Manitou spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was grown at combinations of three day/night temperatures (27/12 °C (T27), 22/12 °C (T22) and 17/12 °C (T17)), three levels of fertilizer N (58, 116 and 174 kg/ha), and three moisture stresses (nominally −0.03, −1.5 and −4.0 MPa) applied for four durations (viz., no stress throughout, stress from (i) four-tiller (Tg), (ii) near ligule of last leaf visible (LLV), or (iii) flowering (F1) stages to harvest (Hvst)). Weights of plant parts and photosynthetic area of leaves and stems were measured at eight growth stages. Mean net rate of photosynthesis [Formula: see text] was estimated by dividing plant dry weight by photosynthetic area duration. Temperature was the main factor affecting net photosynthesis and growth. Under optimum moisture and fertility, net photosynthesis was inversely related to temperature being 1.15, 1.19 and 1.29 μg∙cm−2∙day−1 at T27, T22 and T17, respectively. However, absolute growth rates were highest at T22. For example, at low moisture stress and N174, absolute growth rates were 0.69, 0.77 and 0.66 g∙day−1 at T27, T22 and T17, respectively. High moisture stress from Tg to maturity reduced absolute growth rate by about 60%. Low N rates also reduced absolute growth rate. Relative growth rate was constant and highest between emergence and LLV; it then declined rapidly and was negative after soft dough. It was suggested that the absolute growth rates and relative growth rates generated in this study could be adapted for use in simulation modelling exercises. Moisture stress was the most important factor influencing the proportion of the plant’s weight that was harvested in the grain (harvest index). Moisture stress from Tg to harvest resulted in a harvest index of 0.34 ± 0.03; for all other treatments the index was 0.28 ± 0.01. The rate and amount of water used by the plants was greatest at T27 and lowest at T22, consequently water use effeciency was lowest at T27 and highest at T22.Key words: Net photosynthesis, growth kinetics of wheat, leaf area duration
Donor-acceptor relations influence on the modern spring wheat varieties photosynthetic system activity
