Changes in Number and Weight of Wheat and Triticale Grains to Manipulation in Source-Sink Relationship

E Ballesteros-Rodríguez,G F González,G Estrada-Campuzano,C G Martínez-Rueda,E J Morales-Rosales

doi:10.1155/2019/7173841

E Ballesteros-Rodríguez, G F González + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/7173841

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Abstract

The source-sink ratio experimental manipulation has helped to define whether a crop is limited by source or sink or co-limited by both. There is no evidence in triticale of source-sink manipulations effects on yield and yield components. Two experiments were accomplished during 2008 and 2009 growing seasons at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, México, and one in 2010 at the National Institute of Agricultural Technology in Pergamino, Argentina. Two triticale cultivars (line 4 and 7) and one wheat cultivar (Tollocan) were used. Source-sink relations were modified at anthesis by thinning, degraining, shading, and total defoliation procedures. Changes in the source-sink relation affected yields in both species differentially. The changes in yield due to cultivars and treatments were explained mainly by the number of grains rather than by their individual grain weight. The number of grains was affected by all treatments in both species, while the individual grain weight was increased by thinning and degraining mainly in triticale. A greater number of fertile florets in triticale were associated with their higher rate of abortion compared to wheat. These results could help to better understand crop management and genetic improvement.

Highlights

In cereals, yield is defined by the number of grains per unit area and the individual weight of these grains [1]
Changes in the source-sink relation affected yields in both species differentially. e changes in yield due to cultivars and treatments were explained mainly by the number of grains rather than by their individual grain weight. e number of grains was affected by all treatments in both species, while the individual grain weight was increased by thinning and degraining mainly in triticale
Grain yield is strongly related to the number of grains harvested at physiological maturity [1, 2] while individual grain weight is considered a more stable feature. e number of grains per unit area is defined by the number of spikes per unit area and the number of grains per spike [2]. e number of grains per spike in cereals is determined around to anthesis [3,4,5], a period that coincides with the maturation of florets that reach the fertile stage [6, 7]

Summary

Introduction

Yield is defined by the number of grains per unit area and the individual weight of these grains [1]. E source-sink ratio manipulation during setting and grain filling allow defining when the crops are limited by source or sink or co-limited by both [8]. Even though in other species source-sink relationships have been successfully studied, in triticale there is scarce information on the effect of the source-sink manipulations on grain yield and its physiological determinants. E objective of present work was to compare the effect of the source-sink manipulations on grain yield, its physiological determinants, and its components in triticale and wheat. For this purpose, a series of experiments were conducted involving manipulative treatments (shading, defoliating, thinning, and degraining crops at anthesis) under different environmental scenarios. Understanding similarities and differences between triticale and wheat in these traits could help focusing management practices for each species, and known species and environment interactions

Materials and Methods

Results

Shading Degraining inning Control Defoliation Shading Degraining inning Control

Findings

Df Dg T