to select for genotypes with improved baking quality in durum breeding programs.     

小麦种质资源耐深播性评价体系研究

为建立准确、简单易行的种质资源耐深播评价体系,以15份耐深播能力存在不同程度差异的小麦种质为材料,在大田环境下,研究6个播种深度(5 cm、7 cm、9 cm、11 cm、13 cm、15 cm)下小麦出苗率、出苗时间、苗高、地中茎长、胚芽鞘长、胚芽鞘横截面积及初生根长的差异,筛选小麦耐深播评价的最佳播种深度及其密切相...     

播期推迟对冬小麦产量形成和籽粒品质的调控效应

为了明确推迟播期对小麦产量形成和品质的影响,选用2个冬小麦品种(轮选987和京冬8号),在大田条件下研究了播期推迟对小麦群体动态、物质积累、产量构成和籽粒品质的调控效应.结果表明,播期推迟能显著降低小麦冬前分蘖数,促进春季分蘖的发生和成穗,提高分蘖成穗率.播期对小麦植株干物质积累的影响存在基因型差异.播期推迟引起小麦产量构成因素的变化,进而导致籽粒产量下降,且京冬8号出现显著下降时对应的播期早于轮选987.播期推迟后小麦籽粒中的淀粉含量呈下降趋势,蛋白质含量呈上升趋势,同时二者的主要组成成份也随之改变.因此,冀东地区选用轮选987且适当早播(10月5日播种)可以获得高产;推迟播期至10月10日则籽粒品质提高,但要注意加强小麦生育后期的田间管理,防止粒重明显降低.     

Yield formation strategies of durum wheat landraces with distinct pattern of dispersal within the Mediterranean basin I: Yield components

This study was undertaken to ascertain whether the pattern of dispersal of durum wheat within the Mediterranean basin is associated with variation in phenology and yield formation strategies. A set of 52 durum wheat landraces, previously genetically characterized as been dispersed by the north or south of the Mediterranean region, were grown in three rainfed sites in a dry-temperate region (Lleida, NE Spain), and crop phenology, yield and yield components were determined. Northern genotypes had a larger number of stems per unit area, but a lower percentage of fertile tillers and fewer grains per spike than southern landraces. Grain yield for the northern dispersal group was mainly related to variations in thousand-kernel weight, while the number of spikes per m² was the component most highly correlated with yield among southern genotypes. These contrasting yield formation strategies are probably a consequence of the different climates prevalent in the zones of adaptation, and likely conferred adaptive advantages to the genotypes of one or the other group. Our results suggest that gradual changes in yield components occurred during the movement of durum wheat from east to west through the north side of the Mediterranean basin. According to our results, the weight of grains and the number of spikes per unit area may be selection criteria to improve adaptation for the northern and the southern parts of the Mediterranean basin, respectively.     

不同水旱地小麦品种聚类分析及其利用模式研究

为了合理利用小麦种质资源,减少组配小麦杂交组合的盲目性,选取34份在中国大面积推广种植的具有一定代表性的旱薄地、旱肥地、水肥地及水旱兼用型小麦材料,以株高、穗长、有效分蘖数、单穗小穗数、单穗粒数、单株粒重、单株生物学产量、千粒重为指标进行系统聚类分析.结果表明,参试品种可以分为3组,第Ⅰ组是节水高产型品种,可作为高产型亲本;第Ⅱ组耐旱性强的旱薄地品种,可作为改良耐旱性状的亲本材料;第Ⅲ组在旱作条件下综合表现较好,主要表现为有效分蘖多,株高适中,单株粒重、千粒重大,是较为理想的节水高产育种的亲本材料.研究表明,中国小麦育种已经从耐旱潜力的挖掘转向了节水高产潜力的挖掘,选育抗旱节水高产品种是现代育种模式发展的重要方向之一.     

小麦株高及其构成指数与产量及品质的相关性

为了给小麦栽培和品质育种提供参考,以15个小麦品种为材料,分析了不同基因型小麦品种株高及各节间长度、株高构成指数与产量及产量构成因素、蛋白质、湿面筋、淀粉含量的关系.结果表明,株高及各节间长度除穗下节间外与产量均呈负相关,除穗下节间外与蛋白质、湿面筋含量均呈正相关;穗下节间长度/节间总长、(穗下节间长+穗长)/株高与产量呈正相关,与穗粒数、单穗重呈极显著正相关,与蛋白质、湿面筋含量呈负相关;千粒重与株高、各节间长、穗下节间长度/节间总长、(穗下节间长度+穗长)/株高均呈负相关;株高构成指数与结实粒数、粒重、产量均呈正相关,与蛋白质、湿面筋含量呈二次曲线关系,节间构成指数与产量、蛋白质、湿面筋含量呈负相关,株高及节间构成指数与穗粒数、单穗重均呈正相关.穗下节间长度/节间总长、(穗下节间长+穗长)/株高、株高构成指数可以作为产量和品质协调的育种选择指标,强筋、中筋小麦应选择株高适中、抗倒性好、穗下节间不宜过长、株高构成指数IL<0.54的植株;弱筋小麦应选择株高偏矮、穗下节间较长、株高构成指数IL为0.56～0.58的植株.     

Yield and agronomic traits of Khorasan wheat (Triticum turanicum Jakubz.)

The consumer's interest in natural, unconventional and nutritional foods led to the development of new specialty foods based on grain blends. Components of such foods are often so-called ‘ancient wheats’ which were never the subject of modern plant breeding programmes. Khorasan or Oriental wheat (Triticum turanicum) is a neglected and underutilised tetraploid wheat species, which probably survived over the centuries in subsistence farming systems in the Near East and Central Asia. In the present study the agronomic potential of Khorasan wheat was evaluated under eastern Austrian conditions.Fourteen accessions of Khorasan wheat were investigated together with check durum wheat cultivars over a period of 4 years in the Marchfeld region, north-east of Vienna. The crops were sown both in autumn and spring.The investigated material was inferior to modern durum wheats in most agronomic traits. No accession was found to tolerate soil temperatures below −5 °C. Tolerance to drought and fungal diseases was limited and/or modest, and grain yields were significantly lower. While the best performing turanicum accessions yielded in average 385.8 and 233.8 g m⁻² for autumn and spring sowing, respectively, the check winter durum yielded 466.5 g m⁻² and the check spring durums between 351.5 and 391.8 g m⁻². Several characteristic and interesting features were observed which permit successful marketing of pure Khorasan grain or as a component in grain blends, despite possible flour quality traits. The grain has an impressive kernel size and thousand kernel weight, in most cases greater than 50 g and often even greater than 60 g. The high thousand kernel weight might be a valuable trait to transfer into durum wheat to improve grain yield. Moreover, the grain has an amber colour and high vitreousness.Due to higher plant height, low lodging tolerance and high susceptibility against powdery mildew, Khorasan wheat is more suitable for organic farming systems. Although there is evidence that Khorasan wheat has low adaptation, it is of interest as an alternative cereal to increase diversity both in the field and on the consumer's table. However, further experiments are necessary: on the one hand to study the interactions between sowing rates, sowing dates, weed suppression, thousand kernel weight and kernel plumpness in order to find out optimal production procedures, and on the other hand to find out areas/fields with the best growth conditions for Khorasan wheat.     

意大利硬粒小麦和面包小麦推广品种对白粉病的抗性

本文介绍了意大利近年来小麦主要推广品种（80个硬粒小麦品种和7 3个面包小麦品种）1992－1996年在田间对白粉病的成株抗性情况，和13个意大利硬粒小麦和20个面包小麦品种及11个中国小麦品种（系）用意大利10个主要菌系进行的苗期抗性鉴定情况。在田间成株抗性监测中，12．2％和58．9％的硬粒小麦品种和面包小麦器分别表现抗病或中抗；在苗期抗性鉴定中，参试的很多中国品种（系）对大部分意大利菌株表现免疫、近免疫或高抗。由于意大利小麦品种或含有其亲本血缘的中国品种曾经在我国小麦育种和生产中起过比较重要的作用，因此希望这些信息对育种和植病工作者有所帮助。     

播期对冬小麦产量和抗倒性能的影响

为明确播期对高产小麦抗倒性的调控效应,以大穗型小麦品种泰农18和多穗型小麦品种山农15为材料,设置早播(10月1日)、传统播期(10月8日)和适期晚播(10月15日)三个播期,研究了播期对冬小麦抗倒性相关形态学指标、抗倒指数以及籽粒产量的影响。结果表明,播期对冬小麦的抗倒性有显著影响,与早播和传统播期相比,适期晚播小麦的基部节间长、株高和茎秆重心高度显著降低;小麦茎秆基部第二节间壁厚显著增厚,充实度增加,显著提高了茎秆机械强度。相关分析表明,小麦抗倒指数与重心高度呈显著负相关,与机械强度呈显著正相关(相关系数分别为-0.91**和0.99**)。逐步回归分析表明,播期对小麦基部第二节间长和株高的调控均极显著影响植株的重心高度,并通过影响基部节间充实度影响机械强度。适期晚播小麦单位面积有效穗数减少,穗粒数增加,千粒重维持不变,可获得与早播和传统播期处理相当水平的籽粒产量。因此,适期晚播可在显著增强小麦抗倒能力的同时获得高产。