Abstract
Waterlogging is a major constraint on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production, especially in the Yangtze River Basin of China (YR). A container experiment was designed to investigate wheat-seedling growth and short-term recoveryin response to waterlogging. Cultivars commonly grown in theYR from three different decades, namely, Yangmai 1 (1970s), Yangmai 158 (1990s), and Yangfumai 4 (2010s), were selected. Seedling waterlogging significantly postponed leaf development, as well as decreased the number of tillers and adventitious roots per plant, seedling height, leaf area, specific leaf dry weight, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, and root/shoot ratio. After a 20-day recovery phase, the leaf stage, seedling height, and root/shoot ratio recovered to the control level, whereas the adverse effects of waterlogging on the number of tillers per plant, leaf area, and shoot dry weight intensified. Significant differences were found in seedling growth among the three wheat cultivars. Yangfumai 4 showed the highest number of adventitious rootsper plant and the highest specific leaf dry weightbut the lowest seedling height, leaf area, and dry weights of shoots and roots. However, Yangfumai 4 showed the lowest percentage decrease in all growth parameters after both waterlogging and recovery. These results suggested thatimprovement inadventitious root numberper plant and specific leaf dry weight may be indicators ofresistance to waterlogging in wheat.
Highlights
Waterlogging is amajor constraint on wheat yield and production worldwide and affects approximately 10-15 million hectares of wheat globally, representing 15%-20% ofcultivated area annually (Setter & Waters, 2003)
The number of tillers per plant of the waterlogged wheat was significantly reduced by approximately 6% after waterlogging and approximately 18% after recovery (Tables 1 and 2)
Cultivar Yangmai 1 had the highest number of tillers per plant after waterlogging, but it had the lowest number of tillers per plant after recovery, demonstrating that the tiller occurrence in Yangmai 1 was the slowest during the recovery phase
Summary
Waterlogging is amajor constraint on wheat yield and production worldwide and affects approximately 10-15 million hectares (ha) of wheat globally, representing 15%-20% ofcultivated area annually (Setter & Waters, 2003). Most studies have investigated the effects on wheat growth responses during waterlogging, though the ability of wheat to recover after waterlogging has been considered to be important recently (Setter & Waters, 2003; Malik et al, 2001). The evaluation of the recovery after waterlogging includes the abilityof the plants to rapidly recover (Setter & Waters, 2003), growth conditions under a prolonged recovery period (Malik et al, 2001, 2002; Araki et al, 2012), and effects on final yield (Melhuishg et al, 1991; Musgrave, 1994; Dickin & Wright, 2008).
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