油菜发育过程及生育期机理模型的研究Ⅰ.模型的描述

将油菜发育的温度效应曲线化,以发育生理生态过程为基础,利用作物生理发育时间为尺度,系统地预测油菜的物候发育,包括出苗期、现蕾期、始花期、终花期、成熟期.模型中用来描述特定品种发育遗传差异的参数有温度敏感性、生理春化时间、光周期敏感性、基本营养生长期因子和基本灌浆期因子,前三者分别体现了不同油菜品种在热效应、春化作用、光周期反应方面的遗传特性,后两者分别体现了不同油菜品种的基本的营养生长期和灌浆期长短的遗传特性,5个遗传参数共同决定了不同品种到达各发育阶段的生理发育时间.     

Rice crop duration and leaf appearance rate in a variable thermal environment. II. Comparison of genotypes

Rice crop duration in tropical-arid, irrigated environments, such as the Sahel, varies strongly among seasons and years. For rice double-cropping systems, cultivars are needed that have a stable duration under variable daylengths and temperatures. No efficient selection tools are currently available to screen for comparatively thermo- and photoperiod-insensitive cultivars, and little is known about the genetic diversity of rice in this respect. A previous study presented a model that disaggregates photothermal effects on rice phenology for the different crop development stages and the two main factors, daylength and temperature. The present study characterizes differences in the photothermal response of 18 rice lines for three major phases of their development, namely, germination, the appearance of early leaves, and the induction phase (IP) between the end of the basic vegetative phase (BVP) and panicle initiation (PI). A field experiment was conducted at Ndiaye in Senegal, using 11 staggered sowing dates at 15 day intervals. Three check cultivars were replicated four times per date, and the others were not replicated. Phenological observations included leaf tip appearance rates on a daily basis, and heading and flowering dates. Water and air temperatures were also monitored. The duration from seed soaking to the appearance of the first leaf depended linearly on water temperature, with a base temperature of about 8°C. No differences were observed among lines. The appearance rate of the first to the fourth leaf had an optimum temperature (T_opt) between 22°C and 25°C, with significant differences between lines. Lines with low T_opt had high maximal leaf appearance rates during seedling stage. The quantitatively most important component of the seasonal variability of crop duration was IP, which depended on temperature and photoperiod. Photoperiodic and temperature effects were disaggregated using an empirically based model leaf appearance (LAP), which, by way of parametrization, helped quantify genotypic differences. The photothermal differences between lines were associated with adaptation to specific seasons. Lines such as IR13240-108-2-2-3, which is adapted to several seasons, were comparatively insensitive to photoperiod and temperature. That line also had a low T_opt and a high Leaf Appearance. In conclusion, screening for temperature-insensitive leaf appearance rates may be promising for rice breeding for arid, irrigated environments. Selection for combined low thermal and photoperiod sensitivity, however, would be impractical on an experimental basis, and would therefore require genetic markers.     

Effect of incandescent and fluorescent lighting used in photoperiod extension on the vegetative growth and floral development of four lines of pigeonpea

The effects of light quality, as used in photoperiod extension, on vegetative growth and floral development of pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] were studied using three photoperiod-insensitive lines, QPL2, Prabhat, and Hunt, and one photoperiod-sensitive line, Royes. Plants were grown in controlled-environment cabinets under day/night temperature regimes of 24/16°C (low) and 28/24°C (high) for 72 days after emergence (DAE). The five light treatments consisted of 12 and 16-h photoperiods and a 12-h photoperiod extended to 16 h with low-intensity lighting from either incandescent (I), fluorescent (F), or incandescent plus fluorescent (I+F) lamps.Little genetic variation occurred in vegetative response (main stem length and node number, leaf area and shoot dry weight) to extension light source. Response varied with temperature, plant age and growth stage. Main stem node appearance and stem extension tended to decline following floral initiation (FI), whereas leaf area and shoot dry weight accumulation increased rapidly after 35 or 42 DAE, irrespective of whether plants were vegetative or floral. Plants were larger under the high-temperature regime. Temperature altered plant response to extension light source. I-extension promoted growth under both temperature regimes, whilst I+F promoted growth under high temperatures but was unexpectedly inhibitory under low. Under high temperatures F extension was inhibitory prior to FI, but promoted later growth during floral bud development (FBD). Under low temperatures, F-extension was not inhibitory during the pre-initiation phase.The four genotypes differed in their floral response to extension light source, the effect on initiation and development of floral primordia varying dependent upon temperature. Low temperatures resulted in sensitivity to extension light source, delaying FI and FBD. In Royes, failure to initiate under low temperatures was associated with small plant size (≤3.5 g shoot dry weight). High temperatures tended to negate the delaying effects of extension light source, but resulted in photoperiod sensitivity, delaying FI in the early-flowering lines QPL-2 and Prabhat. Under high temperatures, Royes was insensitive (FI and FBD) to extensions containing incandescent light (I, I+F). Under high temperatures, time of flowering was least affected by incandescent extensions (I, I+F), and most by F-extension, which delayed FBD in all lines. Under low temperatures, I+F extensions resulted in the greatest variation in flowering time.It was concluded that where heterogeneity exists in floral response to the intensity and/or quality of light, use of artificial lighting to select for photoperiod sensitivity may lead to misclassification.     

大豆"短青春期"品种的光(温)反应研究Ⅲ.对长日照的反应

在分析“短青春期”品种对播季和短日照反应的基础上，本研究通过比较不同品种出苗至开花天数与开花成熟天数对长日处理的反应，以进一步明确夏大豆型“短青春期”品种的光（温）敏感性特征。研究结果表明：春播条件下，开花前16小时长光照使“短青春期”品种中豆24种丰的出苗至开花天数分别延长19天和30天，是供试品种类型中对长日照最敏感的类型；开花前长日照处理，开花至成熟天数两个“短青春期”品种间表现差异较大，中豆24有所延长，而巨丰则有所缩短，开花前短日 开花后长日处理，中豆24和巨丰的开花至成熟天数均较春大豆明显延长，但小于秋大豆，通过30天和60天的长日照处理可以发现，长日处理结束后，中豆24和巨丰植株需分别接受7-9天和15-18天的短光照，才能开花和进入结实期，中豆24出苗至开花天数在长日下的温度敏感度高于春大豆品种，而巨丰出苗至开花天数的温度敏感度极小。     

玉米光周期敏感特性研究及长日照光周期诱导差减文库构建

以热带玉米自交系CML288为材料,通过对比研究表明,CML288对光周期非常敏感。通过长、短日照挪移试验发现,CML288短日照处理条件下,6～7叶期是光周期反应最敏感时期,7～9叶期是光周期敏感持续期,但敏感效应明显减弱。以CML288敏感期叶片与茎尖为材料,利用SSH技术构建了对长日照敏感而特异表达的基因文库,3 000多个单克隆被有效富集。对差减文库中分离的64个特异表达EST序列分析表明,16个EST序列与玉米已知功能的蛋白序列具有较高的同源性;41个序列与其它物种编码序列同源性较高;7个EST没有同源的序列,可能代表了新基因。     

水稻抽穗期途径基因的磷酸化、泛素化研究进展

水稻是一种广泛种植的兼性短日照植物.水稻抽穗期是直接影响产量和品种地域适应性的重要农艺性状.因此,研究该性状的影响因素并使植株在适宜的时间抽穗具有重要意义.水稻抽穗期作为一个复杂的数量性状,受内在基因网络和外界光温等条件的共同调控.目前,已经鉴定和克隆出多个控制抽穗期的关键基因,发现磷酸化和泛素化修饰在抽穗期分子机制中...     

Photoperiod-sensitive development phases in quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.)

Effects of photoperiod on phasic development, leaf appearance and seed growth in two cultivars of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.), and of photoperiod × temperature interactions on seed growth in one cultivar, were examined. The cultivars were Kanckolla (an early-flowering cultivar from the Andean plateau in Southern Peru) and Blanca de Junín (an intermediate flowering cultivar from the tropical valleys of central Peru). The main objectives were to establish which developmental phases are sensitive to photoperiod and whether conditions during a particular phase had delayed effects on subsequent development. Plants were grown in naturally lit growth cabinets and photoperiods were given as 10 h of natural daylight followed by extensions with low intensity artificial light giving either a short (SD, 10.25 h) or long (LD, 14 or 16 h) photoperiod. Treatments were constant (SD or LD) photoperiods or involved transfers between photoperiods at different developmental stages. A quantitative SD response was observed for time to anthesis and total number of leaves, and more than 50% of leaf primordia were formed after floral initiation. With transfers effected during the reproductive phase, the maximum number of leaf primordia, total number of leaves and time to anthesis varied by up to 9%, 33% and 24%, respectively, in relation to controls under constant SD; and by up to 8%, 39% and 12%, respectively, in relation to controls under constant LD. Photoperiods applied after leaf primordia initiation had ceased affected duration of the reproductive phase and total number of leaves through effects on the proportion of primordia that remained unexpanded (range 7–33%). Plants grown in SD until anthesis produced seed, measured 66 days after anthesis, four-fold larger in diameter than seed on plants always grown in LD. Seed diameter was also reduced by 24% by LD applied after anthesis, and by 14% by high temperature (28°C cf. 21°C), but the combination of high temperature with LD gave the greatest inhibition of seed growth (73%). Clearly, photoperiod had strong effects on all stages of plant reproduction and often acted indirectly, as shown by delayed responses expressed in later phases of development.     

大豆“短青春期”品种的光（温）反应研究：Ⅱ．对短日照的反应

在分析“短青春期”品种对播季反应的基础上，通过比较不同品种出苗至开花数与开花至成熟天数对短日处理的反应，以进一步明确夏大豆型“短青春期”品种的光（温）敏感性特征。研究结果表明：春播条件下，开花前短光照处理，“短青春期”品种中豆24和巨丰出苗至开花天数仅缩短2－14d，敏感度较小，与春大豆型品种相似，而与典型夏大豆品种，秋大豆品种和“长青春期”品种明显不同，中豆24和巨丰的出苗至开花天数对短光照不敏感。同为“短青春期”品种的中豆24和巨丰，其开花至成熟天数对短日处理的反应有明显差异，并者与春大豆相似，而后者的开花至成熟天数的短日照敏感不仅大于复大豆，而且也大于秋大豆。生育前期对短日照不敏感的品种，其短日处理效应在生育后期表现更加明显。本文还讨论了不同品种短日处理后效应的传递特征。     

Rice crop duration and leaf appearance rate in a variable thermal environment.: I. Development of an empirically based model

Variable crop duration is a major constraint to rice double cropping in arid irrigated environments, such as the Sahel. Photoperiodism and low air and water temperatures during the cool season are the major causes of variability, and cultivars are needed whose photothermal response provides a more stable crop duration. A previous study analyzed cultivar photothermal constants on the basis of progress to flowering. The present study sought to identify, on the basis of leaf appearance rates, the phenological stages that are most sensitive photothermally, and to explore technical options to screen germplasm for stable crop duration. Three Oryza sativa, indica-type rice cultivars (Jaya, IKP, IR64) were sown in the field at 15-day intervals during the dry season of 1995 (11 sowing dates) and 1996 (5 sowing dates) in Ndiaye, Senegal, under full irrigation and wide spacing to reduce microclimate variability. Mean daily water temperature (T_w) varied from 13 to 35°C. After seed soaking, the rate at which the first leaf (L₁) appeared was linearly related with T_w, with a base temperature (T_base) of about 10°C. Appearance rates of the subsequent three leaves (L₂–L₄) had a similar T_base, and presented a distinct temperature optimum (T_opt) at about 23°C, beyond which development rates decreased. Errors were too large to determine differences among cultivars in thermal constants. No significant temperature response was observed for the leaf appearances between L₅ to the flag leaf (L₁₂ to L₂₀). Crop duration to flowering varied by 45 (IR64) and 63 days (Jaya). These variations were associated with highly variable leaf numbers in all cultivars, including photoperiod-insensitive IKP. One-third of the variable duration was hypothesized to be due to a variable basic vegetative phase (BVP), caused by variable germination and leaf appearance rates, and two-thirds to variable duration of panicle induction after BVP. Water temperature was the main determinant of both sources of variability. A simulation model, describing these temperature and photoperiod effects on leaf number, growth duration and leaf appearance rates, was developed using the 1995 data, and satisfactorily validated with the 1996 data. The model was used to identify phenological-stage and cultivar-specific causes of variable crop duration.     

Contrasting Ppd alleles in wheat: effects on sensitivity to photoperiod in different phases

Photoperiod sensitivity is an important feature of flowering time regulation, which enables wheat plants to adapt to a wide range of environments. Although some work has been done on how time to heading or flowering respond to photoperiod in relation to particular Ppd alleles, there is little evidence on whether these alleles contribute to responses at different phases and to associated yield component generation. The aims of this paper were: (i) to analyse the effects of photoperiod on substitution lines with contrasting Ppd alleles, in terms of duration of particular phases, (ii) to determine if there is any relationship between these alleles and the parameters of photoperiod response (photoperiod sensitivity, optimum photoperiod and basic length of the phase), and (iii) to analyse the effects of different photoperiods applied before and after the onset of terminal spikelet on yield component generation. The effects of length and timing of photoperiod extensions on these traits were analysed under field conditions in Chinese Spring and two substitution lines differing in photoperiod sensitivity.Although time to anthesis was similar in the three genotypes in photoperiods longer than 14.5 h, they did differ in their response to photoperiod in particular phases. Sensitivity to photoperiod for daylengths shorter than 14.5 h was also markedly different. The number of leaves generated was affected by photoperiod, determining the duration of the phase from emergence to floral initiation (EM-FI). The length of the phase from floral initiation to terminal spikelet (FI-TS) was determined by the number of spikelets generated and their rate of initiation, which was also affected by photoperiod. The terminal spikelet to anthesis phase (TS-ANT) was only affected by photoperiod in the most sensitive genotype, in which direct photoperiod effects, other than the effects on leaf number and phyllochron, were evident. There was no apparent relation between photoperiod response parameters such as basic length of the phase (Lb) and optimum photoperiod (Po) and particular Ppd alleles.     

Accurate Evaluation of Photoperiodic Sensitivity and Genetic Diversity in Common Buckwheat under a Controlled Environment

Abstract

Photoperiodic sensitivity is one of the most important factors determining whether a crop can adapt to and be cultivated under a broad range of conditions. In common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench), flowering time (flowering of the first flower) is a complex trait influenced by photoperiod, light quality, and temperature, which change daily under natural conditions, and their interaction. Common buckwheat shows a large genetic variation because of the outcrossing reproductive strategy of this species. Thus, flowering time variation within a population reflects both environmental and genotypic variations, and accurate evaluation of photoperiodic sensitivity in common buckwheat requires cultivation under controlled environmental conditions. Here, we investigated photoperiodic sensitivity and its genetic diversity in two buckwheat cultivars, the autumn ecotype Miyazakizairai and the summer ecotype Botansoba, by controlling photoperiod during cultivation under the same temperature regime. Our results showed that (1) the summer ecotype consisted of early-flowering genotypes, including genotypes not found in the autumn ecotype; (2) the autumn ecotype consisted of various genotypes, including early-flowering genotypes and a large number of late-flowering genotypes not found in the summer ecotype; (3) the autumn ecotype showed larger genetic diversity than the summer ecotype in long-day treatments; and (4) genetic diversity first became evident in the 14.5-hr photoperiod in the autumn ecotype, and in the 15.0-hr photoperiod in the summer ecotype. These results support the hypothesis based on previous studies that common buckwheat summer ecotypes were derived from autumn ecotypes by adaptation to climate in northern Japan.     

Water relations and growth of the weed,goosegrass (Eleusine indica), under drought stress

The relative sensitivity to water stress at different growth stages of goosegrass (Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertner) was investigated by measuring water status and growth of groups of plants stressed during the vegetative stage, the reproductive stage, and during both stages. Plants were grown from seed in large pots in a controlled-environment chamber at 29/23°C and 14-h photoperiod. In all treatments, decreasing leaf water-potential was correlated with decreasing osmotic and pressure potentials. Plants stressed during the flowering stage maintained greater pressure potentials at any leaf water-potential than plants stressed during vegetative growth or stressed twice. Prestressing the plants did not induce lower leaf osmotic potentials at full turgor. However, dehydration was the main cause of low osmotic potentials measured in the leaves of the plants stressed twice. Stomatal closure occurred over a relatively large range of leaf water-potentials. The sensitivity of stomata to water stress in this species was fairly similar in the two growth stages studied. Leaves of plants stressed during the flowering stage had a smaller decline in total biomass during the stress period, and a higher rate of growth after rewatering, compared to the plants that received a stress during vegetative growth and flowering or were stressed during vegetative growth.     

Modeling of sorghum response to photoperiod: a threshold–hyperbolic approach

High photoperiod sensitivity is a singular trait for adaptation of sorghum to environmental constraints in sudano-sahelian West Africa. Difficulties encountered by selected models such as CERES-sorghum and STICS to simulate crop development may result from the representation of sorghum response to daylength during the photoperiod inductive phase. Four modeling approaches combining two temperature and photoperiod responses (linear, hyperbolic) and two calculation methods for development rates (cumulative, threshold) were evaluated to simulate time to panicle initiation (PI) in highly photoperiod sensitive Guinea sorghum variety CSM388. In the cumulative method, development rates were computed as summations of daily photothermal ratios, whereas in the threshold method accumulated degree days were tested against thermal time requirement to PI modulated by current photoperiod. Each model was calibrated based on observations from a Sotuba, Mali (12°39′N) planting date experiment spanning a 2-month period in 1996. Observed time from emergence to PI decreased from 54 to 22 days for a 20 min variation in daylength. Apparent higher performance by threshold methods was further tested against a 1994 independent dataset featuring three latitudes and a much wider range of sowing dates extending from February to September. Results validate the superiority of threshold over cumulative methods and confirm the better fit of a hyperbolic temperature and photoperiod response. A threshold–hyperbolic modeling approach is believed to be more consistent with crop physiology as it associates cumulative (temperature) processes and trigger (photoperiod) events that better reflect the concepts of quantitative plant growth and qualitative plant development. Its mathematical form and computational simplicity should ensure wide applicability for varietal screening over a large range of photoperiod sensitivities including neutral cultivars, and easy implementation into existing models.     

Variation of Growth and Disease Characters Between Clones of Potato (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Solanum tuberosum</Emphasis> L.)

The occurrence and magnitude of variation of selected characters in clones derived from meristem tips of four potato cultivars in field trials in three countries was assessed. Recorded were: the number of plants per plot; maturity of plants; skin and flesh colour; tuber deformity; time of emergence; flowering; number of stems and tubers per plant; tuber size, yield and dry matter percentage; and the occurrence of common scab. Far more significant differences between clones than could be expected by chance were found for the last eight characters. Most of the significant differences for number of stems per plant, number of tubers, yield and tuber size distribution were found in six clones of three cultivars and were repeated at different locations and in different years. It is concluded that significant clone differences exist and are repeated at independent locations over the years.     

Photoperiod regulation of development and growth in bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea)

The influence of constant photoperiods of 10, 12, 14 and 16 h on development and growth in two bambara groundnut genotypes (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc., syn. Voandzeia subterranea (L.) Thouars) was studied in a greenhouse experiment in the Netherlands. Data on dry matter accumulation were collected by sequential harvesting. Photoperiod influenced the onset of flowering in one genotype (‘Ankpa 4’) and the onset of podding in both (‘Tiga Nicuru’ and ‘Ankpa 4’). Under 14- and 16-h photoperiods plants of ‘Ankpa 4’ produced no pods. Photoperiod did not influence total aboveground dry matter production per plant in ‘Ankpa 4’ and had only a slight effect on ‘Tiga Nicuru’. Photoperiod indirectly affected dry matter partitioning via its influence on development: in both genotypes assimilate distribution changed after the photoperiod-induced onset of podding. In addition, a direct influence of photoperiod on partitioning was observed. Firstly, just after the onset of flowering (40 DAS), ‘Tiga Nicuru’ plants under 10- and 12-h photoperiods had accumulated more dry matter as leaf blades and less as stem material than plants under 14- and 16-h photoperiods. Secondly, for ‘Ankpa 4’ the increase in pod dry weight per plant under the 10-h photoperiod was nearly double the increase under the 12-h photoperiod. This difference was associated with a smaller number of developing pods under the 12-h photoperiod. Photoperiod apparently strongly affects the number of developing sinks and, as a consequence, the total sink-strength of the plant, irrespective of the numerous ovaries present on plants of all treatments (including plants of ‘Ankpa 4’ under 14- and 16-h photoperiods).     

Molecular Regulatory Network of Flowering by Photoperiod and Temperature in Rice

Plants have an ability to flower under optimal seasonal conditions to ensure reproductive success.Photoperiod and temperature are two important season-dependent factors of plant flowering.The floral transition of plants depends on accurate measurement of changes in photoperiod and temperature.Recent advances in molecular biology and genetics on Arabidopsis and rice reveals that the regulation of plant flowering by photoperiod and temperature are involved in a complicated gene network with different regulatory pathways,and new evidence and understanding were provided in the regulation of rice flowering.Here,we summarize and analyze different flowering regulatory pathways in detail in rice based on previous studies and our results,including short-day promotion,long-day suppression,long-day induction of flowering,night break,different light-quality and temperature regulation pathways.     

玉米光周期敏感调节机制的研究进展

光周期敏感限制了温带地区对热带、亚热带玉米种质资源的引进.克隆玉米光周期相关基因并研究其功能和构建光周期调控网络,是解除这一限制的重要途径.在讨论不同植物光周期敏感调节机制保守性和差异性的基础上,结合其他植物(主要是拟南芥和水稻)光周期调控机制的研究现状,对玉米光周期性状的遗传特点以及相关基因的定位、克隆和功能研究进展...     

葡萄成花分子生物学研究进展

开花是植物从营养生长向生殖生长转变的重要时期,而开花调控成为近年来植物分子生物学研究的热点。拟南芥中存在多条调控开花的信号途径如光周期途径、春化途径、赤霉素途径和自主途径等。目前,在葡萄中已经发现了许多葡萄花发育相关的重要基因,是拟南芥花发育相关基因的同源基因,并且绝大多数基因具有与拟南芥相似的功能。本文综述了开花相关基因在葡萄开花时间、花发育过程以及其他过程中的功能,以期为葡萄成花机制的深入研究提供一些参考。     

Photoperiod sensitivity after flowering and seed number determination in indeterminate soybean cultivars

Seed and pod numbers are the main yield components in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill). They are related to canopy photosynthesis during a critical period, occurring between the R1 (beginning of flowering) and R6 (full seed) stages. We investigated the relationship between the duration of the critical period and the number of seeds produced. Response to photoperiod during post-flowering stages was evaluated in indeterminate soybean cultivars from maturity groups (MG) IV and V. The study was conducted under field conditions with two sowing dates (normal and late). Plants were grown under natural photoperiod throughout the experiment or exposed, from the R3 stage (beginning pod) onwards, to artificially extended regimes of 2 h longer than natural daylength. Duration of the R3–R6 period increased in response to the extension of photoperiod, and cultivars of MG V exhibited a stronger sensitivity to photoperiod than those of MG IV. Exposure to long photoperiods promoted node production, mainly in branches, and increased node fertility. Within each sowing date, the increased duration of R3–R6 under longer photoperiods was corresponded with increments in pod and seed number. Seed number was related to the duration of R3–R6, particularly when the length of the period was corrected for temperature differences between treatments. Seed number was also related to the integral of solar radiation during R3–R6. The possibility of using sensitivity to photoperiod after flowering as a criterion for increasing yields through increasing seed number are discussed.     

Modelling leaf production and crop development in maize (Zea mays L.) after tassel initiation under diverse conditions of temperature and photoperiod

Prediction of the initiation, appearance and emergence of leaves is critically important to the success of simulation models of crop canopy development and some aspects of crop ontogeny. Data on leaf number and crop ontogeny were collected on five cultivars of maize differing widely in maturity and genetic background grown under natural and extended photoperiods, and planted on seven sowing dates from October 1993 to March 1994 at Gatton, South-east Queensland. The same temperature coefficients were established for crop ontogeny before silking, and the rates of leaf initiation, leaf tip appearance and full leaf expansion, the base, optimum and maximum temperatures for each being 8°C, 34°C and 40°C. After silking, the base temperature for ontogeny was 0°C, but the optimum and maximum temperatures remained unchanged. The rates of leaf initiation, appearance of leaf tips and full leaf expansion varied in a relatively narrow range across sowing times and photoperiod treatments, with average values of 0.040 leaves (°Cd)⁻¹, 0.021 leaves (°Cd)⁻¹, and 0.019 leaves (°Cd)⁻¹, respectively. The relationships developed in this study provided satisfactory predictions of leaf number and crop ontogeny (tassel initiation to silking, emergence to silking and silking to physiological maturity) when assessed using independent data from Gatton (South eastern Queensland), Katherine and Douglas Daly (Northern Territory), Walkamin (North Queensland) and Kununurra (Western Australia).