Responses to photoperiod before and after jointing in wheat substitution lines

It has been hypothesised that wheat yields may be increased by lengthening the duration of the stemelongation phase. This paper reports studies on the effects of chromosomes carrying major photoperiod genes (Ppd-A1, Ppd-B1, Ppd-D1) in different genetic backgrounds, on responses to photoperiod before and after jointing, when the onset of stem elongation occurs, and on number of grains per spike. A field experiment considered the effects of two photoperiods on Chinese Spring and 12 substitution lines, in which chromosomes 2A, 2B or 2D had been substituted by those from four contrasting cultivars. The phase from seedling emergence to jointing (EM-JO) was more responsive than that from jointing to anthesis (JO-ANT), but no relationship was found between the duration of these phases. EM-JO length affected leaf and spikelet number and consequently grains per spike, but this component was further influenced by JO-ANT duration. Our results confirmed that the phases are independent in sensitivity, supporting the hypothesis that genetic manipulation of phase duration could enhance yield, but no evidence was found of any particular Ppd allele being responsible for major responses to photoperiod during stem elongation. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.