Improving wheat grain filling under stress by stem reserve mobilisation

Stem reserves from pre-anthesis plant assimilation are being increasingly recognised as an important source of carbon for grain filling when current photosynthesis is inhibited by drought, heat or disease stress during this stage. Genotypic and environmental factors affecting reserve accumulation and utilisation for grain filling are reviewed. The genetic improvement of stem reserve storage and utilisation as a potent mechanism for grain filling under stress is discussed, and practical guidelines for selection work are provided. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.