Tillering of two wheat genotypes as affected by phosphorus levels

Samuel Luiz Fioreze,Laércio Augusto Pivetta,Gustavo Castoldi,Dirceu Maximino Fernandes,Leonardo Theodoro Büll,Laerte Gustavo Pivetta

doi:10.4025/actasciagron.v34i3.13326

Samuel Luiz Fioreze, Laércio Augusto Pivetta + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.4025/actasciagron.v34i3.13326

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Abstract

Tillering plays an important role in wheat yield potential and it is affected by genotype and environmental conditions. This work aimed to study the effects of phosphorus levels on tiller emergence, survival and contribution to yield potential of two wheat cultivars. The experiment was carried out under greenhouse conditions in Botucatu, Sao Paulo State, Brazil. A 2 x 5 factorial randomized block design with four replications was applied. Two wheat cultivars (IAC 370 and IAC 375) and five phosphorus levels (0, 150, 300, 450 and 600 mg dm -3 ) were evaluated in pots with 10 dm 3 of a clayey Oxisol. Higher P levels increased tiller emergence, survival and yield, especially for secondary tillers. Tiller abortion levels were higher in IAC 370 cultivar whereas retention of formed tillers was higher in IAC 375.

Highlights

Tiller emergence, development and survival are extremely important in wheat, since tillers represent the main quantitative components in grain yield (ALVES et al, 2000, 2005; VALÉRIO et al, 2008, 2009). Mundstock (1999) points out that the contribution of non-fertile tillers is the main cause of low wheat yields in Brazil
Wheat plants grown with no P fertilization (0 mg dm-3) showed reduced development and total inhibition of tiller emergence, even with great soil P levels
This treatment was not statistically evaluated as a variable related to tiller emergence or contribution to yield. This exclusion provided better equation fitting and understanding of the results. Tiller emergence of both cultivars was linearly increased by P levels (Figure 1a)

Summary

Introduction

Development and survival are extremely important in wheat, since tillers represent the main quantitative components in grain yield (ALVES et al, 2000, 2005; VALÉRIO et al, 2008, 2009). Mundstock (1999) points out that the contribution of non-fertile tillers is the main cause of low wheat yields in Brazil. Development and survival are extremely important in wheat, since tillers represent the main quantitative components in grain yield (ALVES et al, 2000, 2005; VALÉRIO et al, 2008, 2009). Mundstock (1999) points out that the contribution of non-fertile tillers is the main cause of low wheat yields in Brazil. There is a relationship between the main stem and tillering, which influences the number of fertile tillers in cereals. It is affected by environmental conditions during the initiation of tiller primordia and subsequent development stages (ALMEIDA; MUNDSTOCK, 2001). Tillering may positively or negatively influence wheat yield depending on environmental resources availability such as water, light and nutrients (ELHANI et al, 2007).

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