Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-tf8b9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T22:57:37.590Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Differences in phasic development rate amongst wheat cultivars independent of responses to photoperiod and vernalization. A viewpoint of the intrinsic earliness hypothesis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

G. A. Slafer
G. A. Slafer
Affiliation:
Centre for Crop Improvement, Department of Agriculture, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Differences amongst wheat cultivars in the rate of reproductive development are largely dependent on differences in their sensitivity to photoperiod and vernalization. However, when these responses are accounted for, by growing vernalized seedlings under long photoperiods, cultivars can still differ markedly in time to ear emergence. Control of rate of development by this ‘third factor’ has been poorly understood and is variously referred to as intrinsic earliness, earliness in the narrow sense, basic vegetative period, earliness per se, and basic development rate. Certain assumptions are made in the concept of intrinsic earliness. They are that differences in intrinsic earliness (i) are independent of the responses of the cultivars to photoperiod and vernalization, (ii) apply only to the length of the vegetative period up to floral initiation (as suggested by several authors), (iii) are maintained under different temperatures, measured either in days or degree days. As a consequence of this, the ranking of cultivars (from intrinsically early to intrinsically late) must be maintained at different temperatures. This paper, by the re-analysis of published data, examines the extent to which these assumptions can be supported.

Although it is shown that intrinsic earliness operates independently of photoperiod and vernalization responses, the other assumptions were not supported. The differences amongst genotypes in time to ear emergence, grown under above-optimum vernalization and photoperiod (that is when the response to these factors is saturated), were not exclusively due to parallel differences in the length of the vegetative phase, and the length of the reproductive phase was independent of that of the vegetative phase. Thus, it would be possible to change the relative allocation of time to vegetative and reproductive periods with no change in the full period to ear emergence.

The differences in intrinsic earliness between cultivars were modified by the temperature regime under which they were grown, i.e. the difference between cultivars (both considering the full phase to ear emergence or some sub-phases) was not a constant amount of time or thermal time at different temperatures. In addition, in some instances genotypes changed their ranking for ‘intrinsic earliness’ depending on the temperature regime. This was interpreted to mean that while all genotypes are sensitive to temperature they differ amongst themselves in the extent of that sensitivity.

Therefore, ‘intrinsic earliness’ should not be considered as a static genotypic characteristic, but the result of the interaction between the genotype and temperature. Intrinsic earliness is therefore likely to be related to temperature sensitivity. Some implications of these conclusions for plant breeding and crop simulation modelling are discussed.

Type
Crops and Soils
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 126 , Issue 4 , June 1996 , pp. 403 - 419
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Aitken, Y. (1974). Flowering Time, Climate and Genotype. Melbourne: Melbourne University Press.Google Scholar
Angus, J. F., MacKenzie, D. H., Morton, R. & Schafer, C.A (1981 a). Phasic development in field crops. II. Thermal and photoperiodic responses of spring wheat. Field Crops Research 4, 269–283.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Angus, J. F., Cunningham, R. B., Moncur, M. W. & MacKenzie, D.H. (1981 b). Phasic development in field crops. I. Thermal response in the seedling phase. Field Crops Research 3, 365–378.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bauer, A., Garcia, R., Kanemasu, E. T., Blad, B. L., Hatfield, J. L., Major, D. J., Reginato, R. J. & Hubbard, K. G. (1988). Effect of latitude on phenology of ‘Colt’ winter wheat. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 44, 131–140.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Beavis, W. D., Grant, D., Albertson, M. & Fincher, R. (1991). Quantitative trait loci for plant height in four maize populations and their associations with qualitative genetic loci. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 83, 141–145.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Boyd, W. J. R., Kaveeta, L., Potipibod, S. & Rossnagel, B. (1991). Variation in basic vegetative period and minimum leaf numbers. In Proceedings of the Sixth International Barley Genetics Symposium (Ed Munck, L.), pp. 6–8. Helsingborg: Munksgaard International Publishers.Google Scholar
Davidson, J. L., Christian, K. R., Jones, D. B. & Bremner, P.M. (1985). Responses of wheat to vernalization and photoperiod. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 36, 347–359.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Evans, L. T. & Blundell, C. (1994). Some aspects of photoperiodism in wheat and its wild relatives. Australian Journal of Plant Physiology 21, 551–562.Google Scholar
Fischer, R. A. (1984). Wheat. In Symposium on Potential sProductivity of Field Crops Under Different Environments (Eds Smith, W. H. & Banta, S. J.), pp. 129–153. Los Bañios: IRRI.Google Scholar
Flood, R. G. & Halloran, G. M. (1984). Basic development rate in spring wheat. Agronomy Journal 76, 260–264.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Flood, R. G. & Halloran, G. M. (1986). Genetics and physiology of vernalization response in wheat. Advances in Agronomy 39, 87–125.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ford, M. A., Austin, R. B., Angus, W. J. & Sage, G. C.M. (1981). Relationships between the responses of spring wheat genotypes to temperature and photoperiodic treatments and their performance in the field. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 96, 623–634.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Frank, A. B., Bauer, A. & Black, A. L. (1987). Effects of air temperature and water stress on apex development in spring wheat. Crop Science 27, 113–116.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gallagher, J. N. (1979). Field studies of cereal leaf growth. I. Initiation and expansion in relation to temperature and ontogeny. Journal of Experimental Botany 30, 625–636.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Halloran, G. M. (1977). Developmental basis of maturity differences in spring wheat. Agronomy Journa 69, 899–902.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Halloran, G. M. & Pennell, A. L. (1982). Duration and rate of development phases in wheat in two environments. Annals of Botany 49, 115–121.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Halse, N. J. & Weir, R. N. (1974). Effects of temperature on spikelet number of wheat. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 25, 687–695.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hay, R. K. M. (1986). Sowing date and the relationships between plant and apex development in winter cereals. Field Crops Research 14, 321–337.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hay, R. K. M & Kirby, E. J.M. (1991). Convergence and synchrony – a review of the coordination of development in wheat. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 42, 661–700.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hoogendoorn, J. (1985). The basis of variation in date of ear emergence under field conditions among the progeny of a cross between two winter wheat varieties. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 104, 493–500.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Johnson, I. R. & Thornley, J. H. M. (1985). Temperature dependence of plant and crop processes. Annals of Botany 55, 1–24.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kato, K. & Yamagata, H. (1988). Method for evaluation of chilling requirement and narrow-sense earliness of wheat cultivars. Japanese Journal of Breeding 38, 172–186.Google Scholar
Keim, D. L., Welsh, J. R. & McConnell, R. L. (1973). Inheritance of photoperiodic heading response in winter and spring cultivars of bread wheat. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 53, 247–250.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kirby, E. J. M., Appleyard, M. & Fellowes, G. (1985) Variation in development of wheat and barley in response to sowing date and variety. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 104, 383–396.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kirby, E. J. M., Porter, J. R., Day, W., Adam, J. S., Appleyard, M., Ayling, S., Baker, C. K., Belford, R. K., Biscoe, P. V., Chapman, A., Fuller, M. P., Hampson, J., Hay, R. K. M., Matthews, S., Thompson, W. J., Weir, A. H., Willington, V. B. A. & Wood, D. W. (1987). An analysis of primordium initiation in Avalon winter wheat crops with different sowing dates and at nine sites in England and Scotland. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 109, 123–134.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Koester, R. P., Sisco, P. H. & Stuber, C. W. (1993). Identification of quantitative trait loci controlling days to flowering and plant height in two near isogenic lines of maize. Crop Science 33, 1209–1216.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Major, D. J. (1980). Photoperiod response characteristics controlling flowering of nine crop species. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 60 777–784.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Major, D. J. (1983). Determination of photoperiod response characteristics using a greenhouse. International Journal of Biometeorology 27, 117–124.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Manupeerapan, T., Davidson, J. L., Pearson, C. J. & Christian, K. R. (1992). Differences in flowering responses of wheat to temperature and photoperiod. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 43, 575–584.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Masle, J., Doussinault, G. & Sun, B. (1989). Response of wheat genotypes to temperature and photoperiod in natural conditions. Crop Science 29, 712–721.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Miura, H. & Worland, A. J. (1994). Genetic control of vernalization, day-length response, and earliness per se by homoeologous group-3 chromosomes in wheat. Plant Breeding 113, 160–169.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Monteith, J. L. (1977). Climate. In Ecophysiology of Tropical Crops (Eds Alvim, P. de T. & Kozlowski, T. T.), pp. 1–27. New York: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Morrison, M. J., McVetty, P. B. E. & Shaykewich, C. F. (1989). The Determination and verification of a baseline temperature for the growth of Westar summer rape. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 69, 455–464.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Penrose, L. D. J., Martin, R. H. & Landers, C. F. (1991). Measurement of response to vernalization in Australian wheats with winter habit. Euphytica 57, 9–17.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pirasteh, B. & Welsh, J. R. (1980). Effect of temperature on the heading date of wheat cultivars under a lengthening photoperiod. Crop Science 20, p453–456.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Porter, J. R. & Delecolle, R. (1988). Interaction of temperature with other environmental factors in controlling the development of plants. In Plants and Temperature (Eds Long, S. P. & Woodward, F. I.), pp. 133–156. Cambridge: The Company of Biologists Limited.Google Scholar
Rahman, M. S. (1980). Effect of photoperiod and vernalization on the rate of development and spikelet number per ear in 30 varieties of wheat. Journal of the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science 46, 68–70Google Scholar
Rahman, M. S. & Wilson, J. H. (1977). Determination of spikelet number in wheat. I. Effect of varying photoperiod on ear development. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 28, 565–574.Google Scholar
Rahman, M. S. & Wilson, J. H. (1978). Determination of spikelet number in wheat. III. Effect of varying temperature on ear development. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 29, 459–467.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rawson, H. M. (1970). Spikelet number, its control and relation to yield per ear in wheat. Australian Journal of Biological Sciences 23, 1–5.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rawson, H. M. (1993). Prediction of heading time in wheat grown under high temperatures: effects of temperature, vernalisation and photoperiod. Indian Journal of Plant Physiology 36, 243–249.Google Scholar
Rawson, H. M. & Zajac, M. (1993). Effects of higher temperatures, photoperiod and seed vernalisation on development in two spring wheats. Australian Journal of Plant Physiology 20, 211–222.Google Scholar
Savin, R. (1993). Profundidad de enraizamiento, siembra temprana y sits efectos sobre el rendimiento de trigo sometido a sequias inverno-primaverales: Analisis de estrategias de manejo con un modelo de simulacion. MSc thesis, University of Buenos Aires.Google Scholar
Slafer, G. A. & Rawson, H. M. (1994). Sensitivity of wheat phasic development to major environmental factors: a reexamination of some assumptions made by physiologists and modellers. Australian Journal of Plant Physiology 21, 393–426.Google Scholar
Slafer, G. A. & Rawson, H. M. (1995 a). Base and optimum temperatures vary with genotype and stage of development in wheat. Plant Cell & Environment 18, 671–679.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Slafer, G. A. & Rawson, H. M. (1995 b). Intrinsic earliness and basic development rate assessed for their response to temperature in wheat genotypes. Euphytica 83, 175–183.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Slafer, G. A. & Savin, R. (1991). Developmental base temperature in different phenological phases of wheat (Triticum aestivum). Journal of Experimental Botany 42, 1077–1082.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Slafer, G. A., Halloran, G. M. & Connor, D. J. (1994). Development rate in wheat as affected by duration and rate of change of photoperiod. Annals of Botany 73, 671–677CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Syme, J. R. (1968). Ear emergence of Australian, Mexican and European wheats in relation to time of sowing and their response to vernalization and daylength. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 8, 578–581.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Takahashi, R. & Yasuda, S. (1971). Genetics of earliness and growth habit in barley. In Proceedings of the Second International Barley Genetics Symposium(Ed Nilan, R. A.) pp. 388–408. Wageningen: Centre for Agricultural Publications and Documentation.Google Scholar
Vergara, B. S. & Chang, T. T. (1976). The flowering response of the rice plant to photoperiod. A review of the literature. International Rice Research Institute, Technical Bulletin 8.Google Scholar
Vongburi, K. (1992). Studies on developmental variation in wheat in relation to adaptation to the tropical environments. PhD thesis, The University of Western Australia.Google Scholar
Wall, P. C. & Cartwright, P. M. (1974). Effects of photoperiod, temperature and vernalization on the phenology and spikelet numbers of spring wheats. Annals of Applied Biology 76, 299–309.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wallace, D. H. (1985). Physiological genetics of plant maturity, adaptation, and yield. Plant Breeding Reviews 3, 21–167.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Worland, A. J., Appendino, M. L. & Sayers, E. J. (1994). The distribution, in European winter wheats, of genes that influence ecoclimatic adaptability whilst determining photoperiodic insensitivity and plant height. Euphytica 80, 219–228.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yasuda, S. (1981). The physiology of earliness in barley. In Proceedings of the Fourth International Barley Genetics Symposium, pp. 507–517. Edinburgh, UK.Google Scholar
Young, K. J. & Elliott, G. A. (1994). An evaluation of barley accessions for adaptation to the central growing regions of Western Australia, based on time to ear emergence. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 45, 75–92.CrossRefGoogle Scholar