Sink Manipulation in Wheat: Compensatory Changes in Kernel Size

Abstract

Kernel size (KS), an important yield component of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), depends on assimilate availability and the capacity of the kernel to use assimilates. The objective of this study was to evaluate the response of wheat cultivars with different KS (20 to 43 mg kernel −1,) to sink manipulation. Twenty cultivars grown at two locations were partially degrained by removal of all spikelets from one side of only one spike per plant. Control spikes were left intact. Partial degraining decreased kernel number (KN) by 51%. Relative compensatory kernel growth tended to increase with decreasing KS. However, the KS of five cultivars was unaffected by partial degraining, and the relative growth response of one small‐ and one large‐kernel cultivar each deviated markedly from the predicted response. Partial degralning enhanced kernel N of all cultivars, with an estimated 19 to 80% of the increase in KS attributed to greater accumulation of N compounds. For selected caltivars, the KS distribution and flag‐leaf abscisic acid (ABA) were determined to evaluate the relationship of sink size to these traits. Partial degraining altered KS distributions; for all but one of seven cultivars evaluated, partially degrained cultivars had the largest 5% of kernels and the single largest kernel. Compensatory kernel growth was unrelated to flag‐leaf ABA, indicating partial degraining had no adverse effects on assimilate supply related to excessive ABA levels in the flag leaf. These results demonstrate variable cultivar response to partial degraining; apparently, kernel growth of some cultivars is source limited, while other cultivars are at their capacity to accumulate assimilates.