The ability of wheat cultivars to withstand drought in UK conditions: formation of grain yield

2002 ◽  
Vol 138 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. FOULKES ◽  
R. K. SCOTT ◽  
R. SYLVESTER-BRADLEY
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Drought Resistance ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Grain Filling ◽  
Temperate Climate ◽  
Soluble Carbohydrate ◽  
Wheat Cultivars ◽  
Effects Of Drought ◽  
Yield Responses

Experiments in three dry years, 1993/94, 1994/95 and 1995/96, on a medium sand at ADAS Gleadthorpe, England, tested responses of six winter wheat cultivars to irrigation of dry-matter growth, partitioning of dry matter to leaf, stem and ear throughout the season, and to grain at final harvest. Cultivars (Haven, Maris Huntsman, Mercia, Rialto, Riband and Soissons) were selected for contrasts in flowering date and stem soluble carbohydrate. Maximum soil moisture deficit (SMD) exceeded 140 mm in all years, with large deficits (>75 mm) from early June in 1994 and from May in 1995 and 1996. The main effects of drought on partitioning of biomass were for a decrease in the proportion of the crop as lamina in the pre-flowering period, and then earlier retranslocation of stem reserves to grains during the first half of grain filling. Restricted water availability decreased grain yield by 1·83 t/ha in 1994 (P<0·05), and with more prolonged droughts, by 3·06 t/ha in 1995 (P<0·001) and by 4·55 t/ha in 1996 (P<0·001). Averaged over the three years, grain yield responses of the six cultivars differed significantly (P<0·05). Rialto and Mercia lost only 2·8 t/ha compared with Riband and Haven which lost 3·5 t/ha. Losses for Soissons and Maris Huntsman were intermediate. In the two years with prolonged drought, the biomass depression was on average greater for Haven (6·0 t/ha) than for Maris Huntsman (4·2 t/ha) (P<0·05). Thus, the grain yield sensitivity of Haven to drought derived, in part, from a sensitivity of biomass growth to drought. Harvest index (HI; ratio of grain to above-ground dry matter at harvest) responses of the six cultivars to irrigation also differed (P<0·05) and contributed to the yield responses. The smallest decrease in HI of the six cultivars with restricted water availability was shown by Rialto (−0·033); this partially explained the drought resistance for this cultivar. The largest decrease was for Maris Huntsman (−0·072). The cultivars differed in flowering dates by up to 9 days but these were poorly correlated with grain yield responses to irrigation. Stem soluble carbohydrate at flowering varied amongst cultivars from 220 to 300 g/m2 in the unirrigated crop; greater accumulation appeared to be associated with better maintenance of HI under drought. It is concluded that high stem-soluble carbohydrate reserves could be used to improve drought resistance in the UK's temperate climate, but that early flowering seems less likely to be useful.

Contribution of Stem Dry Matter to Grain Yield in Wheat Cultivars

1991 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 53 ◽  
Author(s):  
PC Pheloung ◽  
KHM Siddique
Keyword(s):  
Water Stress ◽  
Grain Yield ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Yield Potential ◽  
Percentage Reduction ◽  
Wheat Cultivars ◽  
Activity Increase ◽  
Structural Carbohydrate ◽  
Days After Anthesis

Field experiments were conducted in the eastern wheat belt of Western Australia in a dry year with and without irrigation (1987) and in a wet year (1988), comparing three cultivars of wheat differing in height and yield potential. The aim of the study was to determine the contribution of remobilisable stem dry matter to grain dry matter under different water regimes in old and modern wheats. Stem non-structural carbohydrate was labelled with 14C 1 day after anthesis and the activity and weight of this pool and the grain was measured at 2, 18 and 58 days after anthesis. Gutha and Kulin, modern tall and semi-dwarf cultivars respectively, yielded higher than Gamenya, a tall older cultivar in all conditions, but the percentage reduction in yield under water stress was greater for the modern cultivars (41, 34 and 23%). In the grain of Gamenya, the increase in 14C activity after the initial labelling was highest under water stress. Generally, loss of 14C activity from the non-structural stem dry matter was less than the increase in grain activity under water stress but similar to or greater than grain activity increase under well watered conditions. Averaged over environments and cultivars, non-structural dry matter stored in the stem contributed at least 20% of the grain dry matter.

Variation in harvest index of modern spring barley, oat and wheat cultivars adapted to northern growing conditions

2007 ◽  
Vol 146 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. PELTONEN-SAINIO ◽  
S. MUURINEN ◽  
A. RAJALA ◽  
L. JAUHIAINEN
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Harvest Index ◽  
Stand Structure ◽  
Spring Barley ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Grain Filling ◽  
Wheat Cultivars ◽  
Cereal Species ◽  
Growing Conditions ◽  
Cereal Cultivars

SUMMARYIncreased harvest index (HI) has been one of the principal factors contributing to genetic yield improvements in spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), oat (Avena sativa L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars. Although high HI demonstrates high-yielding ability when cultivars are compared, it can also indicate challenges to yield formation when comparisons are made across differing growing conditions. The present study was designed to investigate variation in HI among modern cereal cultivars relative to that brought about by a northern environment, to assess whether HI still explains the majority of the differences in grain yield when only modern cereal cultivars are compared, and to monitor key traits contributing to HI. Stability of HI was also investigated with reference to the role of tillers. Twelve experiments (3 years, two locations, two nitrogen fertilizer regimes) were carried out in southern Finland to evaluate 12 two-row spring barley, 10 six-row barley, 10 oat and 11 wheat cultivars. In addition to HI, days to heading and maturity, length of grain filling period, grain yield, test weight and 13 traits characterizing plant stand structure were measured and analysed with principal component analysis (PCA) to detect traits associated with HI and those contributing to stability of HI. Although only modern cereals were studied, differences among cultivars were significant both in mean HI and stability of HI, and HI was associated with short plant stature in all modern cereal species. Also, single grain weight was associated with HI in all species. Differences between, but not within, species in HI were partly attributable to differences in tiller performance. Grain yield was associated closely with HI except in two-row barley. It may be possible to further increase HI of wheat, as it still was relatively low. High HI did, however, not indicate the degree of success in yield determination when environments are compared.

Efect of great brome (Bromus diandrus Roth.) on the growth of wheat and great brome and their uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus

1984 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
GS Gill ◽  
WM Blacklow
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiment ◽  
Grain Yield ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Grain Filling ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Bromus Diandrus ◽  
Yield Determinants

A field experiment was conducted at Badgingarra, W.A., during 1981 to study competition between wheat (cv. Gamenya) and great brome (Bromus diandrus Roth.). Shoot dry matter per plant of wheat was reduced from 1.41 g per plant in wheat monoculture to 0.50 g per plant after competing for 71 days with great brome at density of 400 plants m-2. Tiller production was reduced from 605 tillers m-2 in monocultures of wheat to 336 tillers m-2 when growing in association with 400 plants m-2 of great brome. Competition with great brome reduced the concentration of nitrogen and phosphorus in wheat shoots; at Feeke's scale 3 (tillers formed) wheat plants competing with 400 plants m-2 of great brome had 3.15 � 0.09% (mean � s.e., w/w) nitrogen and 0.58% phosphorus against a concentration of 4.05 � 0.1% nitrogen and 0.77% phosphorus in the monoculture of wheat. The reduction in the nitrogen - and phosphorus concentrations in wheat shoots earlier than any significant reductions in their dry matter suggested that great brome competed with wheat for absorption of nitrogen and phosphorus. Competition with great brome also resulted in significant reduction in the grain yield (r = - 0.77) and yield determinants of wheat. Reduction in mass per grain (r = - 0.77) was probably due to competition with great brome for water during grain-filling.

A drought experiment using mobile shelters: the effect of drought on barley yield, water use and nutrient uptake

1978 ◽  
Vol 91 (3) ◽  
pp. 599-623 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Day ◽  
B. J. Legg ◽  
B. K. French ◽  
A. E. Johnston ◽  
D. W. Lawlor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Nutrient Uptake ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Deficit ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Grain Filling ◽  
Maximum Depth ◽  
Soil Water Deficit ◽  
Drought Treatment ◽  
Effects Of Drought

SummaryAutomatic mobile shelters were used to keep rain off a barley crop in a drought experiment. The treatments ranged from no water during the growing season to regular weekly irrigation. This paper reports the effect of drought on the harvest yield and its components, on water use and nutrient uptake.Drought caused large decreases in yield, and affected each component of the grain yield. The magnitude of each component varied by up to 25% between treatments, and much of the variation could be accounted for by linear regression against the mean soil water deficit in one of three periods. For the number of grains per ear, the relevant period included tillering and ear formation; for the number of ears per unit ground area, the period included stem extension and tiller death; for grain mass, the period included grain filling.The harvest yields were linearly related to water use, with no indication of a critical period of drought sensitivity. The relation of grain yield to the maximum potential soil water deficit did show that a prolonged early drought had an exceptionally large effect on both yield and water use.Two unsheltered irrigation experiments, also on barley, were made in the same year on a nearby site. The effects of drought on yield in these experiments were in good agreement with the effects observed on the mobile shelter site.When fully irrigated, the small plots under the mobile shelters used water 11% faster than larger areas of crop, because of advection. The maximum depth from which water was extracted was unaffected by the drought treatment. When 50% of the available soil water had been used the uptake rate decreased, but the maximum depth of uptake continued to increase.Measurements of crop nutrients at harvest showed that nitrogen uptake was large, because of site history, and that phosphate uptake was decreased by drought to such an extent that phosphate shortage may have limited yield.

Plant population and shading studies in barley

1971 ◽  
Vol 77 (3) ◽  
pp. 445-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. W. Willey ◽  
R. Holliday
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Unit Area ◽  
Grain Filling ◽  
Crop Growth ◽  
Plant Population ◽  
Grain Number ◽  
Ear Development ◽  
Development Period ◽  
Lower Production

SUMMARYTwo barley experiments are described in which a range of plant populations were shaded during different periods of development. Shading during the ear development period caused considerable reductions in grain yield, largely by reducing the number of grains per ear. Shading during the grain-filling period caused no reduction in grain yield. It is suggested that under conditions of these experiments there was probably a potential surplus of carbohydrate available for grain filling and that grain yield was largely determined by the storage capacity of the ears. The importance of the number of grains per ear as an indicator of individual ear capacity is emphasized.The effects of plant population on grain yield and its components are also examined. It is concluded that the number of grains per ear is the component having greatest influence on the decrease in grain yield at above-optimum populations and attention is again drawn to the possible importance of ear capacity. It is argued that on an area basis the number of grains per unit area may give a good indication of ear capacity. Examination of this parameter shows a close relationship with grain yield per unit area for both the shading and population treatments. It is particularly evident that a decrease in grain yield at high populations was associated with a comparable decrease in the number of grains per unit area. It is suggested that this decrease in grain number may be due to a lower production of total dry matter during ear development rather than an unfavourable partitioning of this dry matter between the ear and the rest of the plant. This lower production of total dry matter is attributed to the crop growth rates of the higher populations having reached their peak and then having declined before the end of the ear development period. This crop growth rate pattern, through its effect on grain number per unit area, is put forward as the basic reason why, in the final crop, grain yield per unit area decreases at above-optimum populations.

scholarly journals Effect of two‐week heat stress during grain filling on stem reserves, senescence, and grain yield of European winter wheat cultivars

2020 ◽  
Vol 206 (6) ◽  
pp. 722-733 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siegfried Schittenhelm ◽  
Tina Langkamp‐Wedde ◽  
Martin Kraft ◽  
Lorenz Kottmann ◽  
Katja Matschiner
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Grain Yield ◽  
Grain Filling ◽  
Wheat Cultivars ◽  
Winter Wheat Cultivars ◽  
European Winter Wheat ◽  
Stem Reserves

Dry matter accumulation and partitioning and its relationship to grain yield in wheat

1995 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 495 ◽  
Author(s):  
RG Flood ◽  
PJ Martin ◽  
WK Gardner
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Grain Filling ◽  
Dry Matter Accumulation ◽  
The North ◽  
Similar Range ◽  
Total Crop ◽  
Grain Filling Period ◽  
Stem Reserves ◽  
North Western

Total crop dry matter (DM) production and its components, remobilisation of stem reserves, and the relation of these to grain yield were studied in 10 wheat cultivars sown at Walpeup, Boort, and Horsham in the north-western Victorian wheatbelt. Between sites, all DM components decreased in the order Horsham > Boort > Walpeup. Differences between Boort and Walpeup were not always significant. Total DM at anthesis for Walpeu,p and Boort was in a similar range, and less than that for Horsham. Yields increased in the order Walpeup < Boort < Horsham. When data from the 3 sites were combined, leaf, stem (excluding cv. Argentine IX), and total DM were related to grain yield. Within sites, ear DM at anthesis was related to grain yield. Grain yield for all cultivars at Horsham and Walpeup and 5 cultivars at Boort was greater than the increases in crop DM from anthesis to maturity, indicating that pre-anthesis stored assimilates (stem reserves) were used for grain filling. Post-anthesis decrease in stem weight was inversely related to grain yield only at Horsham, which supports the view of utilisation of stem reserves for grain filling at this site. At Boort and Walpeup there was a similar negative trend, but values for 2 cultivars at each site were outliers, which weakened the trend. The wide adaptability of the Australian cultivars used in this study may be related to the differential remobilisation of stem reserves at each site. A measure of yield stability, however, was not related to stem weight loss during the grain-filling period.

scholarly journals Changes in stem and spike related traits resulting from breeding in Iranian wheat cultivars: associations with grain yield

2017 ◽  
Vol 53 (No. 3) ◽  
pp. 107-113
Author(s):  
M. Joudi ◽  
A. Ahmadi ◽  
V. Mohammadi
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Selection Criterion ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Grain Filling ◽  
Specific Weight ◽  
Indirect Selection ◽  
Wheat Cultivars ◽  
Terminal Drought ◽  
Positive Correlations ◽  
Terminal Drought Stress

This study investigated changes in stem and spike characteristics resulting from breeding in Iranian wheat cultivars, and their relationship with grain yield. Eighty-one wheat cultivars released between 1930 and 2006 were examined under well-watered (WW) and terminal drought stress (DS) conditions in Karaj during 2007–2008 and 2008–2009 and under WW condition at Parsabad in Moghan region during 2010–2011. A genetic improvement over time in stem specific weight (SSW) along with significant positive correlations between this trait and grain yield were found at Karaj under DS conditions and at Parsabad, suggesting that SSW could be used as an indirect selection criterion for yield in these environments. Time-dependent changes in spike dry weight showed that the magnitude of partitioned photoassimilates to the spike during the phase anthesis – 16 days after anthesis (16 DAA) was not changed by breeding. However, during the 16 DAA ‒ maturity phase, modern cultivars had more photoassimilates allocated to the spike than the old ones. This suggests that the sink is more limited during early grain growth than during the end of grain filling. 

The effects of triazole and strobilurin fungicide programmes on nitrogen uptake, partitioning, remobilization and grain N accumulation in winter wheat cultivars

2003 ◽  
Vol 140 (4) ◽  
pp. 395-407 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. RUSKE ◽  
M. J. GOODING ◽  
S. A. JONES
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Nitrogen Uptake ◽  
Harvest Index ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Protein Concentration ◽  
Grain Protein ◽  
Wheat Cultivars ◽  
Grain Protein Concentration ◽  
Winter Wheat Cultivars ◽  
The Relationship

Field experiments were conducted over 3 years to assess the effect of a triazole fungicide programme, and additions of strobilurin fungicides to it, on nitrogen uptake, accumulation and partitioning in a range of winter wheat cultivars. Commensurate with delayed senescence, fungicide programmes, particularly when including strobilurins, improved grain yield through improvements in both crop biomass and harvest index, although the relationship with green area duration of the flag leaf (GFLAD) depended on year and in some cases, cultivar. In all years fungicide treatments significantly increased the amount of nitrogen in the above-ground biomass, the amount of nitrogen in the grain and the nitrogen harvest index. All these effects could be linearly related to the fungicide effect on GFLAD. These relationships occasionally interacted with cultivar but there was no evidence that fungicide mode of action affected the relationship between GFLAD and yield of nitrogen in the grain. Fungicide treatments significantly reduced the amount of soil mineral N at harvest and when severe disease had been controlled, the net remobilization of N from the vegetation to the grain after anthesis. Fungicide maintained the filling of grain with both dry matter and nitrogen. The proportionate accumulation of nitrogen in the grain was later than that of dry matter and this difference was greater when fungicide had been applied. Effects of fungicide on grain protein concentration and its relationship with GFLAD were inconsistent over year and cultivar. There were several instances where grain protein concentration was unaffected despite large (1·5 t/ha) increases in grain yield following fungicide use. Dilution of grain protein concentration following fungicide use, when it did occur, was small compared with what would be predicted by adoption of other yield increasing techniques such as the selection of high yielding cultivars (based on currently available cultivars) or by growing wheat in favourable climates.

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