海水处理对不同产地菊芋幼苗光合作用及叶绿素荧光特性的影响

种植抗盐耐海水经济作物是合理开发利用沿海滩涂和海水资源、培育耐盐植物的有效措施之一。该研究以不同产地菊芋(Helianthus tuberosus)为试验材料研究了海水处理对菊芋幼苗生长、光合作用和叶绿素荧光特性的影响。结果表明:1)随着海水浓度的增加,各地菊芋幼苗根、地上部的鲜重和干重均降低,但盐城菊芋幼苗地上部和根鲜重及干重降低的幅度小于武威和烟台菊芋幼苗。2)随着海水浓度的增加,各地菊芋叶片的净光合速率(P_n)、蒸腾速率(T_r)、水分利用效率(WUE)、气孔导度(G_s)和气孔限制值(L_s)均降低,而细胞间隙CO₂浓度(C_i)增大,且在各处理下盐城菊芋较武威和烟台菊芋叶片P_n和T_r大,而盐城菊芋在15%海水处理下,WUE和C_i较武威及烟台菊芋低,G_s和L_s较武威和烟台菊芋高。3)随着海水浓度的增加,各地菊芋叶片的初始荧光(F_o)、最大荧光(F_m)、可变荧光(F_v)、恒态荧光(F_s)、恒态荧光与初始荧光差值(ΔF_o)、PSⅡ潜在光化学效率(F_v/F_o)和PSⅡ最大光化学效率(F_v/F_m)均降低,且在各处理下盐城菊芋较武威和烟台菊芋叶片F_m、F_v、F_s、F_v/F_o大。随着海水浓度的增加,盐城菊芋叶片电子传递速率(ETR)、光化学荧光猝灭系数(q_P)和光化学速率变化幅度不大,武威和烟台菊芋在30%海水处理下显著下降,较盐城菊芋小,各处理下菊芋叶片的PSⅡ实际光化学效率(Φ_PSⅡ)变化也不一致,盐城和武威菊芋叶片的Φ_PSⅡ在15%海水处理较0和30%海水处理下大,而烟台菊芋叶片的Φ_PSⅡ在0海水处理下最大。4)随着海水浓度的增加,各地菊芋叶片的叶绿素a(Chla)含量均降低,而叶绿素b(Chlb)含量没显著差异,且在各处理下盐城菊芋较武威和烟台菊芋叶片Chla含量大,武威和盐城菊芋叶片的Chla/Chlb比值均降低,烟台菊芋叶片的Chla/Chlb比值在0和15%海水处理下没差异。可见海水处理对菊芋幼苗生长发育、光合作用和叶绿素荧光特性均有影响,随海水浓度的增加,其效应越明显,但对各来源地菊芋幼苗的影响不一致,盐城菊芋幼苗表现为更耐海水。     

铅污染对烤烟光合特性、产量及其品质的影响

为研究土壤中Pb污染对烤烟(Nicotiana tabacum)叶片光合特性、烟叶品质及其产量的影响,对烤烟主栽品种‘云烟85’进行了盆栽条件下的Pb污染实验,实验浓度为0、150、300、450、600、750和1 000 mg·kg^-1(以纯Pb²⁺计),分别于团棵期、现蕾期和采收期测定叶片光合特性的变化,并在采收期测定烟叶产量和烤后烟叶的品质变化。结果表明:在3个生育时期,Pb污染下供试烤烟品种叶片净光合速率(P_n)和气孔导度(G_s)均随Pb浓度的升高而下降,而胞间CO₂浓度(C_i)随Pb浓度的升高先增加后下降;PSⅡ活性(F_v/F_o)、最大光能转换效率(F_v/F_m)、光化学猝灭系数(q_P)、非光化学猝灭系数(NPQ)、电子传递的量子产率(Ф_PSⅡ)、表观电子传递速率(ETR)和烟叶产量均随Pb浓度的升高而下降,不利于烟叶充分地利用捕光色素所吸收的光能,降低其光能利用效率,从而降低了光合速率;烤烟烟叶品质指标糖/碱比和氮/碱比升高,糖/碱比和氮/碱比分别为9.52~11.96和1.05~1.23,分别大于7(优质烟叶标准)和1(优质烟叶标准),不利于烟叶香吃味的形成。     

渗透胁迫对小麦幼苗叶绿素荧光参数的影响

用叶绿素荧光诱导动力学技术,研究模拟干旱条件对小麦幼苗叶片叶绿素荧光参数,即原初光能转化效率(F_v/F_m)、光合电子传递量子效率(φPSⅡ)、qP(光化学猝灭)、qNP(非光化学猝灭)、ETR(表观光合量子传递效率)的影响.结果表明,渗透胁迫对小麦幼苗叶绿素荧光参数影响较大.随着渗透胁迫的加剧,F_v/F_m和F_v/F_o都表现出现降低-增加-降低的趋势,在渗透胁迫2 h以前,小麦叶片内部没有发生光抑制,但随着胁迫的加剧,F_v/F_m值增加,使得小麦幼苗叶内发生光抑,导致ΦPSⅡ和ETR的下降;在渗透胁迫过程中,小麦叶片吸收光能的光化学猝灭(qP)的下降和光化学猝灭(qNP)呈现先降低后增加的趋势,说明小麦在受到干旱胁迫前期,PSⅡ反应中心的开放比例降低;在胁迫2h后,随着胁迫的加剧,qP和qNP增加有利于提高PSⅡ反应中心开放部分的比例,将更多的光能用于推动光合电子传递,提高了光合电子传递能力,同时非光化学能量耗散的提高,有助于耗散过剩的激发能,以保护光合机构,缓解环境胁迫对光合作用的影响,体现了小麦叶片的自我保护机制.两个品种相比,长武13的叶绿素荧光参数的变化幅度比陕253小,具有更强的抵御干旱胁迫的能力.     

缺磷强光下脐橙的过剩能量耗散机制

采用营养液培养的方法,对缺磷强光下脐橙的过剩能量耗散机制进行了研究.结果表明,在强光下,用缺磷营养液处理脐橙后,光合色素含量、净光合速率P_n、光呼吸速率P_r、最大荧光F_m、光化学效率F_v/F_m和电子传递速率ETR下降,初始荧光F_o和光呼吸/光合比P_r/P_n升高.叶绿素荧光的非光化学猝灭的快相qNf下降,中间相qNm和慢相qNs升高.用DTT处理后F_o升高,qNm和qNs下降,qNf无明显变化.缺磷强光胁迫加剧了脐橙光合作用的光抑制,进而启动了多种能量耗散机制.     

落叶松幼苗光合特性对氮和磷缺乏的响应

为探讨落叶松幼苗光合特性对氮、磷营养缺乏的响应规律,在温室内用砂培方法培养和处理落叶树幼苗,测定了净光合速率和叶绿素荧光等反映其光合能力的参数,分析了落叶松幼苗的光合特性对氮、磷营养缺乏的响应规律.结果表明,氮素供应不足(1mmol·L^-1)时,落叶松幼苗针叶的全氮含量、叶绿素含量和净光合速率与对照相比都显著降低,分别下降了37%、31%和59%,同时,F_v/F_m(反映光系统II最大光能转换效率)和F_v/F_o(反映光系统II潜在活性)也分别下降了22%和57%,而叶片可溶性蛋白含量只有微弱下降.磷素供应不足(1/8mmol·L^-1)时,叶片全氮和全磷含量、叶绿素含量、叶片可溶性蛋白含量和F_v/F_m与对照相比差异均不显著,净光合速率和F_v/F_o下降13%.氮、磷同时缺乏时,上述各项指标的变化与单独缺氮处理的相似,这意味着本实验中缺磷处理(1/8mmol·L^-1)对落叶松幼苗光合特性影响相对较小.     

1RS-7DS.7DL小麦-黑麦小片段易位系的鉴定

黑麦(Secale cereale L., RR)是改良普通小麦(Triticum aestivum L., AABBDD)的重要基因资源,将黑麦优异基因转移到普通小麦中,是小麦品种改良的有效途经之一。文章将四川地方品种蓬安白麦子(T. aestivum L., AABBDD) 与秦岭黑麦(S. cereale cv. Qinling, RR)杂交,染色体自动加倍获得八倍体小黑麦CD-13(AABBDDRR);通过顺序FISH和GISH分析,发现该八倍体小黑麦1RS端部与7DS的端部发生相互易位,是一个携带1RS-7DS.7DL小麦-黑麦小片段易位染色体的八倍体小黑麦。利用八倍体小黑麦CD-13与四川推广小麦品种川麦42杂交、连续自交,获得包含60个株系的F₅群体;对F₅群体的58个株系进行GISH和FISH分析发现,其中13个株系含有1RS-7DS.7DL小片段易位染色体。在这13个株系中,株系811染色体数目为2n=6x=42,是稳定的1RS-7DS.7DL小片段易位系;并且1RS特异分子标记和醇溶蛋白分析表明,1RS-7DS.7DL易位染色体1RS小片段的断裂点位于分子标记IB267-IAG95之间,不包含编码黑麦碱蛋白的Sec-1位点;同时1RS-7DS.7DL小片段易位系的千粒重与川麦42相当,远远高于八倍体小黑麦CD-13,对千粒重无负作用。因此,1RS-7DS.7DL小麦-黑麦小片段易位系可作为进一步深入研究1RS小片段上的优异基因及其遗传效应的重要材料。     

八倍体小黑麦的醋酶同工酶

在小黑麦的醋酶同工酶研究中,一些报道 指出,六倍体小黑麦的胚乳产生5条快速移动 带,带1, 2和3来自小麦,带5来自黑麦,带4 是杂种带;小麦和黑麦胚乳样品机械混合物的 酶谱中,只有1.2、3和带5^[367]。在比较六倍 体小黑麦（AABBRR）和某些八倍体小黑麦 (AABBDDRR）时,我们看到在两者的醋酶同工 酶酶谱中都有上述E,区5条标志带^[3]。同时, 我们也发现,有一些八倍体小黑麦表现出另外 一种类型的酶谱,对这种酶谱还未见报道。对 于八倍体小黑麦的遗传育种,鲍文奎等曾进行 过许多研究^[12]。为了研究八倍体小黑麦醋酶同 工酶的特点,我们对中国农业科学院作物研究 所提供的14个八倍体小黑麦进行了醋酶同工 酶的电泳分析,     

根系温度对光核桃幼苗光合机构热稳定性的影响

以光核桃(Prunus mira)幼苗为材料, 通过控制根系温度研究了根系温度变化与叶片脱落酸(ABA)的关系及其对光合机构热稳定性的影响。结果表明: 1)环境高温(37和40 ℃)胁迫下保持根系温度适宜((25±2) ℃)时, 幼苗叶片相对含水量(Relative water content, RWC)下降较少, 但叶片ABA含量低, 超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)、过氧化物酶(POD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性低, 过氧化氢(H₂O₂)含量和膜质过氧化水平(丙二醛(Malondialdehyde, MDA)浓度)提高, 最大光化学效率(F_v/F_m)下降程度较大; 2)而同等环境高温(37和40 ℃)条件下根系温度逐步升高时, 幼苗叶片RWC降低, 叶片ABA含量增加, SOD、APX、POD、CAT活性高, H₂O₂含量高, MDA生成量低, F_v/F_m降低程度较小。与37 ℃相比, 40 ℃处理条件下各生理指标变化趋势相似, 但差异加大。因此认为: 高温胁迫条件下, 根系温度适宜时RWC高, 但导致光合机构伤害较重; 根系感受高温胁迫能够增加叶片ABA含量, 有助于保护光合机构、提高光合机构的抗热性。     

不同光强下高锰对黄瓜光合作用特性的影响

采用营养液培养的方法,研究了不同光强下高锰对黄瓜植株生长、叶绿素含量、叶绿素荧光参数和光合作用的影响.结果表明,高锰处理抑制了黄瓜植株的生长,与弱光处理相比强光下抑制幅度更加显著.强光下,高锰处理显著降低叶绿素含量,但降低光强却增加其含量.强光下,高锰处理显著降低原初光能转换效率(F_v/F_m)、光合电子传递量子效率(ΦPSII)和光化学猝灭系数(qP);弱光下,高锰处理对F_v/F_m和qP无显著影响.高锰处理使净光合速率(P_n)和气孔导度(G_s)下降.尤其是在强光下下降幅度更大.高锰处理使细胞间CO₂浓度(C_i)在强光下升高,而在弱光下则下降.与C_i相反,高锰处理使气孔限制值(L_s)在强光下下降,而在弱光下上升.因此,强光下高锰胁迫使净光合速率下降可能是由非气孔限制引起的,而弱光下高锰处理使净光合速率下降可能是由气孔因子限制引起的.     

八倍体小黑麦的酯酶同工酶

在小黑麦的酯酶同工酶研究中,一些报道指出,六倍体小黑麦的胚乳产生5条快速移动带,带1、2和3来自小麦,带5来自黑麦,带4是杂种带;小麦和黑麦胚乳样品机械混合物的酶谱中,只有1、2、3和带5。在比较六倍体小黑麦(AABBRR)和某些八倍体小黑麦(AABBDDRR)时,我们看到在两者的酯酶同工酶酶谱中都有上述E_1区5条标志带。同时,我们也发现,有一些八倍体小黑麦表现出另外     

四川西北部亚高山云杉天然林生态系统碳密度、净生产量和碳贮量的初步研究

该文利用野外实际调查数据对四川西北部亚高山云杉(Picea asperata)天然林碳密度、净生产量、碳贮量及其分布进行了分析,结果表明,在调查区域,云杉天然林分平均生物量为230.37×10³ kg·hm^-2,其中乔木层为212.77×10³ kg·hm^-2,占林分生物量的92.30%。云杉天然林生态系统各组分的平均碳密度为树干57.85%,树皮47.12%,树枝51.22%,树叶48.27%和树根52.39%,灌木层平均碳密度49.91%,草本层平均碳密度46.34%,地被层平均碳密度43.21%,枯落物层平均碳密度39.44%,土壤碳密度平均值为1.41%,随土层深度增加各层次土壤碳密度逐渐减少。云杉林平均生态系统总碳贮量为273.79×10³ kg·hm^-2,其中乔木层109.30×10³ kg·hm^-2,占云杉林生态系统总碳贮量的39.92%,灌木层5.69×10³ kg·hm^-2,占2.08%,草本层1.26×10³ kg·hm^-2,占0.46%,地被物层0.60×10³ kg·hm^-2,占0.22%,枯落物层0.83×10³ kg·hm^-2,占0.30%,林内土壤(0~100 cm)碳贮量为156.11×10³ kg·hm^-2,占57.01%。云杉林的碳库分布序列为土壤(0~100 cm)>乔木层>灌木层>草本层>枯落物层>地被物层。云杉天然林分平均净生产总量为6 838.5 kg·hm^-2·a^-1,碳素年总净固量平均为3 584.98 kg·hm^-2·a^-1,其中乔木层净生产量为4 676 kg·hm^-2·a^-1,占林分总量的68.38%,碳素年平均固定量2 552.99 kg·hm^-2·a^-1,占林分总量的71.21%。     

Effects of CO2 Enrichment at Different Irradiances on Growth and Yield of Wheat: II. EFFECTS ON KLEIBER SPRING WHEAT TREATED FROM ANTHESIS IN CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENTS IN RELATION TO EFFECTS ON PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND PHOTORESPI RATION

Spring wheat plants were grown in a cage with a glass roof untilthree days after anthesis and then subjected to treatments inconstant environment rooms with any one of all combinationsof four irradiances and two concentrations of carbon dioxide.The photoperiod was 16 h and day/night temperatures 19?C/14?C.Growth and yield of grain were saturated at the two brightestirradiances. Carbon dioxide enrichment from 350 to 1200 mm³dm^–3 increased shoot dry weight and grain yield at finalharvest at all irradiances, by averages of 10.5 (not significant)and 23.5 (significant) percent respectively. However, increasingthe irradiance from 150 to 613 µE m^–2 s^–1caused much larger yield increases (approximately 3-fold). Increasedgrain production by increased light was caused by both increasesin dry weight per grain and by increases in grain number perspikelet. The increase caused by CO₂ enrichment was mainly becauseof increased dry weight per grain. Increase in ear dry weightcaused by CO₂ enrichment took place between 30 and 60 d afteranthesis. The increase in shoot dry weight took place immediatelyafter exposure to increased CO₂ from 3 to 15 d after anthesis.Net photosynthesis by flag leaves on the main shoots was almostdoubled 16 d after anthesis by the CO₂ enrichment even thoughstomatal resistance was also doubled. However, this increasewas not reflected by a proportional increase in yield, probablybecause increased mutual shading by bigger stems and late tillersreduced total assimilation and because of increased respirationby the shoots. The increase in photosynthesis was not due toa decrease in photorespiration but to an increase in gross photosynthesis. Key words: CO₂enrichment, Photosynthesis, Photorespiration     

Effects of CO2 Enrichment at Different Irradiances on Growth and Yield of Wheat: I. EFFECTS OF CULTIVAR AND OF DURATION OF CO2 ENRICHMENT

Wheat, Triticwn aestivum L., the winter cultivars Hobbit andCappelle-Desprez, and the spring cultivars Sicco and KJeiber,were grown in normal air or air enriched with CO₂ either outdoorsin a glass-roofed cage or in controlled environment rooms. Inneither the winter nor the spring wheat was growth increaseddue to enrichment with CO₂ before anthesis. Enrichment of thetwo winter wheat cultivars increased shoot dry weight significantlyat 15 d after anthesis but produced no significant increasein grain yield. With the spring cultivars there was a significantincrease in shoot dry weight by 18 d after anthesis and thegrain yield was also larger due to an increase in grain size.Shoot weight increased because the stems were larger, and therewas a diversion of assimilate from grain growth to late tillerproduction. Root tissue comprised less than 20% of the totaldry matter at anthesis (for all cultivars); effects of CO₂ enrichmenton root growth appeared to be less important than effects onshoot and ear growth. Growth and yield responses to CO₂ enrichmentwere observed (for the spring cultivars) at irradiances of both250 and 635 µE m^–2 s^–1, but the effects weregreater at the lower irradiance. Key words: CO₂ enrichment, Wheat, Cultivar     

Effects of Nitrogen Fertilizer on Growth and Yield of Spring Wheat

Nine amounts of nitrogen fertilizer, ranging from 0 to 200 kgN ha^–1, were applied to spring wheat cv. Kleiber in the3 years 1972-1974. In 1972 grain dry weight with 125 kg N ha^–1or more was 100 g m^–2 (23 per cent) greater than withoutnitrogen. Grain yield was unaffected by nitrogen in the otheryears. Leaf area at and after anthesis was increased throughoutthe range of nitrogen tested, most in 1972 and least in 1973.Consequently, the addition of 200 kg N ha^–1 decreasedthe amount of grain produced per unit of leaf area by approximately25 per cent in all years. The dry weight of leaves and stems at anthesis and maturitywas increased by nitrogen in all years, similarly to leaf area.However, the change in stem dry weight between anthesis andmaturity was not affected by nitrogen; stems increased in dryweight for about 20 days after anthesis and then decreased tovalues similar to those at anthesis. The uptake of CO₂ per unit area of flag leaf or second leaf(leaf below the flag leaf) was slightly decreased by nitrogenwhen the increase in leaf area caused by nitrogen appreciablydecreased the light intensity at the surface of these leaves.In spite of such decreases the CO₂ absorbed by flag and secondleaves per unit area of land was always increased by nitrogen,and relatively more than was grain yield. It is suggested that increases in respiratory loss of CO₂ withincreasing nitrogen fertilizer may explain why nitrogen increasedvegetative growth and leaf area relatively more than grain yield.     

Grain Size and Seedling Growth of Wheat at Different Ploidy Levels

A study was made of the influence of grain size variation withinand between diploid, tetraploid and hexaploid wheat, on a numberof seedling growth characters. Differences in grain size within the three ploidy levels appearedto be related to total photosynthetic area and dry weight accretionin the seedling. In the diploids there was a positive correlationbetween seed size and total photosynthetic area (r = +0·99,P < 0·01) and total dry weight (r = +0·84,P < 0·05) of the seedling at 10 weeks after emergence.In the tetraploid and hexaploids, seed size was negatively correlatedwith both total photosynthetic area (r = –0·69,P < 0·05 and r = –0·33, P < 0·05for the tetraploids and hexaploids respectively) and total dryweight (r = –0·69, P < 0·05 and r = –0·59,P < 0·05 for the tetraploids and hexaploids respectively),of the seedlings 10 weeks after emergence. The main physiological distinction between the tetraploids andhexaploids appeared to be the superiority of the hexaploidsin rate of leaf appearance and the lower ratio of expanded tounexpanded leaves in the seedling 10 weeks after emergence.The tetraploids, in turn, appeared to be superior to the diploidsin these two characters. Triticum spp., wheat, polyploidy, grain size, photosynthetic area, net assimilation rate, tiller number     

EFFECTS OF ROOT PRUNING AT THE REGREENING STAGE ON DROUGHT TOLERANCE AND WATER USE EFFICIENCY OF WINTER WHEAT IN LATE GROWING STAGE

 通过盆栽试验研究了返青期根修剪对冬小麦(Triticum aestivum)后期耐旱性及水分利用效率的影响。在返青期设置了两个根修剪处理: 1)小剪根, 在植株一侧切去部分侧生根; 2)大剪根, 在主茎四周切去部分侧生根。不剪根者设为对照(CK)。研究结果显示, 两个根修剪处理均显著减少了小麦的根系, 但对根冠比没有显著影响。在花期, 两个根修剪处理的小麦旗叶的叶绿素荧光参数最大光化学效率(The maximum photochemical efficiency of PSⅡ, F_v/F_m)、 PSⅡ潜在活性 (PSⅡ potential activity, F_v/F_o)、实际光化学量子产量(Effective PSⅡ quantum yield, Φ_PSⅡ)、表观光合电子传递速率(Apparent rate of photosynthetic electron transport, ETR)、光化学淬灭系数( Coefficient of photochemical quenching, q_P)和非光化学淬灭系数(Coefficient of non-photochemical quenching, NPQ)值, 在停止供水7 d后, 均显著高于对照, 这表明根修剪小麦的耐旱性强于对照, 因此在干旱胁迫下有较高的光化学活性。小剪根处理在高水条件下对小麦产量无显著影响, 而在中度干旱条件下显著提高了小麦的产量, 因此, 小剪根处理显著提高了小麦的抗旱系数; 小剪根处理在高水分处理(土壤水分含量为田间持水量的85%)和中度干旱胁迫处理(土壤水分含量为田间持水量的55%)条件下, 均显著提高了小麦的水分利用效率。但大剪根处理由于严重影响了群体数量和产量, 水分利用效率和抗旱系数均没有提高。可见, 适当地减少根系有助于小麦的耐旱性和水分利用效率的提高。     

The duration and rate of grain growth, and harvest index, of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in response to temperature and CO2

Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Hereward) was grown inthe field inside polyethylene-covered tunnels at a range oftemperatures at either 380 or 684 µmol mol^–1 CO₂.Serial harvests were taken from anthesis until harvest maturity.Grain yield was reduced by warmer temperatures, but increasedby CO₂ enrichment at all temperatures. During grain-filling,individual grain dry weight was a linear function of time fromanthesis until mass maturity (attainment of maximum grain dryweight) within each plot. The rate of progress to mass maturity(the reciprocal of time to mass maturity) was a positive linearfunction of mean temperature, but was not affected by CO₂ concentration.The rate of increase in grain dry weight per ear was 2.0 mgd^–1 greater per 1 C rise, and was 8.0 mg d^–1 greaterat 684 compared with 380 µmol mol^–1 CO₂ at a giventemperature. The rate of increase in harvest index was 1.0%d^–1 in most plots at 380 µmol mol^–1 CO₂ andin open field plots, compared with 1.18% d^–1 in all plotsat 684 µmol mol^–1 CO₂. Thus, the increased rateof grain growth observed at an elevated CO₂ concentration couldbe attributed partly to a change in the partitioning of assimilatesto the grain. In contrast, the primary effect of warmer temperatureswas to shorten the duration of grain-filling. The rate of graingrowth at a given temperature and the rate of increase in harvestindex were only independent of the number of grains per earabove a critical grain number of 23–24 grains per ear({small tilde}20 000 grains m^–2). Key words: Winter wheat, grain growth, temperature, CO₂, harvest index, critical grain number     

Photosynthesis of Ears and Flag Leaves of Wheat and Barley

Immediately after anthesis ears of spring wheat absorbed lessthan 0.5 mg CO₂, per hour in daylight and later evolved CO₂,in the light and in the dark. The rate of apparent photosynthesisof the combined flag-leaf lamina and sheath and peduncle (collectivelycalled flag leaf) of two spring wheat varieties, Atle and JufyI, was 3–4 mg per hour; the rates of the flag leaf andthe ear of two spring barleys, Plumage Archer and Proctor, wereeach about 1 mg per hour. The gas exchange of ears and flag leaves between ear emergenceand maturity accounted for most of the final grain dry weight.The CO₂, fixed by the wheat ear was equivalent to between 17and 30 per cent of the grain weight, but more than this waslost by respiration, so assimilation in the flag leaf was equivalentto 110–20 per cent of the final grain weight. In barley,photosynthesis in the flag leaf and the net CO₂ uptake by theear each provided about half of the carbohydrate in the grain. Barley ears photosynthesized more than wheat ears because oftheir greater surface, and flag leaves of wheat photosynthesizedmore than those of barley because they had more surface anda slightly greater rate of photosynthesis per dm².     

Dry Matter Yields and Photosynthetic Rates of Diploid and Hexaploid Triticum Species

The above ground dry matter yields of two wild diploid Triticumspecies averaged 76 per cent of that of two hexaploid breadwheat varieties in field trials carried out over five years.A cultivated diploid species, T. monococcum, gave similar drymatter yields to the bread wheat varieties but had a longergrowth cycle. The flag leaves of wild diploid species had higher rates ofphotosynthesis than those of the bread wheat varieties bothwhen expressed per unit area of leaf or per unit weight of chlorophyll.Photosynthetic rates of other organs, expressed per unit weightof chlorophyll were also greater for the wild diploids thanfor hexaploids. For snoots at the stage when their flag leaveswere fully expanded, the investment in photosynthetic machinery,as measured by chlorophyll concentration, was less in the twowild diploids than in the hexaploids. This compensated for thehigh photosynthetic rate of the former, such that the specificgrowth rates, assessed by carbon-14 fixation per unit shootdry matter, were similar. Triticum spp., wheat, dry matter yield, photosynthesis, carbon-14, ploidy     

Flag Leaf Photosynthesis of Triticum aestivum and Related Diploid and Tetraploid Species

Rates of net photosynthesis of the flag leaves of 15 genotypesof wheat and related species were measured throughout theirlife, using intact leaves on plants grown in the field. At thestage when rates were maximal, they were in general highestfor the diploid species, intermediate for the tetraploidspeciesand lowest for Triticum aestivum (means of 38, 32 and 28 mgCO₂ dm^–2 h^–1 respectively). Rates were stronglynegatively correlated with leaf area, leaf width and the meanplan area per mesophyll cell and positvely correlated with stomatalfrequency and number of veins per mm of leaf width. The differencesamong species in these attributes were mainly related to ploidylevel. It was not possible to determine the relative importanceof each anatomical feature, though the changes in stomatal frequencyhad only slight effects on stomatal conductance and the observeddifferences in rates of photosynthesis were much greater thanwould be expected from those in stomatal conductance alone. There was genetic variation in rates of light dependent oxygenevolution of isolated protoplasts and intact chloroplasts butno difference attributable to ploidy. The mean rate, 91 µmolO₂ mg^–1 chlorophyll h^–1, equivalent to 3.9 mg CO₂mg^-1chlorophyll h^-1 was considerably less than the rate of photosynthesisin comparable intact leaves, which was 7.2 mg CO₂ mg^–1chlorophyll h^–1. The total above-ground dry matter yields were least for thewild diploids T. urartu and T. thauodar and the wild tetraploidT. dicoccoides, but the other wild diploids produced as muchdry matter as the hexaploids. The prospects of exploiting differences in photosynthetic ratein the breeding of higher yielding varieties are discussed. Triticum aestivum L., wheat, Aegilops spp, photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, stomatal frequency, polyploidy