Studies on the relationship between air temperature and the differentiation of young spikes of winter wheat in Beijing district

In these studies the optimum temperature indices for spikelet differentiation were found. The critical period determining the number of spikelets on a spike lies between the single ridge stage and the stage of glume differentiation. During this period a daily temperature below 7.5°C is favourable for differentiation of further spikelets. The processes of differentiation of wheat spikes need certain accumulated temperatures for a mean daily temperature above 0°C. The relationship between the rate of spikelet differentiation and temperature during the differentiation period, and the of these periods are discussed. According to the effect of climate in early spring on the number of differentiated spikelets of winter wheat, three climatic types in early spring are suggested.