Abstract
Seeding density adjustments is one of the practices that most influence grain yield, as well as other agronomic traits. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the ideal plant stand to achieve the maximum grain yield in genotypes showing differential tillering ability. Also, to establish the associations between the genotypes used with tillering and other agronomically important traits as weight of a thousand grains. Two experiments were conducted in 2005 and 2006 in Capão do Leão, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. Five low (JURITI, BR 18, CEP 29, BR 18 and CD 108) and five high (CD 114, SAFIRA, FIGUEIRA, BRS 177 and UMBU) tillering potential wheat cultivars were tested for two years on a split-plot design. The results indicate the need for recommending cultivars based on more than one year of cultivation, especially when dealing with contrasting genotypes for the trait fertile tillers. Regarding the ideal plant stand, seeding density of low tillering ability genotypes ranges from 417 to 555 seeds m-2, in order to obtain maximum yield and grain weight. On the other hand, for high tillering ability genotypes, the ideal stand ranges from 221 to 422 seeds m-². These results were year independent. Furthermore, low tillering ability genotypes showed a closer association of number of fertile tillers with grain yield. However, an inverse association was found between number of fertile tillers and weight of a thousand grains.
Highlights
Seeding density is a limiting factor for plants to capture environmental resources (Lloveras et al, 2004)
Changes in seeding density have special importance in wheat crops since they have a direct effect on grain yield and its components (Ozturk et al, 2006) according to the cultivation environment (Lloveras et al, 2004)
The density used for the wheat crop can range from 300 to 400 viable seeds per square meter (Comissão Sul-Brasileira de Pesquisa de Trigo, 2005)
Summary
Seeding density is a limiting factor for plants to capture environmental resources (Lloveras et al, 2004). The density used for the wheat crop can range from 300 to 400 viable seeds per square meter (Comissão Sul-Brasileira de Pesquisa de Trigo, 2005). Such recommendation does not take into account genotype differences, especially concerning tiller production and survival. The ideal should take into account environmental conditions, such as altitude, temperature, soil and seeding time (Klepper et al, 1982; Gade, 1995) Such effects have been observed in favorable and unfavorable conditions, where there is an uniform/disuniform culm population and regularly/irregularly spaced tillers, respectively (Rickman et al, 1983). The key factor in this case is the genotype’s tillering potential
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