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WHEAT

Breeding Effects on Grain Filling, Biomass Partitioning, and Remobilization in Mediterranean Durum Wheat

^a IRTA, Cereal Breeding, Centre UdL-IRTA. Rovira Roure, 191, 25198 Lleida, Spain
^b Dep. de Fisiología Vegetal, Facultad de Ciencias, Inst. de Biotecnología, Univ. de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain

^* Corresponding author (conxita.royo{at}irta.es).

This work assesses the changes resulting from durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum) breeding in Italy and Spain during the 20th century on grain filling, biomass production, and allocation at anthesis, and the remobilization of preanthesis photosynthates to the grain of main stems. Field experiments, involving 12 Italian and 12 Spanish cultivars released at different periods, were conducted at two Spanish sites during three growing seasons. Breeding activities did not modify final grain weight (W_G), the maximum rate of grain filling (R), nor grain filling duration (D) of central grains of main spikes. Genetic variability existed for W_G and R within countries and periods. Cycle length (expressed as days from sowing to anthesis [DSA]) was reduced by 2 and 8 d in Italian and Spanish cultivars, respectively. Crop dry weight (CDW) decreased by 21% (0.51% yr^–1) and green area index (GAI) by 28% (–0.33% yr^–1) in Spanish cultivars. Green area index at anthesis did not differ between old and modern Italian cultivars, while CDW decreased by 9%. Leaf area index (LAI) remained unchanged in cultivars from both countries, while the spike:stem ratio increased by 8 and 10% in Italian and Spanish cultivars, respectively. Changes over time in DSA were positively associated with changes in CDW and GAI. Dry matter translocation (DMT) efficiency switched from 9% in old cultivars to 20% in modern ones. The contribution of preanthesis assimilates to grain yield (CPA) increased to values of 31 and 27% in Italian and Spanish modern cultivars, respectively. Opportunities for further increases in genetic yield potential in Mediterranean-type environments are discussed.

Abbreviations: CDW, crop dry weight • CPA, contribution of preanthesis assimilates to grain yield • D, grain filling duration • DM, dry matter • DMT, dry matter translocation • DSA, days from sowing to anthesis • GA, gibberellic acid • GAI, green area index • GAP, green area per plant • GDD, growing degree-days • LAI, leaf area index • LAP, leaf area per plant • NPM2, number of plants per m² • PCA, principal component analysis • R, maximum rate of grain filling • W_G, final grain weight • W_ST, main stem weight at anthesis • WSC, water soluble carbohydrates

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This article has been cited by other articles:

				F. Alvaro, C. Royo, L. F. Garcia del Moral, and D. Villegas Grain Filling and Dry Matter Translocation Responses to Source-Sink Modifications in a Historical Series of Durum Wheat Crop Sci., July 1, 2008; 48(4): 1523 - 1531. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]