IAA level and dry matter accumulation at different positions within a wheat ear

Dry matter accumulation and IAA level of grains in various positions within the wheat ( Triticum aestivum L. cvs Solo and Kolibri) ear were investigated during the grain filling period. Main shoot ears were partitioned into basal, central and apical regions and further into proximal and distal grains. Results from a two-year experiment with two wheat cultivars of different grain size are presented. The IAA level increased rapidly from about 8 until 20 to 30 days after anthesis, and then decreased dependent upon year and cultivar. The differences in IAA levels, both among spikelets in different regions of the ear (i.e. basal, central and apical) and also among florets within a spikelet (i.e. proximal and distal), were positively correlated with the differences in dry matter accumulation. Although the correlations held true within cultivars in a particular year, differences in dry matter between cvs Solo and Kolibri or differences from year to year were not well correlated with the corresponding changes in IAA levels. Possible interactions between dry matter accumulation and IAA levels are briefly discussed.     

Dry matter accumulation at specific pod positions on field bean (Vicia faba L.) plants and possible relations with indoleacetic acid and abscisic acid levels

Seed weights at specific positions within inflorescences of field bean plants (Vicia faba L.) were varied by removal of flowers. The inflorescences of two regions (nodes 3+4 and nodes 5+6, counted from the bottom of the plant) were used for manipulations and investigations. The two proximal flowers of the manipulated inflorescence were removed in order to vary the development and seed weights of distal pods (see Fig. 1). Dry matter accumulation and IAA- and ABA-concentrations in seeds were investigated during the filling period. Treatment effects in both regions were similar during two seasons. The removal of proximal flowers prevented the usually observed drop of distal pods and favoured the accumulation of dry matter and IAA in seeds, whereas the variation of ABA-concentrations partly depended on interaction with season. Whether these effects contribute to a signal leading to the establishment of processes preceeding dry matter accumulation or are a consequence of such processes is questionable.     

Grain sink strength may be related to the poor grain filling of indica-japonica rice (Oryza sativa) hybrids

The physiological and biochemical factors contributing to poor grain filling of indica-japonica rice ( Oryza sativa L.) hybrids were studied by analyzing the role of grain sink strength in dry matter accumulation of grains of two types of rice cultivars, Yayou 2 (an indica-japonica hybrid) and Yanjing 2 (a japonica cultivar). Carbon dioxide enrichment and plant hormone application were imposed at anthesis and the number of endosperm cells, dry matter accumulation and the activities of some sugar-metabolizing enzymes of grains were measured during grain filling. In Yayou 2, strong-potential grains (SPGs) accumulated dry weight much earlier than weak-potential grains (WPGs), but this difference was not obvious for Yanjing 2. Carbon dioxide enrichment imposed after heading significantly stimulated dry matter accumulation of WPGs of Yayou 2, but had little influence on WPGs of Yanjing 2 and SPGs of both cultivars. Leaf sheath dry matter decreased steadily in both cultivars during early stages of grain filling and accumulated during the later stages. Carbon dioxide enrichment increased leaf sheath dry matter. Dry matter accumulated by grains was linearly related to the increases in endosperm cell numbers and the activities of sucrose synthase (SS) and ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase) in SPGs and WPGs of both cultivars. Application of either 6-benzyladenine or abscisic acid had no significant influences on both endosperm cell number and grain dry matter accumulation. These results suggest that grain sink strength, determined by both cell numbers, SS and AGPase activities in the endosperm control the dry matter accumulation of grains.     

Consequences of Wheat Breeding on Nitrogen and Phosphorus Yield, Grain Nitrogen and Phosphorus Concentration and Associated Traits

Several studies have analysed the effects of wheat breedingon dry matter accumulation and partitioning, but little hasbeen done to understand the effects on nutrient economies. Theobjective of this study was to identify the changes producedby wheat breeding in the economy of nitrogen and phosphorusunder field conditions. Two experiments were carried out withseven genotypes (including a commercial hybrid) representingdifferent eras of plant breeding. Wheat breeding has increased grain nitrogen and phosphorus yieldbut total absorbed nutrients have not shown any trend duringthis century. The main attribute closely related to the increasein grain nitrogen and phosphorus yields was their harvest indices.The higher nutrient partitioning in the newer cultivars wasassociated with lower grain nitrogen and phosphorus concentrationsin their grains. Therefore, there was a negative effect of geneticimprovement in grain nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations.The main cause for the decreased concentration of these nutrientsin the grains of the modern cultivars appeared to be a dilutionby an even more increased dry matter partitioning. It is suggestedthat future breeding should be aimed to select for higher nitrogenuptake as a way to increase the level of this nutrient in grain.Copyright1995, 1999 Academic Press Triticum aestivum L., wheat breeding, genetic improvement, nitrogen, phosphorus, wheat, grain nitrogen concentration, grain phosphorus concentration     

Effects of the exogenous application of auxin and cytokinin on carbohydrate accumulation in grains of rice under salt stress

Phytohormones, such as auxin and cytokinin, are known to be involved in the regulation of plant responses to salinity stress and counteract the adverse effect of stress conditions. This work investigated the effects of the exogenous spraying of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and kinetin (KIN) during the reproductive phase on grain yield by examining the 1000-grain weight and filled-grain percentage as well as the changes in starch, total soluble sugars, sucrose, glucose and fructose concentrations in the grains of two rice cultivars under salt stress. The results indicated that the applied IAA and KIN led to an increased grain yield, 1000-grain weight and filled-grain percentage for both rice cultivars under salt stress. The storage starch content in the grain of the salt-sensitive cultivar was more than that in the salt-tolerant cultivar under IAA application compared with KIN, whereas a decrease in the total soluble sugar content was observed with both IAA and KIN treatments, in comparison to the non-hormone treatment. Interestingly, this study showed that IAA led to a much higher increase in the sucrose content in grain, as compared to the KIN. Furthermore, this experiment suggests that glucose and fructose may play important roles during salt stress because there were clearly higher concentrations of these sugars in the grain of the stressed cultivars under IAA and KIN application: it appears that their accumulation was the earliest response detected during the grain-filling period in rice. Finally, this work indicated that an increase in the rice grain yield, 1000-grain weight and filled-grain percentage are associated with an increase in the contents of starch, sucrose, glucose and fructose in grain caused by the application of IAA and KIN.     

测墒补灌对不同穗型小麦品种耗水特性和干物质积累与分配的影响

在田间试验条件下, 以中穗型小麦(Triticum aestivum)品种‘山农15’和大穗型品种‘山农8355’为供试材料, 设置3个0-140 cm土层土壤相对含水量处理: W0 (拔节期65%, 开花期60%)、W1 (拔节期70%, 开花期70%)、W2 (拔节后8天70%, 开花后8天70%), 采用测墒补灌的方法补充土壤水分达到目标相对含水量, 对两个不同穗型小麦品种的耗水特性和干物质积累与分配进行了研究。结果表明: (1)两品种籽粒产量均以W0处理最低, ‘山农15’ W1和W2处理无显著差异, ‘山农8355’ W1处理显著高于W2处理; 两品种W1处理的水分利用效率和灌溉水利用效率均显著高于W2处理。‘山农15’ W1处理的籽粒产量和灌溉水利用效率分别显著低于和高于‘山农8355’的W1处理, 水分利用效率无显著差异; 两品种W2处理的籽粒产量、水分利用效率和灌溉水利用效率均无显著差异。(2)两品种总耗水量以W0处理最低, ‘山农15’ W1处理显著低于W2处理, ‘山农8355’两处理无显著差异; 两品种W1处理的土壤供水量及其占总耗水量的比例显著高于W2处理。‘山农15’ W1处理的总耗水量和灌水量占总耗水量的比例显著低于‘山农8355’, 土壤供水量占总耗水量的比例显著高于‘山农8355’; 两品种W2处理总耗水量, 土壤供水量及其占总耗水量的比例无显著差异。(3)两品种W1处理成熟期干物质积累量显著高于其他处理, W1处理提高了‘山农8355’开花后干物质积累量及其对籽粒的贡献率, 对‘山农15’无显著影响。‘山农15’ W1和W2处理成熟期干物质积累量显著低于‘山农8355’, 开花前贮藏同化物向籽粒的转运量和转运率、对籽粒的贡献率均显著高于‘山农8355’, 开花后干物质积累量及其对籽粒的贡献率低于‘山农8355’。综合考虑干物质积累与分配、籽粒产量、水分利用效率和灌溉水利用效率, W1处理是两品种节水高产的最佳土壤相对含水量处理。     

Involvement of abscisic acid and ethylene in the responses of rice grains to water stress during filling

This study was to test the hypothesis that the interaction between abscisic acid (ABA) and ethylene may be involved in mediating the effects of water stress on grain filling. Two high lodging‐resistant rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars were pot‐grown. Three treatments, well‐watered, moderate water‐stressed (MD), and severe water‐stressed (SD), were imposed from 9 d post‐anthesis until maturity. Grain filling rate and grain weight were significantly increased under MD but decreased under SD. The two cultivars behaved the same. ABA concentration in the grains was very low during the grain filling stage, reaching a maximum when the grain filling rate was highest. Both the grain filling rate and ABA concentration were substantially enhanced by water stress. In contrast to ABA, concentrations of ethylene and 1‐aminocylopropane ‐1‐carboxylic acid (ACC) in the grains were very high at early grain filling stage and sharply decreased during the linear period of grain growth. MD reduced, whereas SD remarkably increased, their accumulation. The ratio of ABA to ACC was increased in MD grains but decreased in SD grains, indicating that there was a greater enhancement of ABA concentration than ethylene production in the MD treatment only. Application of cobalt ion (inhibitor of ethylene synthesis) or ABA at the early grain filling stage significantly increased grain filling rate. Spraying with ethephon (ethylene‐releasing agent) or fluridone (inhibitor of ABA synthesis) had the opposite effect. The results suggest that antagonistic interactions between ABA and ethylene mediate the grain filling rate, and a high ratio of ABA to ethylene enhances grain filling rate.     

Indole acetic acid (IAA) induced changes in growth, relative water contents and gas exchange attributes of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) grown under water stress conditions

Effect of different concentrations of indole acetic acid (IAA) under varying soil water deficit conditions on two barley cultivars viz. B-99094 and Jau-87 was investigated in soil filled earthen pots. There were six treatments including control each with four replicates. Three concentrations of IAA (0, 15 and 30 mg l⁻¹) were applied as foliar spray 30 days after germination. After hormone application, half of the pots were subjected to one cycle of water stress (withholding of water till incipient wilting), followed by regular watering. Plant height, photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, water use efficiency relative water content, dry biomass, and grain yield/plant were significantly reduced by water stress. However, IAA treatments alleviated the adverse effect of water stress and successful in enhancing the plant growth and yield of barley cultivars. Barley cultivar Jau-87 performed better than B-99094. IAA application␣was effective in enhancing growth and photosynthetic efficiency of barley both under normal and water stress conditions.     

Growth dynamics and genotypic variation in tropical, field-grown paddy rice (Oryza sativa L.) in response to increasing carbon dioxide and temperature

While previous studies have examined the growth and yield response of rice to continued increases in CO₂ concentration and potential increases in air temperature, little work has focused on the long-term response of tropical paddy rice (i.e. the bulk of world rice production) in situ, or genotypic differences among cultivars in response to increasing CO₂ and/or temperature. At the International Rice Research Institute, rice (cv IR72) was grown from germination until maturity for 4 field seasons, the 1994 and 1995 wet and the 1995 and 1996 dry seasons at three different CO₂ concentrations (ambient, ambient + 200 and ambient + 300 μL L^–1 CO₂) and two air temperatures (ambient and ambient + 4 °C) using open-top field chambers placed within a paddy site. Overall, enhanced levels of CO₂ alone resulted in significant increases in total biomass at maturity and increased seed yield with the relative degree of enhancement consistent over growing seasons across both temperatures. Enhanced levels of temperature alone resulted in decreases or no change in total biomass and decreased seed yield at maturity across both CO₂ levels. In general, simultaneous increases in air temperature as well as CO₂ concentration offset the stimulation of biomass and grain yield compared to the effect of CO₂ concentration alone. For either the 1995 wet and 1996 dry seasons, additional cultivars (N-22, NPT1 and NPT2) were grown in conjunction with IR72 at the same CO₂ and temperature treatments. Among the cultivars tested, N-22 showed the greatest relative response of both yield and biomass to increasing CO₂, while NPT2 showed no response and IR72 was intermediate. For all cultivars, however, the combination of increasing CO₂ concentration and air temperature resulted in reduced grain yield and declining harvest index compared to increased CO₂ alone. Data from these experiments indicate that (a) rice growth and yield can respond positively under tropical paddy conditions to elevated CO₂, but that simultaneous exposure to elevated temperature may negate the CO₂ response to grain yield; and, (b) sufficient intraspecific variation exists among cultivars for future selection of rice cultivars which may, potentially, convert greater amounts of CO₂ into harvestable yield.     

Phytohormone changes during storage root growth in Beta species

The physiological and morphological factors necessary for efficient accumulation of sucrose in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) are considered in relation to potential uses of plant growth regulators to modify the anatomy of storage roots so as to increase sucrose content and yield. The percentage of sucrose in root fresh and dry matter is closely related to root structure. Sugar beet, mangold and chard are three sub-species of Beta vulgaris that differ considerably in their anatomy, assimilate partitioning, sucrose concentration and root dry matter yield. The concentrations of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), abscisic acid (ABA) and cytokinins were measured during the growth of the storage root in each of these cultivars. Correlations were found between the phytohormone levels and the formation of secondary cambia and their subsequent cell division and expansion activity.     

Transport and partitioning of phosphorus in wheat as affected by P withdrawal during flag-leaf expansion

Increasing P-use efficiency within the plant is one of the acclimations to P-limiting conditions. In this work, we studied the effects of P withdrawal during flag-leaf expansion on sink-source relationships and P-use efficiency in two detillered wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum L., CA9325 and JM2) under controlled conditions. The study period was divided into two phases of one month each. In the first period after withdrawing P from the medium, the rates of dry weight gain were unaffected compared with the control plant. However, the net dry matter deposition in the ear, and P remobilization within the plant were accelerated in both cultivars. In control plants and in the first period, P transported in the xylem came mainly from the roots current uptake in both cultivars; in the second period, however, phloem retranslocation of P from the shoot and cycling through the root contributed 86% in CA9325 and 95% in JM2 to the xylem-transported P. In the P-deficient plants of both cultivars, almost all of the P transported in the xylem was remobilized, exported from vegetative organs and recycled through the phloem. Over the entire duration of the experiment, the net dry matter deposition and P allocation to grains were not synchronous, indicating independent regulatory processes. Although withdrawing P from the medium markedly reduced the net dry weight gain of whole plants in both cultivars, the final dry weight of the grains was hardly influenced. The percentage of grain dry weight to whole plant dry weight increased from 42.5% in control plants to 44.7% in P-deficient plants in CA9325, and from 41.0% to 45.0% in JM2, and that of P increased from 24.8% to 87.7% and from 25.5% to 84.3%, respectively. The results showed that withdrawing P from the medium during flag-leaf expansion did not influence grain growth and its final P content. The possible mechanisms to regulate P redistribution and reutilization in plants are discussed.     

Transport of Recently Assimilated15N Nitrogen to Individual Spikelets in Spring Wheat Grown in Culture Solution

Two cultivars of spring wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.), Sport(high protein) and WL4 (low protein), were grown to maturityin culture solution. Nitrogen in the form of nitrate was addedin daily doses at stepwise-decreasing relative rates to ensurenormal development, and both cultivars received the same totalamount of N during development. At weekly intervals from anthesisto maturity the daily nitrate dose was, for selected groupsof plants, labelled with¹⁵N. After the labelling period theselected plants were harvested and analysed. The cultivar WL4produced more biomass than Sport, as well as more spikeletsand more grains per ear, with a higher mean grain weight, suchthat grain yield of WL4 was 57% greater than Sport. The earsof both cultivars were heterogenous: mean grain weight was highestin middle spikelets, which also contained more grains; the Ncontent followed the pattern of dry weight with more N in themiddle spikelets; but the N concentration was practically thesame in all spikelets (2.15% of d. wt in WL4 and 3.33% in Sport).The distribution of¹⁵N showed that the main stem ear maturedmuch earlier than tiller ears. The results of this nitrogen-labellingexperiment show that, late in development, substantial amountsof recently-absorbed N were immediately assimilated and transportedto the ears. Transport of¹⁵N decreased earlier to the top spikeletsthan to the bottom spikelets. As both cultivars were grown underidentical conditions and both received the same amount of Nit was concluded that the difference in grain N concentrationwas not caused by differences in the capacity of N assimilationand translocation but rather by different rates of accumulationof non-nitrogenous dry matter in the grains. Ear; grain; nitrate; nitrogen transport; Triticum aestivum L.; yield     

Photosynthetic Parameters at the Vegetative Stage and during Grain Development of Two Hexaploid Wheat Cultivars Differing in Salt Tolerance

Response of two spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars, salt tolerant SARC-I and salt sensitive Potohar, to different concentrations of NaCl was examined under glasshouse conditions. Eighteen-day-old plants of both the lines grown in sand culture were irrigated with 0 (control), 80, 160 or 240 mM NaCl in full strength Hoagland's nutrient solution. Shoot fresh and dry masses, and leaf area per plant of SARC-I at the vegetative stage, were significantly greater than those of cv. Potohar at higher salt concentrations, however, relative growth rate (RGR) of cv. Potohar was significantly higher than that of SARC-I. SARC-I had higher net photosynthetic rate (P_N), stomatal conductance (g_s) and transpiration rate (E) than cv. Potohar at the vegetative stage, but the cultivars did not differ significantly in water-use efficiency (P_N/E), intrinsic water use efficiency (P_N/g_s), and intercellular/ambient CO₂ concentration ratio. At the grain development stage, SARC-I had significantly higher P_N and g_s in the flag leaf than cv. Potohar under salinity. SARC-I was superior to cv. Potohar with respect to number of grains per spike, number of grains per spikelet, mean grain mass, and grain yield per plant at all NaCl concentrations.     

Antioxidant defense mechanisms in response to cadmium treatments in two safflower cultivars

By using two safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) cultivars, Arak2811 and Goldasht, the experiments were conducted in order to study (i) the genotypic variation in cadmium (Cd) tolerance, (ii) Cd concentrations in plants, and (iii) changes in the antioxidant defense systems in leaves, including antioxidant enzymes and nonenzymatic antioxidants. Plants were grown under controlled environmental conditions and subjected to Cd treatments (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 μM Cd) for different time periods. Cd concentrations and cultivar-dependent response to Cd were assessed. Of the two cultivars, Goldasht showed a greater sensitivity to Cd toxicity as judged from the severity of Cd toxicity symptoms on leaves, much stronger enhancement in the MDA level, and decreases in dry matter production. Increasing Cd supply markedly reduced the shoot and root dry weights in both cultivars, but at the higher Cd concentrations and longer exposure durations, this decrease was more marked in cv. Goldasht. Plants accumulated substantial amount of Cd, especially in the roots, the highest being in the roots of cv. Arak2811 at 100 μM Cd after 4 days. Cd-induced oxidative stress as was indicated by the increase in lipid peroxidation with the increase in metal concentration and exposure duration. Under different Cd stress levels, activities of antioxidant enzymes differed in the two cultivars. The results indicated that Cd tolerance of cv. Arak2811 was related to the retention of Cd in the roots and avoiding the toxic effect by activation of the antioxidant system.     

Effect of varying periods of inoculation ofAzolla pinnata R. Brown on its growth,nitrogen fixation and response to rice crop

Summary Inoculation of water fernAzolla pinnata R. Brown (Bangkok isolate) at the rate of 500kg fresh weight ha⁻¹ in rice fields at weekly intervals after planting in addition to 30 kg N ha⁻¹ as urea showed a decrease in its growth and N₂-fixation with delay in application. Use of Azolla up to 3 weeks after planting (WAP) during wet and 4 WAP during dry season produced significantly more grain yield than 30 kg N ha⁻¹, whereas its application upto one WAP produced more grain yield than 60 kg N ha⁻¹. Grain yield with Azolla applied at the time of planting was similar to that of 60 kg N treatment during the wet season. Higher grain yields in zero and one WAP Azolla treatments resulted due to increase in both number of panicles m⁻² and number of grains/panicle while the subsequent Azolla inoculations increased grain yield mainly by producing more number of grains/panicle. Dry matter and total N yields at maturity of rice crop were more with Azolla application upto 3 WAP during wet and 2 WAP during dry season while the reduction in sterility (%) was observed upto one WAP over 30 kg N ha⁻¹ during both seasons. Number of tillers m⁻² and dry matter production at maximum tillering and flowering were more than 30 kg N ha⁻¹ with the use of Azolla upto one WAP. Increased grain N yield was observed with the use of Azolla upto 4 WAP during two seasons whereas straw N yield increased upto one WAP during wet and 2 WAP during dry season.     

The effect of powdery mildew (Erysiphe graminis f.sp. avenae) on yield, yield components and grain quality of spring oats

Yield components and grain quality were investigated on eight cultivars of spring oats with known differences in adult plant resistance to mildew and with different fungicide treatments. Losses in grain yield caused by mildew could be accounted for mainly by reductions in numbers of fertile panicles and thousand grain weights. The proportion of grain yield to total biomass, (harvest index) was also reduced. There were no effects of treatment on the concentration of fatty acids in the grain, the proportions of the component fatty acids, the percentage content of grain protein or the specific weights. However, correlation analysis of the data revealed that percentage protein contents and specific weights were negatively correlated with levels of mildew. There were significant genetic differences between cultivars in all of the yield and quality characteristics but no fungicide treatment/cultivar interactions.     

长期耕作方式对小麦光合特性和产量的影响

以济麦22为供试材料,在大田条件下,9年定位设置旋耕(R)、翻耕(P)、间隔2年深松+条旋耕(SRS)、间隔2年深松+旋耕(RS)4种耕作方式,在2014—2015年和2015—2016年小麦生长季研究不同耕作方式对小麦旗叶光合特性、干物质积累与分配和产量的影响.结果表明: SRS处理小麦旗叶净光合速率(P_n)、蒸腾速率(T_r)和气孔导度(g_s)在开花后21～35 d均显著高于其他处理.灌浆期SRS处理平均冠层光合有效辐射(PAR)截获率显著高于RS和P处理,R处理最低.成熟期SRS处理干物质积累量、开花后干物质向籽粒的分配量和对籽粒的贡献率最高,均显著高于其他处理.SRS处理小麦籽粒产量和水分利用效率均显著高于其他处理;总耗水量与RS处理无显著差异,显著高于P和R处理.在本试验条件下,间隔2年深松+条旋耕的耕作方式是节水高产高效的最佳耕作处理.     

Application of sodium selenate to cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) increases shoot and grain Se partitioning with strong genotypic interactions

BackgorundCowpea is a crop widely used in developing countries due its rusticity. Besides its rich genotypic variability, most breeding programs do not explore its potential to improve elements uptake. Selenium (Se) is a scarce element in most soils, resulting in its deficiency being common in human diets. This study aimed to evaluate the interaction between biofortification with Se and genotypic variation in cowpea, on the concentrations of Se in roots, leaves + stem and grains.MethodsTwenty-nine cowpea genotypes were grown in a greenhouse in the absence (control) and presence of Se (12.5 μg Se kg⁻¹ soil) as sodium selenate, in fully randomized scheme. The plants were cultivated until grains harvest. The following variables were determined: roots dry weight (g), leaves + stems dry weight (g), grains dry weight (g), Se concentration (mg kg⁻¹) in roots, leaves + stems and grains, and Se partitioning to shoots and grains.ResultsSelenium application increased the Se concentration in roots, leaves + stems and grains in all genotypes. At least twofold variation in grain Se concentration was observed among genotypes. Selenium application did not impair biomass accumulation, including grain dry weight. Genotype “BRS Guariba” had the largest Se concentration in grains and leaves + stems. Genotype MNC04-795 F-158 had the largest partitioning of Se to shoots and grain, due to elevated dry weights of leaves + stems and grain, and high Se concentrations in these tissues.ConclusionThis information might be valuable in future breeding programs to select for genotypes with better abilities to accumulate Se in grain to reduce widespread human Se undernutrition.     

Growth,abscisic acid content,and carbon isotope composition in wheat cultivars grown under different soil moisture

Changes in dry matter accumulation and allocation, abscisic acid content and carbon isotope composition of three wheat cultivars from dry, middle and wet climate regions were recorded at full maturity after exposure to different watering regimes (100, 50 and 25 % field capacity). Compared with the wet climate cultivar, the dry climate cultivar showed lower stem height, total leaf area, total dry biomass and total grain dry mass, and higher root/shoot ratio, abscisic acid content and carbon isotope composition under all watering regimes. Both water-limited treatments significantly reduced leaf growth and increased dry matter allocation into the roots leading to a significant raise of root/shoot ratio in all cultivars tested. In addition, drought affected morphological and physiological properties more in the dry climate cultivar than in the wet climate cultivar.     

Effect of Post-anthesis Drought on Cell Division and Starch Accumulation in Developing Wheat Grains

Wheat plants (Triticum aestivum L., cv. Warigal) were subjectedto 20 d of water deficit during the period of endosperm celldivision. Drought accentuated the differences in final grainweight between spikelets and between grains within spikelets.The distal grains of top spikelets were most affected by drought.The maximum number of endosperm cells was, respectively, 30and 40 per cent lower in basal grains and distal grains of draughtedplants. In basal grains of middle spikelets, the number of largestarch granules per cell was unaffected but the number of smallstarch granules per cell was 45 per cent lower in grains ofdraughted plants. The initiation of small starch granules wasmore affected than cell division because severe water deficitoccurred earlier during the former process than the latter.Final dry weight appeared to correlate well with the maximumnumber of endosperm cells, but depended also on the number ofstarch granules per cell. Consequently, the amount of dry matterper cell was not constant in both treatments. The concentration of sucrose per endosperm cell was lower onlyin the droughted distal grains of top spikelets. The supplyof sucrose to endosperm cells did not regulate the initiationof small starch granules. Triticum aestivum L., wheat, drought, grain growth, cell division, starch