Light quality effects on the appearance of tillers of different order in wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Abstract

SUMMARYPlants of Triticum aestivum cvs Norkin Pan 70, La Paz Inta, Buck Cencerro and Buck Cimarron were grown outdoors in individual pots with two sowing dates and irradiated at the end of the day either with red or far‐red light. In red‐treated plants the number of tillers was close to the potential calculated from the number of leaves on the main shoot but far‐red treated plants produced less tillers. The magnitude of the effect was larger for secondary and tertiary than primary tillers. Thus, the proportion of primary to secondary and tertiary tillers was larger in FR‐treated plants. Leaf sheath and lamina were longer under FR in the second sowing date, possibly due to warmer nights. These responses were greatly affected by the genotype. Significant differences in ear number were not found but in one of the sowing dates red‐light‐treated plants showed a lower grain number and yield than those treated with far‐red.