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Methods of Simulating Freezing Damage during Sorghum Grain Fill

NE Area Extension, Kansas State Univ., 1515 College Ave., Manhattan, KS 66502

^* Corresponding author (sstaggen{at}oznet.ksu.edu).

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] grain yields can be reduced if plants are exposed to freezing temperatures prior to reaching physiological maturity. Two field experiments were conducted to evaluate chemical desiccation and panicle removal as methods for simulating the loss of carbohydrate production associated with leaf death or transport tissue damage when sorghum is exposed to freezing temperatures during grain fill. In one experiment, both treatments were repeated at 3- to 4-d intervals during grain fill with a range of hybrid maturities and environments to establish a relationship between caryopsis weight or test weight with heat unit accumulation after anthesis. This relationship was best described as sigmoidal in shape. A second field experiment compared these two treatments with potted field-grown plants exposed to –2°C for 4 h. Treatments were applied four different times during grain fill. Panicle removal produced caryopsis weights 5% greater than those from freeze treatments, whereas chemical desiccation resulted in caryopsls weights 13% greater than those from freeze treatments. Test weights followed similar trends. Caryopsis weights from each treatment were similar across experiments. Panicle removal accurately simulated caryopsis weight reductions caused by exposure to freezing temperatures throughout the grain-filling period. Chemical desiccation underestimated freeze damage during early grain fill but adequately simulated caryopsis reductions during late grain fill. Test weights from panicle removal treatments were similar in both experiments, while chemical desiccation was inconsistent across experiments. Test weight reductions caused by exposure to freezing temperatures were not adequately simulated by either treatment. The results of these experiments indicate that panicle removal is a more appropriate method for simulating freeze damage to maturing grain sorghum than is chemical desiccation; however, chemical desiccation may be utilized if appropriate adjustments are made during early grain fill.

Received for publication August 25, 1997.

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