天然赤松个体生物量的研究

对延边地区不同密度天然赤松林中不同生长势的赤松个体地上部生物量进行了研究。结果表明,不同生长势赤松生物量变化受密度影响的顺序为：优势木〈平均木〈被压木;各器官生物量分配比例受密度影响的顺序为：干〉枝〉叶〉皮。不同生长势赤松的生物量垂直分布虽然各具特点,但都表现为：树干和树皮生物量主要分布在６ｍ树高范围内,树枝则集中在６～１０ｍ范围,针叶在上、中、下３层林冠中均分,上层林冠的枝叶量受密度影响最小。     

秦岭大熊猫栖息地巴山木竹生物量

巴山木竹是秦岭大熊猫冬、春季食物的主要来源,其生长状况、数量和空间分布格局与大熊猫的生存与活动有着密切的关系。为了探讨不同立地因子对巴山木竹生物量的影响,确定巴山木竹生长的主导因子和适宜立地条件,在秦岭大熊猫栖息地内选取54块样地,对不同立地条件下巴山木竹生物量进行了测定。通过统计分析,结果表明:由于不同地区气候和土壤条件的差异,导致了巴山木竹生物量亦存在较大差别;巴山木竹生物量在其分布区内随海拔的升高而呈规律性变化,1500—1700 m为最适分布区域,其生物量最大;坡度越大生物量越小,陡坡不适宜竹林的生长;上坡位不利于竹林生长,而中、下坡位生物量没有显著差异;坡向对生物量的影响不明显,均适宜巴山木竹生长;在落叶阔叶和针阔混交林中,当林冠郁闭度>0.6时,竹林生长减弱。在这些立地因子中,影响巴山木竹生物量积累的主导因子是坡位和林冠郁闭度。     

雷州半岛桉树生物质能源林生长的密度效应研究

以雷州半岛2年生桉树无性系DH201(Eucalyptus grandis  E. tereticornis)能源林为研究对象,对6种不同密度配置下的林分生长量、生物量以及热值等进行了分析,探讨密度对桉树生物质能源林生长的影响。结果表明,密度对桉树胸径和树高生长量影响极显著,在林分不同发育阶段对林分蓄积量的影响不同;单株生物量随密度增大而减小。1年生的林分蓄积量和生物量均以密度为10000 ind. hm-2的最大,分别为52.57 m3 hm-2和32.02 t hm-2;2年生的林分蓄积量和生物量均以密度为2500 ind. hm-2的最大,分别为75.85 m3 hm-2和45.66 t hm-2;密度对热值及灰分含量的影响不显著。因此,1年生和2年生的桉树能源林的最优密度分别为10000 ind. hm-2和2500 ind. hm-2。     

赤松纯林林分特征对昆嵛山鳃扁叶蜂发生量的影响

为探讨昆嵛山鳃扁叶蜂的发生与天然赤松纯林的林分特征及其自然分布的关系,依托昆嵛山森林生态定位研究站所设立的40块永久性样地,比较了群落自然演替13 a的赤松种群特征以及林内灌草多样性指数,并分析了虫口密度与赤松林分特征的关系。结果表明,13 a自然生长,赤松种群的径级分布和高度结构出现显著变化。赤松种群中占总数60%的林木径级为5 cmDBH≤25 cm,比1996年高51%;而约占67%的赤松个体高度在2 m到10 m之间,比1996年高57%。同时种群密度从1996年的平均超过13000株/hm2降到了2008年的平均2377株/hm2。赤松林内灌草Shannon多样性指数(H)和均匀度指数(JS)分别为2.50和0.79,分别低于1996年的(H)2.69和(JS)0.85,暗示赤松纯林生物多样性有降低的趋势。昆嵛山鳃扁叶蜂的虫口密度与赤松林分的郁闭度和赤松分布的海拔高度呈极显著相关关系、相关系数分别为R=0.931、P=0.002和R=0.924、P=0.003;与林分密度(R=0.780,P=0.038)、林木胸径(R=0.816,P=0.025)呈显著相关关系,而与树高以及树龄关系不显著。昆嵛山鳃扁叶蜂虫口密度的分布格局似乎非常符合"资源集中"假说。     

林窗对川西亚高山岷江冷杉幼苗生物量及其分配格局的影响

采用样带法调查了川西亚高山原始岷江冷杉林林窗和林冠下岷江冷杉幼苗(H≤100 cm)的密度、高度、基径和各构件生物量,分析了各构件生物量间的相关性.结果表明：林窗与林冠下幼苗密度分别为12 903和2 017株·hm^-2;平均高度分别是26.6和24.3 cm,差异显著;平均基径分别为4.97和5.13 mm,差异不显著.林窗内各龄级幼苗的生物量与林冠下同龄级幼苗的生物量之间差异不显著.林窗对不同龄级幼苗各构件生物量积累的影响不同,林窗内幼苗枝干生物量比在12年达到最大(1.54),随后其比值维持在0.69左右;林冠下幼苗在15年后(含15年),枝条生物量大于主干生物量.生长在林窗和林冠环境的幼苗单株总生物量、叶生物量、茎生物量、地上生物量和根生物量与幼苗基径的平方(D²)和苗高(H)的乘积有显著的线性关系.林窗与林冠下幼苗各构件生物量之间有显著的正相关关系.     

不同密度退耕雷竹春季林冠截留特性

为研究不同密度退耕雷竹春季林冠截留特性,对8个不同林分密度(10800±400、11600±400、13200±400、14800±400、16400±400、20800±400、22400±400和22800±400株·hm-2)的退耕雷竹林进行水文观测。结果表明:不同林分密度雷竹林外降雨与穿透雨、竹秆径流均具有极显著的抛物线函数关系,与林冠截留具有开口向下的抛物线函数关系;8个林分平均林冠截留率变化范围为1.42%~37.58%,林分密度与其最大截留量、平均林冠截留率呈开口向下的抛物线函数关系;当雷竹林分密度为17209株·hm-2时,其平均林冠截留率达到最大31.15%,最大林冠截留潜力为39.07 mm;可见,合理的林分密度可充分发挥退耕雷竹林的生态水文效益。     

水杉人工林建植50年后的分化特征

通过种群统计学、格局分析和树干解析等对50 a生水杉人工林林分的分化特征进行了研究.结果表明:小个体林木占有相对多数(>50.4%);林木分化现象显著,特别是树高与材积的分化十分突出,林分已出现一定强度的自然稀疏;基于TSTRAT程式的林木分级结果表明,亚优势木占绝对优势(45.7%),其树冠构成该林分的主林冠;竞争指数依次为优势木级<亚优势木级<中庸木级<被压木级,各级的基尼系数基本上低于全林总计;优势木绝对生长率和相对生长率在林分成熟期以前均大于标准木,且胸径速生期持续时问较标准木长;林分高度生长受压抑程度低于胸径生长;林木分布格局总体呈均匀型,与造林初始基本一致;优势木和被压木为聚集分布,中庸木和枯死木为随机散布,亚优势木的分布型则介于随机和聚集之间.林木种群分化既表现在个体大小的不均等性上,也表现在空间分布的非匀质性上.目前林分结构特征的主要成因可以归结为密度压力下的种内竞争.     

林分结构对桂西南蚬木种群天然更新的影响

研究垂直结构(树冠指数、大树比例、小树比例和树高)及密度因素(基面积、乔木密度、灌木密度、灌木盖度和蚬木比例)对桂西南喀斯特山地典型蚬木种群天然更新的影响.结果表明: 群落平均更新密度为1742～3861株·hm^-2,密度相对较低.垂直结构和密度因素对蚬木幼龄植株个体数影响不显著,对地径和株高生长有一定影响.在垂直结构变量中,树冠指数与蚬木幼苗株高呈显著负相关,与幼苗地径的相关性不显著;大树比例和树高与幼苗的地径和株高均呈显著负相关,小树比例与幼苗地径和株高呈显著正相关.在密度变量中,乔木密度与幼苗地径、株高呈显著正相关;蚬木比例与幼苗地径呈显著负相关.多元回归分析显示,林分结构因子与蚬木幼龄植株个体数的拟合较差(P>0.05),蚬木幼苗的数量分布在一定程度上受到垂直结构的综合影响;林分结构因子模型对蚬木幼苗地径和株高的拟合较好(P<0.01),幼苗地径生长主要受乔木密度影响,株高生长主要受乔木密度和基面积的共同影响.     

林分密度对思茅松人工林根系生物量空间分布的影响

以云南省普洱市思茅松人工林中14a龄林为研究对象,对5种造林密度(1m×1m、1.5m×1.5m、2m×1m、2m×2m、2m×3m)的思茅松人工林的林分特征及其根系生物量空间分布进行调查分析,以明确林分密度对思茅松人工林细根生物量空间分布的影响,为思茅松人工林经营管理提供理论依据。结果表明:(1)树高和胸径随着林分密度的减少呈增大趋势,而生物量呈减少趋势。(2)14a思茅松人工林的细根生物量随林分密度的增大而减少,单株细根生物量随林分密度的减小而增大,但粗根与死根生物量在5个林分密度之间无显著差异。(3)细根生物量主要分布在土壤上层,其中40.21%~54.73%的细根集中在0~10cm土壤深度,不同林分密度的细根生物量随土层深度的增加而减少的趋势较为明显,随着林分密度的减小,土壤上层的细根生物量比例呈先增加后减少的趋势。(4)林分密度和土壤深度对细根生物量有显著影响,而且乔木个体大小差异与细根生物量具有极显著的负相关关系,而单株细根生物量与林分密度、乔木个体大小差异、地下生物量及胸高断面积之间呈显著或极显著的负相关关系,而与树高和胸径之间呈显著正相关关系。     

黑龙江省东部地区红松人工中幼龄林生物量研究

运用非线性联立方程组建模理论建立红松立木相容性生物量模型,然后利用模型计算出人工红松各个样地林木各器官和样地总生物量。以林分年龄、林分平均胸径、林分密度等因素为制约条件,讨论分析林分生物量在林木各器官之间的分配规律,并且探究林分年龄、林木大小和林分密度的变化对林分生物量的影响。结果表明:幼龄红松人工林林分生物量与平均胸径成正相关关系;林分密度对林分生物量影响较大,并且随着密度的增大而增大,且最适合的林分密度范围是1 000~1 400株·ha-1;红松人工幼、中龄林林分生物量各器官分配规律相同,表现为树干树根树枝树叶,地上生物量占林分生物量79%左右;林分地上和地下生物量大概呈3.8∶1的比例。     

干旱对东北春玉米生长发育和产量的影响

选取玉米品种丹玉39为供试材料,利用大型农田水分控制试验场,采用大田池栽方式,在玉米三叶-拔节期、拔节-吐丝期、吐丝-乳熟期分别开展中度干旱胁迫及复水控制对比试验,分析3个关键生育时期干旱胁迫对春玉米生长发育和产量的影响.结果表明：与水分适宜对照（CK）相比,三叶-拔节期遭受干旱胁迫后,全生育期推迟13 d,至拔节普遍期,株高偏低29.8%,叶面积偏小41.2%,复水后,株高和产量得到较大程度恢复,果穗性状和最终产量差异不大;拔节-吐丝期遭受干旱胁迫后,全生育期缩短7 d,至吐丝普遍期,株高偏低18.6%,叶面积偏小14.1%,果穗长、穗粒数、果穗干质量、穗粒质量分别下降6.9%、19.1%、28.1%和29.4%,空秆率增加13.3%;吐丝-乳熟期遭受干旱胁迫后,全生育期缩短15 d,生长至乳熟普遍期,株高偏低2.3%,叶面积偏小37.3%,果穗长、穗粒数、果穗干质量、穗粒质量分别下降9.2%、24.1%、30.8%和27.9%,空秆率增加24.5%.拔节-吐丝期、吐丝-乳熟期干旱胁迫处理并复水后,玉米株高恢复不明显,产量降幅显著.     

阴湿环境对玉米杂交种生长发育特性的影响

比较了在人工遮光增湿环境和自然环境下18个玉米杂交种生长发育特性的差异,研究了阴湿环境对玉米杂交种生长发育特性的影响.结果表明: 遮光增湿环境使空气湿度比自然环境增加15.0%～16.4%,土壤湿度增加27.0%～78.4%,光照强度降低72.9%～77.9%,光量子减少72.8%～79.6%,差异均达显著或极显著水平,但不影响环境温度.阴湿环境导致玉米植株第7叶宽、有效功能叶数、成株叶片数、雄穗分枝数、茎粗、株高、穗位高、穗长、穗粗、穗行数、行粒数、百粒重和单株粒重13个性状表现为负向变异(表型值变小),其中单株粒重降幅达72.3%,株高降幅7.1%,其余性状降幅介于14.8%～53.8%之间;第7叶长、第7叶长宽比、散粉至抽丝间隔天数(ASI)、小斑病指数和纹枯病指数等5个性状表现为正向变异(表型值增大),分别增大39.8%、80.5%、114.3%、73.0%和54.8%.用ASI、雄穗分枝数、成株叶片数、株高、单株粒重、小斑病指数和纹枯病指数7个性状计算出的综合耐阴湿系数作为玉米杂交种耐阴湿鉴定的指标,具有一定的可靠性,且简便易行.运用该指标可将18个杂交种划分为耐阴湿性强、耐阴湿性中等和耐阴湿性弱3类.     

Kernel set in maize genotypes differing in nitrogen use efficiency in response to resource availability around flowering

Environmental conditions affect grain yield in maize (Zea mays L.) mainly by altering the kernel number per plant (KNP). This number is determined during a critical period of about 2 weeks around silking. The objectives of this study were to assess how the rate and timing of nitrogen (N) fertilizer applications affect biomass partitioning and KNP in two genotypes with different N use efficiency, and to compare kernel set of these genotypes under varying regimes of carbohydrate and N availability during the critical period for kernel set. In the first field experiment, plant density and the rate of N supply per plant were varied independently. In the second field experiment, N availability was controlled via the application of N fertilizer, and carbohydrate availability was controlled by shading or thinning at silking. In both experiments, low rates of N supply reduced KNP more strongly in the non-efficient genotype when compared to the efficient genotype. The genotypic differences in kernel set were neither associated with N uptake into the above-ground biomass at maturity, nor above-ground biomass at silking. In the non-efficient genotype, application of N fertilizer at silking increased KNP. This increase was not associated with an increase in plant growth but with increased partitioning of biomass towards the reproductive organs during the critical period for kernel set. The genotype which had been selected for its high N use efficiency also showed higher kernel set at high plant density and shading during flowering when compared to the non-efficient genotype. Under conditions of restricted resource availability per plant, plant and ear growth rates during the critical period of about 14 days after onset of flowering declined compared with non-limiting conditions. However, these growth rates were less reduced in the efficient genotype. Pooling treatments of different plant density and different available N, each hybrid showed linear responses of KNP to plant growth rate and to ear growth rate. Furthermore, in the efficient genotype KNP was reduced to a lesser extent in response to decreasing growth rates. We conclude that higher kernel set of the efficient genotype compared to the non-efficient genotype under stressful conditions was associated with low sensitivity of plant growth and dry matter distribution towards reproductive organs to low assimilate availability during the critical period of kernel set, and particularly with low sensitivity of kernel set to decreasing plant and ear growth rates.     

The Effect of Speckled Leaf Blotch on Apical Development and Yield in Winter Wheat in New Zealand

Speckled leaf blotch (Mycosphaerella graminicola) reduced yieldin a winter wheat trial by 18 per cent. Detailed analyses ofthe effects of disease on yield components showed that diseasereduced both grain number per ear and grain weight. The reductionin grain number per ear was due to a decrease in grain numberper spikelet, and this occurred for both main stem and tillers,and occurred equally at each spikelet position on the ear. The effect of disease on grain number was traced back to anearlier reduction in floret primordium number per ear, especiallyfloret number per spikelet. It was suggested that floret primordiumproduction was affected by the reduced assimilate supply tothe developing apex. The effects of disease on yield could therefore be attributedto effects on plant development both before and after anthesis.The disease effects on yield were not necessarily associatedwith the time of maximum disease severity. Plots with the early phase of disease epidemic only showed asignificant reduction in yield, but there was some evidenceof compensation for early reductions to yield potential in thelater-determined yield components. We suggest, therefore, thatan effective disease-control programme must take into accountthe possible early effects of disease on yield potential. Mycosphaerella graminicola, speckled leaf blotch, winter wheat, yield loss, apical development     

Comparisons of DNA marker-based genetic diversity with phenotypic estimates in maize grown in Pakistan

We compared DNA-based genetic diversity estimates with conventional estimates by investigating agronomically important traits in maize grown in the northwestern region of Pakistan. RAPD markers were used to characterize 10 commonly cultivated maize genotypes. The same material was tested for phenotypic variation of quantitative traits using replicated field trials. The genetic distances between pairs of genotypes using RAPD data were used to generate a similarity matrix and to construct a phenogram. Statistical analyses were carried out on the data obtained from field trials of all maize genotypes for days to 50% tasseling, days to 50% silking, plant height, ear height, grain yield, grain weight per cob, and ear length. Analysis of variance and single degree of freedom contrasts were performed on morphological data to examine the relationship between molecular-based clusters and agronomic traits. A molecular marker-based phenogram led to the grouping of all genotypes into four major clusters, some of which were distantly related. These clusters contained one to four genotypes. Analysis of variance showed significant variations among all genotypes for agronomic traits. The single degree of freedom contrasts between groups of genotypes indicated significant differences for most traits. Pair-wise comparisons between clusters were also significant. The two types of data correlated well, providing an opportunity for better choices for selection.     

Effects of variation in temperature and light intensity at different times on growth and yield of spring wheat

Spring wheat grown in pots outdoors was transferred to growth rooms for various periods to study the effect of increasing the temperature from 14-4 to 20-3 ^oC (Expt 1) or from day/night values of 15-0/15-2 to 20-0/15-2 ^oC (Expt 2) and of increasing the amount of visible radiation in a 16 h day from 424 to 792 J cm^-2 (Expt 1) or 374 to 740 J cm^-2 (Expt 2). There were no interactions between temperature and radiation. In Expt 1 neither the increase in temperature nor extra radiation, applied for 14 days immediately after the appearance of double ridges on the stem apex, or 14 days later, increased grain yield at maturity. Warmth early, but not late, increased dry weight, leaf area and the number of floret primordia immediately after treatment, but these effects had disappeared by anthesis, 30 days later. Dry weight but not leaf area was increased by extra radiation but the effects had disappeared 2 wk after treatment. An increase in temperature imposed for 16 days starting 5 or 21 days after anthesis (Expt 2) increased dry weight of the ear and decreased that of the rest of the plant immediately after treatment, and decreased leaf area at all times. When plants from the two temperatures were put together in the same conditions, ear growth of plants that had been in the warm was slower than that of plants from the cold treatment, so that the difference in ear weight observed after 16 days of treatment reversed and grain yield was decreased by warmth applied in either period; the component of yield decreased by warmth was grain size. Additional radiation in either post-anthesis period increased dry weight of all parts of the plant and had negligible effects on leaf area. Final grain yield was increased by c. 15% because the individual grains were larger. Early treatment also increased grain number slightly. The effects of treatment during the two post-anthesis periods were similar in size, and additive.     

Apoplastic infusion of sucrose into stem internodes during female flowering does not increase grain yield in maize plants grown under nitrogen‐limiting conditions

Nitrogen (N) limitation reduces leaf growth and photosynthetic rates of maize (Zea mays), and constrains photosynthate translocation to developing ears. Additionally, the period from about 1 week before to 2 weeks after silking is critical for establishing the reproductive sink capacity necessary to attain maximum yield. To investigate the influence of carbohydrate availability in plants of differing N status, a greenhouse study was performed in which exogenous sucrose (Suc) was infused around the time of silking into maize stems grown under different N regimes. N deficiency significantly reduced leaf area, leaf longevity, leaf chlorophyll content and photosynthetic rate. High N‐delayed leaf senescence, particularly of the six uppermost leaves, compared to the other two N treatments. While N application increased ear leaf soluble protein concentration, it did not influence glucose and suc concentrations. Interestingly, ear leaf starch concentration decreased with increasing N application. Infusion of exogenous suc tended to increase non‐structural carbohydrate concentrations in the developing ears of all N treatments at silking and 6 days after silking. However, leaf photosynthetic rates were not affected by suc infusion, and suc infusion failed to increase grain yield in any N treatment. The lack of an effect of suc infusion on ear growth and the high ear leaf starch concentration of N‐deficient maize, suggest that yield reduction under N deficiency may not be due to insufficient photosynthate availability to the developing ear during silking, and that yield reduction under N deficiency may be determined at an earlier growth stage.     

玉米品种耐阴性指标的筛选与评价

采用大田试验,研究了24个玉米品种在50%遮光处理下的形态、生理与产量性状的变化.结果表明：与自然光照相比,遮光处理后,玉米的株高降低,茎粗减小,雌雄间隔期延长,净光合速率减小,比叶重减小,地上部干物质量减少,果穗缩短变细,穗轴直径减小,行粒数减少,籽粒产量显著降低,其中雌雄间隔期、净光合速率、比叶重和行粒数变化的百分率与地上部干物质量和籽粒产量减少的百分率之间呈显著或极显著相关,可作为田间鉴定玉米耐阴性的有效指标.采用综合耐阴性状作为评价参数,经聚类分析表明,郑单958、浚单20、登海602等14个品种属耐阴型品种,安玉12、豫玉22等10个品种属非耐阴型品种.表明以形态、生理指标结合产量性状来评价玉米耐阴性较为客观,且简单易行.     

The genetics of nitrogen use in hexaploid wheat: N utilisation, development and yield

A genetic study is presented for traits relating to nitrogen use in wheat. Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were established for 21 traits relating to growth, yield and leaf nitrogen (N) assimilation during grain fill in hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) using a mapping population from the cross Chinese Spring × SQ1. Glutamine synthetase (GS) isozymes and estimated locations of 126 genes were placed on the genetic map. QTLs for flag leaf GS activity, soluble protein, extract colour and fresh weight were found in similar regions implying shared control of leaf metabolism and leaf size. Flag leaf traits were negatively associated with days to anthesis both phenotypically and genetically, demonstrating the complex interactions of metabolism with development. One QTL cluster for GS activity co-localised with a GS2 gene mapped on chromosome 2A, and another with the mapped GSr gene on 4A. QTLs for GS activity were invariably co-localised with those for grain N, with increased activity associated with higher grain N, but with no or negative correlations with grain yield components. Peduncle N was positively correlated, and QTLs co-localised, with grain N and flag leaf N assimilatory traits, suggesting that stem N can be indicative of grain N status in wheat. A major QTL for ear number per plant was identified on chromosome 6B which was negatively co-localised with leaf fresh weight, peduncle N, grain N and grain yield. This locus is involved in processes defining the control of tiller number and consequently assimilate partitioning and deserves further examination. Electronic Supplementary Material The online version of this article () contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Grain yield and kernel weight of two maize genotypes differing in nitrogen use efficiency at various levels of nitrogen and carbohydrate availability during flowering and grain filling

Grain yield per plant (GYP) and mean kernel weight (KW) of maize (Zea mays L.) are sensitive to changes in the environment during the lag phase of kernel growth (the time after pollination in which the potential kernel size is determined), and during the phase of linear kernel growth. The aim of this study was to assess genotypic differences in the response to environmental stresses associated with N and/or carbohydrate shortage at different phases during plant development. The rate and timing of N and carbohydrate supply were modified by application of fertilizer, shading, and varying the plant density at sowing, at silking or at 14 d after silking. The effects of these treatments on the photosynthetic capacity, grain yield and mean kernel weight were investigated in two hybrids differing in N use efficiency. The total above-ground biomass and grain yield per plant of the efficient hybrid responded little to altered environmental conditions such as suboptimal N supply, enhanced inter-plant competition, and shading for 14 d during flowering, when compared to the less efficient genotype. We conclude that grain yields in the efficient genotype are less sensitive not only to N stress, but also to carbohydrate shortage before grain filling. Shading of N deficient plants from 14 d after silking to maturity did not significantly reduce grain yield in the non-efficient genotype, indicating complete sink limitation of grain yield during grain filling. In the efficient genotype, in contrast, grain yield of N-deficient plants was significantly reduced by shading during grain filling. The rate of photosynthesis declined with decreasing foliar N content. No genotypic differences in photosynthesis were observed at high or low foliar N contents. However, at high plant density and low N supply, the leaf chlorophyll content after flowering in the efficient genotype was higher than that in the non-efficient genotype. Obviously, the higher source capacity of the efficient genotype was not due to higher photosynthetic N use efficiency but due to maintenance of high chlorophyll contents under stressful conditions. In the efficient genotype, the harvest index was not significantly affected by N fertilization, plant density, or shading before the grain filling period. In contrast, in the non-efficient genotype the harvest index was diminished by N deficiency and shading during flowering. We conclude that the high yielding ability of the efficient genotype under stressful conditions was associated with formation of a high sink capacity of the grains under conditions of low carbohydrate and N availability during flowering and with maintenance of high source strength during grain filling under conditions of high plant density and low N availability.