Studies in Vernalisation of Cereals: XV. After-effects of Temperature and Drying during Seed Ripening and the Origin of the Vernalisation Requirement in Petkus Winter Rye

Experiments are described which were designed to test whetherthe unvernalised condition of winter rye grain produced by fullyvernalised parent plants is due to de-vernalisation occurringduring maturation and ripening of the seed. The results showclearly that drying of the grain does not account for the un-vernalisedcondition. Parent ears exposed from the time of their emergenceto a range of non-vernalising temperatures (12–20°C), i.e. including ‘neutral’ levels which are neithervernalising nor de-vernalising, still produced unvernalisedgrain. Even plants raised from grain which had been developedat mildly vernalising temperatures (9° C) benefited fromfurther cold treatment applied during their early growth. Itappears, therefore, that the vernalisation requirement in winterrye arises very early in the formation of the seed, i.e. possiblyat meiosis or fertilisation, and that there is no subsequenttransmission of the vernalisation stimulus from the parent plant. Additional observations on plant height, ear size, &c.,also indicate marked effects of temperature and daylength treatments.     

Studies in Vernalisation of Cereals: XIII. Photoperiodic Control of Stages in Flowering between Initiation and Ear Formation in Vernalised and Unvernalised Petkus Winter Rye

The photoperiodic reactions of spring rye and vernalised andunvernalised winter rye have been studied in detail and interpretedin terms of a schema presented in earlier papers. Vernalisationtreatments ranging from 0 to 13 weeks were used and three daylengths(continuous light, C.L.; normal days, L.D.; 10-hr. days, S.D.),and the interaction effects of these factors were studied onthe following developmental features: time to initiation offlowering and to ‘double-ridge’ formation; progressof differentiation and growth rate of the apex of the main shootbefore and after initiation. Systematic dissections of the apexwere carried out to obtain data for this study. The validityof the concept of ‘minimal leaf number’ was re-examinedand confirmed by using dwarf embryos with subnormal numbersof primordia at germination. Unvernalised winter rye was shownto behave as a short-day plant before flower initiation sincephotoperiodic induction by short days is annulled by interruptingthe dark period by a short light period at low intensity. Theeffect of exposure of a single leaf to continuous light, whilethe remainder of the plant was kept in short days, has beenshown to be transmitted to the apex and hastens both flowerinduction and spikelet development in fully vernalised rye.Vernalised winter rye and spring rye thus behave as long-dayplants.     

Early Developments in RNA, Protein, and Sugar Levels during Cold Stress in Winter Rye (Secale cereale) Leaves

Changes in freezing tolerance of winter rye (Secale cerealeL. cv. Voima) were determined for leaf tissues during a 1-weekcold stress, which was performed by transferring the 7-d-oldseedlings from a greenhouse (25°C, long day) to 3°Cand short day conditions. The development of cold hardeningwas shown by using an ion leakage test and by determining theamounts of carbohydrates, soluble proteins and RNA. The firstevidence of the development of freezing resistance was foundafter 1 d at low temperature, i.e. an LT₅₀ value increased from-5 to -7°C. Plants cold treated for 7 d reached an LT₅₀value of -9°C. This increase in freezing tolerance was foundto be associated with the increased levels of soluble carbohydrates,total RNA and soluble proteins. These metabolic changes indicatethe association with adjustment of growth and cell metabolismto low temperatures at the beginning of cold acclimation ofwinter rye.Copyright 1994, 1999 Academic Press Secale cereale L., winter rye, cold stress, proteins, RNA, sugars     

Effect of CO2 Concentration on Growth of Sugar-beet, Barley, Kale, and Maize

Increasing the concentration of CO₂ in the air from the usual300 ppm to 1, 000 ppm in growth rooms with temperatures of 20°C during the 16-h light period and 15° C during the 8-hdark period increased the total dry weight of sugar-beet, barley,and kale by about 5o per cent. A further increase in CO, concentrationto 3, 300 ppm increased dry weight slightly more. These effectsoccurred with light intensities ranging from 3.7 to II.6 caldm–² min–¹ of visible radiation supplied by a mixtureof fluorescent and tungsten lamps, and were only slightly greaterwith the brighter light. Extra CO₂ also increased leaf area,though relatively less than dry weight, and the number of barleyshoots but not of sugar-beet or kale leaves; it decreased leaf-arearatio, specific leaf area, and the ratio of tops to roots. Maizewas taller with extra CO₂. Net assimilation rates in 1, 000 and 3, 300 ppm CO₂ were about20 and 30 per cent respectively greater than in 300 ppm. Uptakeof CO₂ in the light by complete tops and single leaves alsoincreased with increase in CO₂ concentration. Photosynthesisof leaves of plants recently transferred to a new CO₂ concentrationdepended only on that concentration and not on the originalone. Doubling the light intensity from 3.7 to 7.7 cal dm–²min–¹ affected dry weight, leaf area, net assimilationrate, etc., similarly to a tenfold increase in CO₂ concentration.     

Influence of Genotype and Environment on Growth of Barley Embryos in vitro

Isolated embryos of three contrasting barley genotypes werecultured in vitro on a range of media comprising 16 combinationsof sucrose (3–12 per cent) and 2, 4-D (0–8 mg 1^–1)concentration. Cultures were incubated at a range of temperaturesfrom 5 to 25°C and were examined after 21 days when shootlengths as well as fresh and dry weights were recorded. Therelative influence on growth of increasing concentrations ofsucrose and 2, 4-D was investigated, as was their interactionwith the incubation temperature. The genotypes were found todiffer markedly in their response to these two media components,with each parameter of growth differentially affected. Resultsare discussed in relation to the known dormancy characteristicsof these genotypes. Hordeum vulgare L., barley, embryo, dormancy, 2, 4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid, sucrose     

Influence of Chlorocholine Chloride on Grain Growth of Winter Barley (Hordeum distichon L. cv. Igri) in the Field

Green, C. F., Dawkins, T. C. K. and McDonald, H. G. 1985. Influenceof chlorocholine chloride on grain growth of winter barley (Hordeumdistichon L. cv. Igri) in the field.–J. exp. Bot. 36:1126–1133. Chlorocholine chloride was applied to winter barley either inthe Spring or Autumn. It increased grain number per unit croparea. Rates of incorporation of dry matter into the grain weredecreased, but the period of growth was extended by the treatments.Overall the final mean grain weight was reduced so that no advantagesin terms of yield resulted from the increased grain numbers. Key words: —Chlormequat, chlorocholine chloride, CCC, Hordeum distichon L., barley, grain growth, grain weight, senescence, grain yield     

Field Studies of Cereal Leaf Growth: I. INITIATION AND EXPANSION IN RELATION TO TEMPERATURE AND ONTOGENY

Measurements of leaf initiation, appearance, and expansion arepresented for winter wheat and spring barley crops. For winterwheat, these processes occurred during periods of several weekswhen fluctuating temperatures influenced process rates. Analysisof these measurements was facilitated by plotting variablesagainst the time integral of temperature above an appropriatebase temperature (O °C), here called thermal time with unitsof °C d. Leaf primordial number and appearance stage increasedlinearly with thermal time for both winter wheat and springbarley which initiated 12 and 9 leaves respectively. When plottedagainst thermal time 90% of laminar and leaf length growth and80% of laminar width growth was satisfactorily described bya straight line for both species. This enabled an average extensionrate and duration of linear growth to be defined for each leaf.When expressed in thermal time, wheat leaves had a similar durationof linear growth (210 °C d; s.d. 30 °C d) with insolationexerting a negligible influence. The first seven barley leaveshad a shorter duration of linear growth (151 °C d; s.d.8 °C d). For wheat, final leaf length and laminar widthincreased with leaf number and were not apparently associatedwith changes in apical development stage. Changes of barleyleaf dimensions with leaf number were more complex.     

Winter Growth of Autumn-sown White Lupin (Lupinus albus L.) Main Apex Growth Model

The winter growth of winter white lupin (cv. Lunoble) was investigated.Over three consecutive years, 1987–1989, it was sown atdifferent times at Lusignan (France) and in 1989, at nine differentlocations with various sowing times. The production of primordia,the vernalization requirements and the final number of leaveson the main stem were related to field measurements of dailymaximum and minimum temperatures. A statistical model for the main apex growth with a system oftwo equations was developed, with a threshold level for leafprimordia production at 3°C. The number of leaf primordiaproduced by a vegetative apex (y) in terms of the cumulativesums of temperature over 3°C (x) followed the curvilinearregression y = 4.76+ 0.0268x + 0000015 6x². The upper and lowertemperature limits for vernalization were estimated as 14 and1°C respectively. The vernalization requirements of a vegetative apex (y) decreasedwhen the number of initials produced (x) increased accordingto the negative exponential regression y = exp (7.2— 0.02626.x). The two equations were used for the prediction of the finalnumber of leaves of a lupin crop. The predictive accuracy ofthe model was checked against independent data. The agreementbetween observed and predicted final leaf number was often close,but some deviations did occur with low leaf number. The modeldescribed most of the growth phenomena which occur during thephase sowing to floral initiation of the main stem of a winterlupin crop, and its possible uses are discussed Lupinus albus L, white lupin, growth, model, vernalization, primordia, apex, thermal time     

Environmental Control of Flowering in Barley (Hordeum vulgare). III. Analysis of Potential Vernalization Responses, and Methods of Screening Germplasm for Sensitivity to Photoperiod and Temperature

Three genotypes of barley were subjected to 18 potentially vernalizingpre-treatments, comprising constant temperatures of 1, 5 or9 °C in factorial combination with photoperiods of 8 or16 h d^–1 for 10, 30 or 60 d^–1. These pre-treatedseeds or seedlings, together with non-pre-treated seeds as controls,were then transferred to each of four growing-on regimes, namelyday/night temperatures of 18/5 °C or 24/3 °C in factorialcombination with photoperiods of 11 or 16 h d^–1. The timesfrom sowing to awn emergence were recorded. The warmer growing-onregime (mean 19 °C) was not supra-optimal in long days,but in short days it considerably delayed awn emergence in allthree genotypes. In cv. Athenais there was no specific responseto the potentially vernalizing pre-trcatments: the rate of progresstowards awn emergence could be treated as a linear functionof the integrated responses to temperature and photoperiod actingindependently throughout development. In addition to these responses,cv. Gerbel B and the land-race Arabi Abiad also responded tolow-temperature vernalization and the response became saturatedduring the longer-duration pre-treatments. In Arabi Abiad, therate at which vernalization occurred, and the period requiredto saturate the response, were not greatly influenced by differencein pre-treatment temperature between 1 and 9 °C. In contrast,in Gerbel B the cooler the temperature of pre-treatment thegreater the saturated response to vernalization, the greaterthe effect of each day of pre-treatment, and the shorter theperiod required to saturate the response. Models of the photothennaland vernalization responses were combined in a single entitywhich described the influence of environment on rate of development.Simple germplasm-screening techniques are proposed for genotypecharacterization so that the phenotypic flowering response canbe estimated for any environment Hordeum vulgare L., barley, flowering, phtoperiodism, vernalization, photothennal time, germplasm screening     

Growth and Phosphate Transport in Barley and Tomato Plants During the Development of, and Recovery from, Phosphate-stress

Barley and tomato plants were cultured in nutrient solutionsincluding 0.15 mol m^–3 H²PO^–₄. The phosphate supplywas discontinued and the subsequent effects on growth, internalphosphorus concentrations, phosphate absorption and translocationwere measured at frequent intervals. Growth rates were at firstunchanged and the internal phosphorus concentration decreased.During this phase the rate of phosphate transport by the rootssometimes increased significantly. Growth slowed more in shootsthan in roots during a second phase of stress development andvisual symptoms of deficiency appeared in tomato but not inbarley. During this phase, enhancement of phosphate uptake capacityreached a maximum in both species. The subsequent decline inuptake capacity was associated with visible symptoms of deficiencydeveloping in barley and intensifying in tomato. When stressedplants were returned to a solution containing 0.15 mol m^–3H₂PO^–₄ rapid absorption continued for several days afterthe internal phosphorus concentration had returned to the levelof the controls. Phosphate toxicity may have been the causeof leaf lesions and necrosis during the ‘recovery’phase. Stomatal conductance in tomato was decreased at an early stageof stress development. Foliar-applied phosphate was absorbedmore rapidly by P-stressed barley leaves than by their controlsand much larger amounts were translocated from the leaves tothe roots.     

Export, Mobilization, and Respiration of Assimilates in Uniculm Barley during Light and Darkness

The respiratory losses and the pattern of carbon supply froma leaf of unicuim barley were examined during a complete diurnalperiod using a steady state ¹⁴C-labelling technique. After a delay of c. 1 h a portion of the ¹⁴C exported from acontinuously assimilating leaf was lost in respiration in thelight. This respiratory loss amounted to c. 20% of the total¹⁴C fixed. A further 28% of the total ¹⁴C fixed was respiredduring the dark period. In the light, carbon was fixed at a rate of c. 8·9 mgC dm^{–2 h–1} and exported from the leaf at ^c. 5·3mg C dm^{–2 h–1}. Dark export averaged ^c. 31% of theday-time rate. Carbohydrate was stored in the leaf during the day and was almostcompletely remobilized during the dark. Sucrose, the major reservecarbohydrate, was exported first whilst the starch level remainedconstant. After some 9 h of darkness, sucrose declined to alow level and starch remobilization began.     

Temperature-stress Pretreatment in Barley Anther Culture

Methods of pretreating anthers at different temperatures priorto culture have been tested, with respect to pollen-callus productionand plant regeneration, in Hordeum vulgare cv. Sabarlis. For callus production, pretreatment of excised spikes (in sealedPetri dishes) was more effective than pretreatment of excisedtillers (in water or in polythene) at both 4 and 25 °C.Pretreatment of individual anthers at these temperatures wasdeleterious. Greater callus yields resulted from pretreatmentat 4 than at 25 °C, both for spikes and tillers, 3–5weeks being required for maximal yields at 4 °C and 3–5days at 25 °C. At 4 °C, a shorter pretreatment was requiredfor spikes than for tillers. Pretreatment of spikes was alsomore effective at 4 than at 7, 14 or 20 °C. Pretreatmentof individual spikelets at 4 °C was as effective as thatof whole spikes. For plant regeneration, calluses derived from pretreatment ofspikes were more effective than those derived from pretreatmentof tillers. More plants resulted from pretreatment at 4 thanat 25 °C, both for spikes and tillers. Maximal pretreatmenttimes for plant regeneration generally exceeded those for callusproduction. Following spike pretreatment at 4 °C the maximumfor plant regeneration exceeded that for callus production byabout 2 weeks. With this optimal pretreatment approximately60 per cent of the calluses gave rise to plantlets. Among this60 per cent, for every three calluses giving albinos, two gavegreen plantlets, equivalent to five green plantlets on averagefor every 100 anthers (= two spikes) cultured. The ratio ofgreen to albino plantlets was lower for all other pretreatments. Hordeum vulgare L., barley, anther culture, pollen callus, pollen plant-production, temperature stress     

Reduction of Deoxynivalenol in Barley by Treatment with Aqueous Sodium Carbonate and Heat

Naturally contaminated lots of Canadian barley containing either 18.4 or 4.3 μg/g deoxynivalenol (DON) were heated at 80 °C, with small amounts of water or 1 M sodium carbonate solution to study the rate of DON reduction. Samples were heated in sealed polypropylene containers for periods of up to 8 days. In the 18.4 μg/g DON barley, rapid reductions were observed: with no solutions added, DON declined to 14.7 μg/g after 1 day, and to 4.9 μg/g after 8 days solely due to heat; with water at 10 mL/100 g barley, DON levels reached 3.7 μg/g after 8 days; with 1 M sodium carbonate solution added at 10 mL/100 g barley, DON declined to 4.7 μg/g after 1 day, and to 0.4 μg/g after 8 days; with 20 mL/100 g barley, DON declined to 1.4 μg/g after 1 day and to near-zero levels after 8 days. In the 4.3 μg/g DON barley, more gradual reductions were evident: with no solutions added, DON declined to 2.9 μg/g after 8 days solely due to heat; with water at 10 mL/100 g barley, DON levels reached 2.3 μg/g after 8 days; with 1 M sodium carbonate solution added at 10 mL/100 g barley, DON declined to 2.7 μg/g after 1 day, and to near-zero levels after 8 days; with 20 mL/100 g barley, DON declined to 1.4 μg/g after 1 day and to near-zero levels after 3, 5 and 8 days.     

Growth Analysis of Solution Culture-grown Winter Rye, Wheat and Triticale at Different Relative Rates of Nitrogen Supply

At low nitrogen (N) supply, it is well known that rye has ahigher biomass production than wheat. This study investigateswhether these species differences can be explained by differencesin dry matter and nitrogen partitioning, specific leaf area,specific root length and net assimilation rate, which determineboth N acquisition and carbon assimilation during vegetativegrowth. Winter rye (Secale cereale L.), wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) and triticale (X Triticosecale) were grown in solution cultureat relative addition rates (R_N) of nitrate-N supply rangingfrom 0.03–0.18 d^-1and at non-limiting N supply under controlledconditions. The relative growth rate (R_W) was closely equalto R_Nin the range 0.03–0.15 d^-1. The maximalR_W at non-limitingnitrate nutrition was approx. 0.18 d^-1. The biomass allocationto the roots showed a considerable plasticity but did not differbetween species. There were no interspecific differences ineither net assimilation rate or specific leaf area. Higher accumulationof N in the plant, despite the same relative growth rate atnon-limiting N supplies, suggests that rye has a greater abilityto accumulate reserves of nitrogen. Rye had a higher specificroot length over a wide range of sub-optimal N rates than wheat,especially at extreme N deficiency (R_N=0.03–0.06 d^-1).Triticale had a similar specific root length as that of wheatbut had the ability to accumulate N to the same amount as ryeunder conditions of free N access. It is concluded that thebetter adaptation of rye to low N availability compared to wheatis related to higher specific root length in rye. Additionally,the greater ability to accumulate nitrogen under conditionsof free N access for rye and triticale compared to wheat maybe useful for subsequent N utilization during plant growth.In general, species differences are explained by growth componentsresponsible for nitrogen acquisition rather than carbon assimilation.Copyright 1999 Annals of Botany Company Growth analysis, nitrogen, nitrogen productivity, partitioning, specific root length, Secale cereale L.,Triticum aestivum L., X Triticosecale, winter rye, winter wheat, winter triticale.     

A Comparative Study of Early Seed Development in Genotypes of Barley and Rye

Early seed development was studied in 17 genotypes of barley,Hordeum vulgare L., and 11 genotypes of rye, Secale cerealeL. The numbers of cells and nuclei in the embryos and endospermsof developing seeds were scored daily for 5 days after selfpollination. For embryos, the mean cell doubling times variedfrom 9.2–12.9 h for barley and 15.7–22.7 h for rye.Endosperm mitotic cycle times of both species were shortestover the first 24 h after pollination but then became longer.A non-linear correlation was found between the number of embryocells and the number of endosperm nuclei in barely and rye andis similar to that for other members of the Triticeae. Hordeum vulgare L., Secale cereale L., barley, rye, embryo, endosperm, mean cell doubling time     

Winter Growth of Autumn-sown White Lupin (Lupinus albus L.) Main Apex Growth Model

The winter growth of winter white lupin (cv. Lunoble) was investigated.Over three consecutive years, 1987–1989, it was sown atdifferent times at Lusignan (France) and in 1989, at nine differentlocations with various sowing times. The production of primordia,the vernalization requirements and the final number of leaveson the main stem were related to field measurements of dailymaximum and minimum temperatures. A statistical model for the main apex growth with a system oftwo equations was developed, with a threshold level for leafprimordia production at 3 °C. The number of leaf primordiaproduced by a vegetative apex (y) in terms of the cumulativesums of temperature over 3 °C (x) followed the curvilinearregression y = 4.76 + 00268x + 00000156x². The upper and lowertemperature limits for vernalization were estimated as 14 andI °C respectively. The vernalization requirements of a vegetative apex (y) decreasedwhen the number of initials produced (x) increased accordingto the negative exponential regression y = exp (7.2 + 002626.x). The two equations were used for the prediction of the finalnumber of leaves of a lupin crop. The predictive accuracy ofthe model was checked against independent data. The agreementbetween observed and predicted final leaf number was often close,but some deviations did occur with low leaf number. The modeldescribed most of the growth phenomena which occur during thephase sowing to floral initiation of the main stem of a winterlupin crop, and its possible uses are discussed. Lupinus albus L., white lupin, growth, model, vernalization, primordia, apex, thermal time     

Stomata and Mesophyll Characteristics of Barley Leaf as Affected by Light: Stereological Analysis

The anatomical structure of the second leaf blade of barley{Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Koral) was studied in plants exposedto a photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) of 200 µmolm^–2 s^–1 compared with those grown under 25µmolm^–2–11. Design-based stereological methods wereused for the estimation of various leaf anatomical characteristicssuch as mesophyll volume, proportion of intercellular spaces,number of mesophyll cells, mean mesophyll cell volume, and internalleaf surface area. The structure of the mesophyll was more affectedby different levels of PPFD than were the stomatal characteristics.Increased PPFD produced thicker leaves with a larger mesophyllvolume having a higher number of less elongated mesophyll cellsand a larger internal leaf surface area. Key words: Hordeum vulgare, light effect, mesophyll, stereology, stomata     

Effects of Temperature and Leaf Weness on the Latent Period of Rbynchosporium Secalis (Leaf Blotch) on Leaves of Winter Barley

Effects of temperature and leaf wetness on the latent period of Rhynchosporium secaits (leaf blotch) on winter barley were examined in controlled environment experiments. At 100% relative humidity (continuous leaf wetness) the mean length of the latent period was c.24 days at 5°C, c. 19 days at 10°C, c. 16 days at l5°C and c. 13 days at 20°C. The mean number of days between the appearance of the first and the last lesions was c. 13 days at 5°C, c. 6 days at 10°C, c. 5 days at 15°C and c. 3 days at 20°C. A negative curvilinear regression of latent period on temperature accounted for 99% of the variance. The mean area of lesions per leaf was 38 mm² at 5°C, 46 mm² at 10°C, 24 mm² at 15°C and 24 mm² at 20°C. At 10°C, after a 48 h wet infection period, the interruption of leaf wetness for 5 or more days at any time during the next 15 days of the latent period did not decrease subsequent lesion area. However, absence of leaf wetness after these 15 days, at the onset of sporuiation, did decrease the area of lesions which developed.     

Further Effects of Light Intensity, Carbon Dioxide Concentration, and Day Temperature on the Growth of Chrysanthemum morifolium cv. Bright Golden Anne in Controlled Environments

In earlier work the effects of light intensity over the range31 to 250 J cm^–2 day^–1 and carbon dioxide concentrationfrom 325 to 900 ppm with 8-h days at 18.3 °C and 16-h nightsat 15.6 °C were described. The present paper is concernedwith three further experiments with light levels up to 375 Jcm^–2 day^–1 (which corresponds to the daily totalin a glasshouse in southern England in early May or August andthe intensity is approximately that of mid-winter sunshine),carbon dioxide concentration up to 1500 ppm, and day temperaturesof 18.3 to 29.4 °C. Final plant weight was increased by light over the range 125–375J cm^–2 day^–1 and by carbon dioxide over the range325–900 ppm, with positive interaction between them; thisinteraction was increased by raising the temperature to 23.9°C and somewhat more at 29.4 °C day temperature. Leaf-arearatio and specific leaf area were reduced by increasing eitherlight or carbon dioxide but there was little effect of temperature.Leaf-weight ratios were uniform within experiments but therewere small consistent differences between one experiment andthe other two which also affected leaf-area ratios. Mean unit leaf rate was scarcely affected by day temperatureover the range investigated. There were the usual increasesdue to increased light and carbon dioxide concentration anda consistent difference in absolute value between one experimentand the other two. These differences in mean unit leaf rateare illustrated in detail in the ontogenetic trend of unit leafrate and plant size. Lower unit leaf rates were to a considerableextent compensated for by increased leaf-area ratios in theusual way. Despite the substantial differences in day temperature the specificwater contents (g water g dry weight^–1) differed little,showing in the majority of cases higher values in the highertemperature for otherwise similar treatment combinations. Flower development was somewhat delayed at 23.9 °C day temperature,and substantially so at 29.4 °C. Lateral branch length wasincreased at 23.9 °C and excessively so at 29.4 °C.This reveals quite clearly that a temperature optimum for vegetativegrowth may not be the optimum for flowering performance norproduce a desirable plant shape. Despite the marked effects of temperature on rate of flowerdevelopment, the relationship between flower development andthe ratio of flower to total weight was the same for all treatmentcombinations in all three experiments and coincident with thatreported earlier. Gasometric determinations indicated that respiratory loss bythe whole plant was a smaller proportion of net photosyntheticgain at a temperature of 29.4 °C than at 18.3 °C andwas likewise a smaller proportion at 1500 ppm carbon dioxidethan at 325 ppm. If photorespiration of leaves is assumed tobe as great as their dark respiration, the respiratory lossesare in the range of 31–50 per cent of the gross gain.Greater rates of photorespiration would increase the proportionaterespiratory loss.     

The Potential Pre-anthesis and Post-anthesis Contributions of Stem Internodes to Grain Yield in Crops of Winter Barley

Field experiments to assess the development of the main stem,its constituent internodes, and their potential contributionsto grain yield in one cultivar of winter barley were carriedout in four growing seasons. Internodes developed sequentiallyup the stem and all reached their maximum mass after attainingtheir final length. Lower internodes were the main potentialcontributors of pre-anthesis assimilate to grain-filling butupper internodes were an important source of stored assimilateaccumulated after anthesis. If the contribution of stored assimilateto grain yield is equated only with the potential pre-anthesiscontribution then the importance of the stem as a storage organis grossly underestimated. The ratio of pre-anthesis to post-anthesiscontribution to total storage ranged between years from 1:1·3to 1:3·1. Crops that lost more mass from the stem alsohad greater grain yields. The stem is the major source of assimilatetowards the end of grain-filling. Mass lost from the stem betweenthe time of maximum stem mass and maturity can potentially accountfor 62% to 92% of the increase in grain mass during this period. Pre-anthesis storage, Post-antheses storage, winter barley, Hordeum Sativum Lam, stem, internode, grain yield