Variation in Chlorophyll A Content and Stability in Wheat Flag Leaves

Chlorophyll a content in segments of flag leaves from 19 wheatvarieties excised at ear emergence was shown to vary by a factorof 2.3. Chlorophyll stability (expressed as the percentage ofchlorophyll remaining in the segments after 4 days senescencein moist boxes at 20 °C in the dark) varied by a factorof 8.5. Variation in these parameters between varieties appearedto be independent. Five of these varieties, representing the extremes, were furthertested at three nutrient levels, and under three light/temperatureregimes. Whilst lower leaf canopy senescence was greater atlow nutrient levels, flag leaf chlorophyll content actuallyincreased slightly, stability remaining fairly constant. Incontrast, as light intensity improved, chlorophyll content increasedmarkedly, with a consequent slight non-significant decreasein stability. Testing the F₁ progeny of a partial diallel involving four ofthe above varieties showed that the mean chlorophyll content,and stability, of the parents followed the same ranking as theprogeny to which they contributed. This suggests heritable controlof the parameters measured. Some implications of these resultsin breeding for resistance to senescence are discussed.