Tillering Responses to the Light Environment and to Defoliation in Populations of Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenneL.) Selected for Contrasting Leaf Length

Tillering responses to the light environment and to defoliationwere studied in two populations of perennial ryegrass (LoliumperenneL.) selected for contrasting leaf lengths. The objectiveof this study was to determine whether differences in tilleringresponses between populations, as a result of management practices,affected their competitive ability. Young seedlings were exposed,under controlled conditions, to defoliation, neutral shading(decreased photosynthetic photon flux), low red:far-red ratioand/or decreased blue light. Selection for longer leaves reducedthe tillering rate. After defoliation, this difference betweenshort- and long-leaved populations was magnified. Defoliationdecreased both site filling and phyllochron of the long-leavedpopulation but had no effect on the short-leaved population.Lowering the photosynthetic photon flux reduced the phyllochronin both population. Decreasing the red:far-red ratio reducedtillering rate by reducing site filling, whereas decreasingblue light had no significant effects on tillering. Tilleringresponses to photosynthetic photon flux and to red:far-red ratiowere similar in the two populations selected for contrastingleaf length. The implication of these tillering responses indefining the competitive ability of the grass plants is discussedin relation to their management.Copyright 1999 Annals of BotanyCompany Blue light, defoliation, far-red, irradiance, leaf size,Lolium perenne(L.), perennial ryegrass, photomorphogenesis, phyllochron, shading, site filling, tiller production.     

Cold Hardening of Spring and Winter Wheat and Rape Results in Differential Effects on Growth,Carbon Metabolism,and Carbohydrate Content

The effect of long-term (months) exposure to low temperature (5[deg]C) on growth, photosynthesis, and carbon metabolism was studied in spring and winter cultivars of wheat (Triticum aestivum) and rape (Brassica napus). Cold-grown winter rape and winter wheat maintained higher net assimilation rates and higher in situ CO2 exchange rates than the respective cold-grown spring cultivars. In particular, the relative growth rate of spring rape declined over time at low temperature, and this was associated with a 92% loss in in situ CO2 exchange rates. Associated with the high photosynthetic rates of cold-grown winter cultivars was a 2-fold increase per unit of protein in both stromal and cytosolic fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase activity and a 1.5- to 2-fold increase in sucrose-phosphate synthase activity. Neither spring cultivar increased enzyme activity on a per unit of protein basis. We suggest that the recovery of photosynthetic capacity at low temperature and the regulation of enzymatic activity represent acclimation in winter cultivars. This allow these overwintering herbaceous annuals to maximize the production of sugars with possible cryoprotective function and to accumulate sufficient carbohydrate storage reserve to support basal metabolism and regrowth in the spring.     

Changes in apoplastic peroxidase activity and cell wall composition are associated with cold‐induced morpho‐anatomical plasticity of wheat leaves

• Temperate grasses, such as wheat, become compact plants with small thick leaves after exposure to low temperature. These responses are associated with cold hardiness, but their underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here we analyse the effects of low temperature on leaf morpho‐anatomical structure, cell wall composition and activity of extracellular peroxidases, which play key roles in cell elongation and cell wall thickening, in two wheat cultivars with contrasting cold‐hardening ability.
• A combined microscopy and biochemical approach was applied to study actively growing leaves of winter (ProINTA‐Pincén) and spring (Buck‐Patacón) wheat developed under constant warm (25 °C) or cool (5 °C) temperature.
• Cold‐grown plants had shorter leaves but longer inter‐stomatal epidermal cells than warm‐grown plants. They had thicker walls in metaxylem vessels and mestome sheath cells, paralleled with accumulation of wall components, predominantly hemicellulose. These effects were more pronounced in the winter cultivar (Pincén). Cold also induced a sharp decrease in apoplastic peroxidase activity within the leaf elongating zone of Pincén, and a three‐fold increase in the distal mature zone of the leaf. This was consistent with the enhanced cell length and thicker cell walls in this cultivar at 5 °C.
• The different response to low temperature of apoplastic peroxidase activity and hemicellulose between leaf zones and cultivar types suggests they might play a central role in the development of cold‐induced compact morphology and cold hardening. New insights are presented on the potential temperature‐driven role of peroxidases and hemicellulose in cell wall dynamics of grasses.

     

Cold-induced accumulation of protein in the leaves of spring and winter barley cultivars

Electrophoretic pattern and quantitative changes in soluble proteins were determined in the leaves of spring and winter cultivars of barley (Hordeum vulgare L., cv. Makouei and cv. Reyhan, respectively) exposed to 4 degrees C for 14 d. Seedlings were grown in a controlled growth chamber for 2 weeks at a constant air temperature of 20 degrees C and then transferred to constant 4 degrees C for 14 d followed by returning to 20 degrees C (cold treatment), or they were maintained throughout at 20 degrees C during the experimental period of 40 d (control treatment). Plants were sampled every 48 h for leaf fresh weight measurements. Total leaf soluble proteins were extracted and their concentration was either determined by a colorimetric method, or size-fractionated on SDS-PAGE. Low temperature-induced increases in protein amount occurred over the second week of exposure to cold treatment irrespective of cultivar: the winter cultivar was 2 d prior in this response. The protein patterns and their density showed differences between-cultivars and between-temperature treatments. A new cold-induced polypeptide was recognized in the leaves of winter barley cultivar on day 22 (8 d at 4 degrees C) compared to the control. This polypeptide was produced earlier over the first 48 h of low temperature in the winter cultivar compared with the spring one, recognizing in the leaves of cold-treated seedling until day 26. This more rapid response to a low temperature by the winter barley cultivar indicates a more sensitive response compared with the spring barley, probably cold-shock protein is a component of this cold-induced response.     

Susceptibility to low-temperature photoinhibition and the acquisition of freezing tolerance in winter and spring wheat: The role of growth temperature and irradiance

Five winter and five spring wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars were grown under either control conditions (20°C/250 photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) [μmol m⁻² s⁻¹]), high irradiance (20°C/800 PPFD) or at low temperature (either 5°C/250 PPFD or 5°C/50 PPFD). To eliminate any potential bias, the wheat cultivars were arbitrarily chosen without any previous knowledge of their freezing tolerance or photosynthetic competence. We show that the differential susceptibilities to photoinhibition exhibited between spring and winter wheat cultivars, as assessed by chlorophyll fluorescence cannot be explained on the basis of either growth irradiance or low growth temperature per se. The role of excitation pressure is discussed. We assessed the correlation between susceptibility to low-temperature photoinhibition, maximum ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase (EC 4.1.1.39) and NADP-dependent malate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.82) activities, chlorophyll and protein concentrations and freezing tolerance determined by electrolyte leakage. Susceptibility to photoinhibition is the only parameter examined that is strongly and negatively correlated with freezing tolerance. We suggest that the assessment of susceptibility to photoinhibition may be a useful predictor of freezing tolerance and field survival of cereals.     

Influence of Temperature on the Virulence of Two Races of Meloidogyne chitwoodi on Wheat and Barley

Races of the Columbia root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne chitzooodi, from Idaho (R1) and Utah (R2) suppressed (P < 0.05) tillering of Dusty winter wheat, Fielder spring wheat, Luther winter barley, and Steptoe spring barley at 15-30 C. Nematode inoculum density was negatively correlated with tillering (r = -0.79). Inoculum densities of both nematode races were negatively correlated with heads per plant (r = -0.83), head length (r = -0.87), and head dry weight (r = 0.73) of Fielder spring wheat and Steptoe spring barley at all temperatures; the greatest growth restrictions occurred at Pi 20 eggs/cm³ soil. Both nematode races were most damaging at 25-30 C. Fielder spring wheat and Steptoe spring barley inoculated with R2 produced fewer heads than R1 when inoculated at 15 C, whereas the same cultivars inoculated with R1 produced fewer heads than R2 at 30 C. No differences were observed between root growth of winter and spring wheat or between winter and spring barley. Nematode reproduction was positively correlated to temperature (r = 0.87) and negatively correlated with inoculum density (r = -0.86). Reproductive rates were greatest with Pi = 2 eggs/cm³ soil at 25 C and lowest with Pi = 20 eggs/cm³ soil at 15 C for both nematode races.     

Developmental traits affecting low-temperature tolerance response in near-isogenic lines for the Vernalization locus Vrn-A1 in wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em Thell)

Investigation of low-temperature (LT) tolerance in cereals has commonly led to the region of the vyn-A1 vernalization gene or its homologue in related genomes. Two cultivars, one a non-hardy spring wheat and one a very cold-hardy winter wheat, whose growth habits are determined by the Vrn-A1 (spring habit) and vrn-A1 (winter habit) alleles, were chosen to produce reciprocal near-isogenic lines (NILs). These lines were then used to determine the relationship between rate of phenological development and the degree and duration of LT tolerance gene expression. Each allele was isolated in the genetic backgrounds of the non-hardy spring wheat 'Manitou' and the very cold-hardy winter wheat 'Norstar'. The effects of each allele on phenological development and low-temperature tolerance (LT50) were determined at regular intervals over a 4 degrees C acclimation period of 0-98 d. The vegetative/reproductive transition, as determined by final leaf number (FLN), was found to be a major developmental factor influencing LT tolerance. Possession of a vernalization requirement increased both the length of the vegetative growth phase and LT tolerance. Similarly, increased FLN in spring Norstar and winter Manitou NILs delayed their vegetative/reproductive transition and increased their LT tolerance relative to Manitou. Although the winter Manitou NILs had a lower FLN than the spring Norstar NILs, they were able to extend their vegetative stage to a similar length by increasing the phyllochron (interval between the appearance of successive leaves). Cereal plants have four ways of increasing the length of the vegetative phase, all of which extend the time that low-temperature tolerance genes are more highly expressed: (1) vernalization; (2) photoperiod responses; (3) increased leaf number; and (4) increased length of the phyllochron.     

The effect of low temperature on the microtubules in root meristem cells of spring and winter cultivars of wheat <Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum aestivum L.</Emphasis>

We have studied the response of interphase and mitotic microtubule arrays in root meristem cells of spring and winter cultivars of wheat Triticum aestivum L. (Moskovskaya 35 and Moskovskaya 39) to cold stress (1 h at 0°C) and acclimation to cold (3–48 h at 0°C). We show that, in general, interphase microtubules are more resistant to cold then mitotic arrays in both cultivars. During cold stress, no changes are detected in the microtubule system of interphase cells of spring wheat, whereas the density of endoplasmic microtubules increases in interphase cells of winter wheat. During mitosis, the density of the kinetochore fibers of the spindle decreases in the cells of both cultivars, but it is prevailing in the cells of spring cultivar of wheat. During acclimation to cold, the disorganization of the cortical microtubule bundles and the enhanced growth of the endoplasmic microtubule network, which is comprised of microtubule converging centers, are observed in cells of both cultivars. However, the mitotic microtubule systems of winter and spring cultivars respond differently to cold acclimation. During prophase, a diffuse tubulin “halo,”followed by the assembly of microtubule converging centers, accumulate at the perinuclear area in the cells of winter wheat. In cells of spring cultivar, the prophase spindle is only detected during initial stages of cold acclimation. During metaphase, aberrant mitotic spindles, abnormal metaphase plates, and the excessive appearance of microtubule converging centers are observed in cells of both cultivars. Acclimation induces the disorganization of the phragmoplast and the formation of multiple microtubule converging centers during telophase in the cells of both cultivars. Microtubule converging centers are detected at the perinuclear area of daughter cells in winter wheat and in the cortical cytoplasm in spring wheat. The excessive formation of microtubule converging centers suggests the activation of microtubule assembly during prolonged exposure to low temperature. Our data also demonstrates common pathways of microtubule response to cold treatment (0°C).     

A Comparison of Freezing Injury in Oat and Rye: Two Cereals at the Extremes of Freezing Tolerance

A detailed analysis of cold acclimation of a winter rye (Secale cereale L. cv Puma), a winter oat (Avena sativa L. cv Kanota), and a spring oat cultivar (Ogle) revealed that freezing injury of leaves of nonacclimated seedlings occurred at -2[deg]C in both the winter and spring cultivars of oat but did not occur in winter rye leaves until after freezing at -4[deg]C. The maximum freezing tolerance was attained in all cultivars after 4 weeks of cold acclimation, and the temperature at which 50% electrolyte leakage occurred decreased to -8[deg]C for spring oat, -10[deg]C for winter oat, and -21[deg]C for winter rye. In protoplasts isolated from leaves of nonacclimated spring oat, expansion-induced lysis was the predominant form of injury over the range of -2 to -4[deg]C. At temperatures lower than -4[deg]C, loss of osmotic responsiveness, which was associated with the formation of the hexagonal II phase in the plasma membrane and subtending lamellae, was the predominant form of injury. In protoplasts isolated from leaves of cold-acclimated oat, loss of osmotic responsiveness was the predominant form of injury at all injurious temperatures; however, the hexagonal II phase was not observed. Rather, injury was associated with the occurrence of localized deviations of the plasma membrane fracture plane to closely appressed lamellae, which we refer to as the "fracture-jump lesion." Although the freeze-induced lesions in the plasma membrane of protoplasts of spring oat were identical with those reported previously for protoplasts of winter rye, they occurred at significantly higher temperatures that correspond to the lethal freezing temperature.     

Morphological Analysis of Leaf and Tiller Number Dynamics of Wheat (Triticum aestivumL.): Responses to Temperature and Light Intensity

In recent literature on Gramineae species, leaf and tiller numberdynamics have been studied by analysing site filling and thephyllochron of the mainstem. However, site filling is influencedby three components: (1) the phyllochron of the mainstem anddaughter tillers; (2) specific site usage (i.e. fraction ofbuds that ultimately develop into a visible tiller at a specificsite); and (3) HS-delay (i.e. difference in Haun Stage (HS)between the parent tiller and daughter tiller above the pointwhere the daughter tiller appears). These three morphologicalcomponents affecting site filling were studied under differentenvironmental conditions in a growth chamber experiment withspring and winter wheat (Triticum aestivumL.). Treatments weretemperature (daily average 10.5, 15.5 or 20.5 °C) and lightintensity (111, 191 or 286 µmol m^-2s^-1). Effects of temperatureand light intensity on phyllochron were well described by equationsalready reported in the literature. Specific site usage washigher at cooler temperatures and greater light intensitiesand was related to tiller position. It is proposed that theseeffects on specific site usage reflect differences in availabilityof local assimilate for tiller appearance. HS-delay of a tillerwas shorter if the expected tiller appearance was later andwas only slightly affected by light intensity or temperature.This new concept, combining HS-delay and specific site usage,can be useful in constructing more general models of the effectsof environmental factors on the dynamics of leaf number andleaf area ofGramineaespecies.Copyright 1998 Annals of BotanyCompany Triticum aestivum; wheat; phyllochron; temperature; light intensity; leaf number; tillering; site filling; site usage.     

Key phenological events in globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus var.scolymus) development

A priority for the field vegetable grower is to be able to schedule a regular supply of product throughout the growing season. This requires a predictive framework, based on the identification of key developmental events of the crop, and an understanding of how genotypic and environmental factors interact to determine plant development. Four globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus) cultivars, representing the existing phenological range, were grown in a field experiment, and a range of environmental conditions was imposed by varying both the timing of the first irrigation (which determines the initiation of regrowth) and by repeating the experiment across two locations and 2 years. The timing of the appearance of the main stem capitulum was sensitive to both the growing environment and the cultivar. These differences persisted till flowering and were correlated with final leaf number. As the plant developed, the phyllochron decreased, resulting in three values of phyllochron, each of which was responsive to genotype, and hardly to environment. The timing of the first change in phyllochron was associated with the final leaf number and the appearance of the capitulum. For all the cultivars, the rate of development fell and the final leaf number increased as the length of the photoperiod increased. The later flowering cultivars shared a similar vernalisation requirement, but ‘Spinoso sardo’ did not require a cold period to flower. Leaf length reached a peak before the beginning of stem elongation, and maximum leaf length was correlated with final leaf number. The sensitiveness of the phyllochron to the genotype, and of the number of leaves and the timing of the appearance of the capitulum to both genotype and environment makes them suitable as variables in developmental models. The importance of the final number of leaves is not only because of its phenological significance, but also because of its effect on the ability of the canopy to intercept radiation.     

Does the lack of vernalization requirement interfere with winter survival of oilseed rape plants?

Recent studies (Rapacz 1999) have shown that cultivars of spring-type oilseed rape are able to cold-acclimate to the level comparable with winter cultivars, but only after prehardening which results both in the increase of photosynthetic activity and in growth cessation. It is commonly known that under field conditions spring-type cultivars could not survive winter. Present studies were undertaken to explain the reasons for low winter hardiness of spring type rape plants. Six cultivars of spring and two of winter rape were sown in the open-air vegetation room at the end of August. The obtained results indicate that the degree of frost damage in spring-type plants increased in the course of winter and this increase was parallel to elongation of generative shoots observed after periods of warming. Each spring cultivar was completely killed by frost just after its generative shoot reached 15–20 cm, irrespective of its frost resistance level, determined previously under laboratory conditions. In the case of winter cultivars survival rate was consistent with laboratory-estimated frost resistance. It is suggested that spring rape could not survive winter because of its limited ability to prevent shoot elongation during winter at temperatures slightly above 0 °C. It was also found that less efficient photosynthetic electron transport in autumn was observed in these spring cultivars in which the elongation of generative shoots was observed already during the first warm break in winter.     

冬油菜和春油菜在冷驯过程中膜脂分子的变化

研究了冬油菜和春油菜两种油菜品种在4℃冷驯3天后11类151种膜脂分子的变化,计算了其中膜脂的相对含量、双键指数和碳链长度值。结果发现油菜膜脂的膜脂分子组成模式及其冷驯诱导的膜脂分子组成变化与前期实验中的拟南芥情况非常相似,冷驯3天诱导的膜脂分子组成变化较小,但是膜脂的双键指数略有升高,春油菜双键指数和冷驯积累的脯氨酸含量都比冬油菜多。上述结果说明,油菜的冷驯需要更多的时间,春油菜对冷驯比较敏感。     

Effects of powdery mildew on grain filling in spring barley in contrasting environments

Circumstantial evidence from field experiments at Rothamsted suggested that effects of powdery mildew on grain filling in spring barley may be determined partly by temperature during the grain-filling period. An experiment was, therefore, done which compared the effects of fungicides applied to control powdery mildew on grain filling in early- and late-sown spring barley plants kept either out-of-doors throughout their growth (‘cool’ environment) or under the same conditions until the start of grain filling and then transferred to a heated glasshouse (‘warm’ environment) until harvested. Fungicides that controlled mildew increased the total grain yield of the late-sown barley more than that of the early-sown and much more in the warm environment than in the cool. On average, the effect of the fungicides in the cool environment was to increase grain yield by 17·7%. Small increases in numbers of grains/ear (+ 3·4%) and thousand-grain weight (TGW) (+ 2·3%) contributed to this increase but it could be attributed principally to an average increase in numbers of ears/plant of 12·4%. Contrastingly, fungicides increased average grain yield in the warm environment by 58·2%. Effects of the fungicides on numbers of ears/plant (+ 27·8%) and on numbers of grains/ear (+ 4·5%) were not significantly different to those in the cool environment, and the much greater responses in the warm than in the cool environment could be attributed mostly to much larger effects on grain size (+ 19·2%) The greater benefits of the fungicides and, by implication, the greater damage done by powdery mildew in the warm than in the cool environment cannot, unequivocally, be attributed to differences in temperature during grain-filling because the two environments clearly differed in other ways and especially in light intensity. Nevertheless, the results obtained do illustrate the potential risks involved in using data obtained under one set of circumstances to predict what will happen in another, especially when environments differ as greatly as glasshouses and fields.     

Formation of phenol compounds in various cultivars of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

The formation of soluble phenol compounds, including flavonols, was studied in winter (Erythrospermum, Lutescens 230, and R 47-28) and spring cultivars (Lada) of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The contents of soluble phenol compounds and flavonols were 1.8-2.6 and 0.5-1.3 mg/kg fresh weight, respectively. These results illustrate the similarity of phenol metabolism in leaves of winter and spring wheat cultivars. The exception was the cultivar R 47-28 that accumulated the maximum amount of phenol compounds (e.g., flavonols). In this cultivar the ratio of flavonols reached 50% of total soluble phenol content. In other cultivars, this parameter did not exceed 25-35%. The data indicate that the cultivar R 47-28 differs from other wheat cultivars in the metabolism of phenol compounds. The observed differences are probably related to genetic modifications of the cultivar R 47-28 during selection.     

Profiling the Changes of Molecular Species in Membrane Lipids during Cold acclimation in Winter and Spring Cultivars of Rapeseed (Brassica napus)

The changes of molecular species in membrane lipids during cold acclimation (CA) in winter and spring cultivars of rapeseed (Brassica napus) were profiled with ESI MS/MS based lipidomics. The membrane fluidity, the critical properties for plants to tolerate freeing injuring, was examined with double bond index (DBI) and carbon number of the fatty acid of the glycrolipid. The results indicated that the molecular composition of membrane lipids in the two cultivars under both normal growth condition and CA were similar to that of Arabidopsis reported previously and that DBI in spring cultivar accumulation subtly more than that in winter cultivar. The results suggested that CA of rapeseeds needs more than 3 days and that spring cultivar were more sensitive to CA, which was confirmed by the CA induced proline accumulation.     

CO2Effects on Phasic Development, Leaf Number and Rate of Leaf Appearance in Wheat

It has been predicted that the concentration of CO₂in the aircould double during the 21st century. Though it is recognizedthat CO₂-doubling could increase yield through its effects onplant photosynthesis and stomatal behaviour, it is unclear whetherCO₂-doubling will change phasic development in wheat. A phytotronstudy was conducted with two contrasting cultivars of wheat,Condor (spring) and Cappelle Desprez (winter), to determinewhether development is affected by a season-long exposure to360 and 720 ppmv CO₂. Plants were vernalized for 50 d (8/4 °C,8 h photoperiod) before their exposure to the CO₂treatments. There were significant differences between cultivars in theduration of different phenophases as well as in the final numberof leaves. However, CO₂concentration had no effect in eithercultivar on the duration of the early developmental phase toterminal spikelet initiation, or on the final number of leaves,though CO₂-doubling did slightly increase the later phase fromterminal spikelet initiation to heading in Cappelle Desprez.Condor and Cappelle Desprez also differed markedly in the dynamicsof leaf appearance. While the former had a constant rate ofleaf appearance throughout development, the latter had a fastrate initially (between leaves 1 and 7), similar to that ofCondor, which was followed by a slower rate after the appearanceof leaf 7. Overall, CO₂-doubling did not significantly affectthe rates of leaf appearance nor the shape of the relationship.Phyllochron for the first seven leaves was the same for bothCO₂concentrations. However, the change in phyllochron associatedwith CO₂-doubling for leaves 7–12 in Cappelle Desprez,although quite small (4%), accounts for part of the slightlyincreased duration of the phase from terminal spikelet initiationto heading under high CO₂concentration in that cultivar. Weconclude that CO₂concentration does not influence developmentin wheat to a degree relevant to agronomy. Carbon dioxide; climatic change; development; leaf number; phyllochron     

Plastid differentiation during androgenesis in albino and non-albino producing cultivars of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

In order to better understand androgenic albinism in barley, we compared plastid differentiation during anther culture in two cultivars, an albino (spring cultivar Cork) and a non-albino (winter cultivar Igri) producing cultivar. The ultrastructure of plastids and the relative amount of DNA containing plastids were followed in both cultivars during the androgenic process and correlated with the proportion of regenerated chlorophyllous plantlets. For androgenesis, anthers were collected at the uninucleate stage, during mid- or late-microspore vacuolation. At this stage DNA was detected in 15.3 ± 2. 7% of microspore plastid sections in the winter cultivar Igri, compared to 1.7 ± 0.5% in the spring cultivar Cork. In the winter cultivar Igri, starch was broken down after anther pretreatment but plastids divided rapidly during anther culture and thylakoids developed in the stroma. Prior to regeneration, plastids contained 2.0 ± 0.2 thylakoids per plastid and starch represented 26.1 ± 3.3% of the plastid volume. In the spring cultivar Cork, plastids followed a different developmental pathway. After anther pretreatment, microspore plastids differentiated exclusively into amyloplasts, accumulating starch and losing their thylakoids as well as their capacity to divide. This developmental pattern became progressively more marked, so that by the end of anther culture plastids contained 0.5 ± 0.4 thylakoids per plastid and starch represented up to 90.3 ± 4.3% of plastid volume. Following androgenesis, the response was similar in both cultivars except that the winter cultivar Igri provided 87.8% of chlorophyllous plantlets compared to 99.7% albino plantlets in the cultivar Cork. The results presented here suggest that the exclusive regeneration of albino plantlets in the spring cultivar Cork may be due to degradation of microspore plastid DNA during early pollen development, preventing the plastids from differentiating into chloroplasts under culture conditions. Received: 13 March 2000 / Revision accepted: 6 June 2000     

小麦不同品种光合速率和14 C同化物分配对源库比改变的影响

 选用千粒重大小不同的小麦品种,研究了去除顶端两个小穗对两类品种(大粒品种和小粒品种)穗部性状、籽粒平均灌浆速率、单穗平均增重速率、植株光合速率及14C同化物运输分配的影响。试验结果表明,去除顶端两个小穗后,两类品种的籽粒平均灌浆速率和单穗平均增重速率(分别表征籽粒库容活性和穗粒库容活性)相应提高,穗粒重表现为补偿性增长。两类品种比较,小粒品种的增长幅度大于大粒品种。穗粒库容活性增强使得小粒品种灌浆中后期的植株光合速率提高,使两类品种分配到籽粒中的14C同化物比例增加。从而表明,无论是植株光合速率还是同化物的运转分配皆受库容活性的调控,调控方式和幅度因品种类型而不同。     

Effects of temperature and light intensity on flowering of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

In order to analyse the effects of temperature (9-22 degreesC) and light intensity (170-576 micromol m(-2) s(-1)) on plant development two barley varieties with contrasting seasonal growth habits were included in a series of experiments consisting of controlled environment tests. The effect of constant (18 degrees C) and daily fluctuating (18/16 degrees C) temperature with a long photoperiod was also examined in a set of barley varieties including winter, facultative and spring barleys. Dicktoo with facultative growth habit was more sensitive to unfavourable conditions than Kompolti korai with winter growth habit; the flowering of Dicktoo was significantly delayed by sub- and supra-optimal temperatures and low light intensity accompanied by higher or fluctuating temperatures. The optimal temperature at flowering was also significantly lower for Dicktoo than for Kompolti korai (16.0 degrees C vs. 21.0 degrees C, respectively). Plant development was the fastest when there was no fluctuating environmental factor in the growing conditions and was significantly delayed with application of photo cycle. The addition of thermo cycle to photo cycle had an even stronger delaying effect. Facultative barleys were the most sensitive, followed by winter barleys, while spring barleys the least sensitive to the introduction of thermo cycle.