Contribution to the study of heterogeneity in the leaves of a spring wheat plant

Abstract

The effect of the individual leaf blades of spring wheat on the dry matter of stalks, chaff and grain (caryopses), of spikes and total overground part, was studied. In the experimental plants the individual leaf blades were detached according to the scheme given, at the beginning of shooting, (A), at the beginning of earing (B), and at the beginning of flowering (C). The dry matter (fresh weight) of the stalk was least decreased if either the lowest or the uppermost leaf blade was severed during the developmental phase of shooting. The dry as well as the fresh weights of chaff were least affected in those plants where the leaf blade was removed during the developmental phase of flowering. Both the dry and fresh weights of caryopses were least decreased if either the lowest or the uppermost leaf blade was removed during the developmental phase of flowering. The dry weight as well as the relative water content of chaff and ear grains were most decreased following removal of leaf blades during the developmental phase of shooting. The relative water content of chaff, grains and ears was most decreased following removal of developed leaf blades during the developmental phase of earing. It was confirmed that in addition to the photosynthetic activity of leaves the photosynthesis of other parts of the stem system (stalk internodes, ear awns etc.) participated in the production of total dry matter of experimental plants. The photosynthetic activity of leaf blades was particularly high up to the earing phase, while subsequently the photosynthesis of extrafoliar area (stalk internodes and ears) predominated. In spite of this, participation of the total leaf area is very high in the formation of grain dry matter (over 50%), as well as of the total dry matter of plant (over 80%).