Vigour In Wheat Research Articles

Introgression of early shoot vigour in wheat modifies root systems, increases competitiveness and provides options for integrated weed management

Abstract Background and aims Weeds are a major biotic stressor impacting crop production. Improving the competitiveness of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) could provide a useful tool in integrated weed management. While wheat typically exhibits conservative early growth, early vigour has been increased through long-term recurrent selection for greater early biomass and leaf area. However, the influence of integrating such vigour into breeding lines for improving competitive ability remains to be explored. Methods In replicated controlled environment experiments, the effect of breeding early shoot vigour on root development and below-ground competitiveness was carefully examined. Physical and chemical characteristics of wheat vigour lines were assessed and compared with commercial cultivars in hydroponics and field soil experiments. Measurements included early root growth, rhizosheath size and growth responses in the presence of annual ryegrass, a major weed in wheat production. Results The vigorous lines exhibited larger leaf widths, increased cell file number, increased total root length and larger rhizosheaths compared with commercial parents. Numerous secondary metabolites with known allelopathic effects on weeds were detected in the roots and the rhizosphere, and significant allelochemical level differences observed between distilled water and soil water extract-treated plants. Although the vigour lines were significantly more competitive than the commercial cultivars against ryegrass, they produced similar levels of phytotoxic secondary metabolites. Conclusion Competition below-ground was strongly suppressive of ryegrass for the more vigorous genotypes suggesting that breeding with shoot vigour had pleiotropic effects on key root traits for below-ground wheat competitiveness.

Ultrasonic treatment to enhance seed germination and vigour of wheat (Triticum durum) in association with γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) shunt pathway.

Treatments of wheat (Triticum durum L.) seeds with sonication or hydropriming may enhance seed germination and vigour in association with γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Therefore, the objective of this study is to examine the effect of sonication and hydropriming treatments on seed germination of wheat through the characterisation of seed germination performance, GABA shunt metabolite level (GABA, glutamate, and alanine), and the level of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) mRNA transcription. Wheat seeds were exposed to three treatments for 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20min: (1) sonication with water; (2) sonication without water; and (3) hydropriming without sonication. Treated seeds were evaluated for germination percentage, mean time to germinate, germination rate index in the warm germination test, and seedling emergence and shoot length in the cold test. GABA shunt metabolites level (GABA, glutamate, and alanine), and the level of GAD mRNA transcription were measured for the seeds after treatments and for seedlings during germination and cold tests. Seeds treated with sonication or hydropriming treatments had a higher germination rate index (faster germination) in the standard germination test, and higher seedling emergence and shoot length in the cold test. Seeds treated with sonication or hydropriming treatments showed an enhancement in GABA shunt and their metabolites (alanine and glutamate), and GAD mRNA transcription level compared to untreated-control seeds. In conclusion, the sonication or hydropriming treatments significantly improved the germination performance of wheat and enhanced GABA metabolism to maintain the C:N metabolic balance, especially under cold stress.

Effect of Post-anthesis High Temperature on Seed Longevity and Vigour in Wheat (triticum Aestivum L.).

Effect of Post-anthesis High Temperature on Seed Longevity and Vigour in Wheat (triticum Aestivum L.).

Selection for early shoot vigour in wheat increases root hair length but reduces epidermal cell size of roots and leaves.

Six cycles of recurrent selection for early shoot vigour in wheat resulted in significant increases in leaf width and shoot biomass. Here, in replicated controlled-environment studies, the effect of early shoot vigour on root biomass, rhizosheath size, root hair length, and cell size in the roots and leaves was examined across different cycles of selection. Increased shoot vigour was associated with greater root biomass, larger rhizosheath size, and longer root hairs. Our findings demonstrate that rhizosheath size was a reliable surrogate for root hair length in this germplasm. Examination of the root epidermis revealed that the 'cell body' of the trichoblasts (hair-forming cells) and the atrichoblasts (non-hair-forming cells) decreased in size as shoot vigour increased. Therefore, in higher vigour germplasm, longer root hairs emerged from smaller trichoblasts so that total trichoblast volume (root hair plus cell body) was generally similar regardless of shoot vigour. Similarly, the sizes of the four main cell types on the leaf epidermis became progressively smaller as shoot vigour increased, which also increased stomatal density. The relationship between shoot vigour and root traits is considered, and the potential contribution of below-ground root traits to performance and competitiveness of high vigour germplasm is discussed.

Early vigour in wheat: Could it lead to more severe terminal drought stress under elevated atmospheric [CO2 ] and semi-arid conditions?

Early vigour in wheat is a trait that has received attention for its benefits reducing evaporation from the soil surface early in the season. However, with the growth enhancement common to crops grown under elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations (e[CO2 ]), there is a risk that too much early growth might deplete soil water and lead to more severe terminal drought stress in environments where production relies on stored soil water content. If this is the case, the incorporation of such a trait in wheat breeding programmes might have unintended negative consequences in the future, especially in dry years. We used selected data from cultivars with proven expression of high and low early vigour from the Australian Grains Free Air CO2 Enrichment (AGFACE) facility, and complemented this analysis with simulation results from two crop growth models which differ in the modelling of leaf area development and crop water use. Grain yield responses to e[CO2 ] were lower in the high early vigour group compared to the low early vigour group, and although these differences were not significant, they were corroborated by simulation model results. However, the simulated lower response with high early vigour lines was not caused by an earlier or greater depletion of soil water under e[CO2 ] and the mechanisms responsible appear to be related to an earlier saturation of the radiation intercepted. Whether this is the case in the field needs to be further investigated. In addition, there was some evidence that the timing of the drought stress during crop growth influenced the effect of e[CO2 ] regardless of the early vigour trait. There is a need for FACE investigations of the value of traits for drought adaptation to be conducted under more severe drought conditions and variable timing of drought stress, a risky but necessary endeavour.

Genomic Regions for Embryo Size and Early Vigour in Multiple Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Populations

Greater early vigour has potential for increasing biomass and grain yields of wheat crops in Mediterranean-type environments. Embryo size is an important determinant of early vigour in barley and likely to contribute to greater vigour in wheat. Little is known of the underlying genetic control for embryo size, or its genetic association with early vigour in wheat. Over 150 doubled-haploid lines in each of three unrelated wheat populations varying for embryo size and early vigour were phenotyped across multiple controlled environments. The Quantitative Trait Locus (QTL) mapping was then undertaken to understand genetic control and chromosomal location of these characteristics. Genotypic variance was large and repeatable for embryo and leaf size (width and length) but not specific leaf area or coleoptile tiller size. Genetic correlations for embryo size with leaf width and area were moderate to strong in size while repeatabilities for embryo size and early vigour were high on a line-mean basis. Multiple genomic regions were identified of commonly small genetic effect for each trait with many of these regions being common across populations. Further, collocation of regions for many traits inferred a common genetic basis for many of these traits. Chromosomes 1B, 5B, 7A and 7D, and the Rht-B1b and Rht-D1b-containing chromosomes 4B and 4D contained QTL for embryo size and leaf width. These studies indicate that while early vigour is a genetically complex trait, the selection of larger embryo progeny can be readily achieved in a wheat breeding program targeting development of high vigour lines.

Effect of osmotic potential of activator solution and temperature on viability and vigour of wheat seed

Experiment was conducted to investigate if seed priming with polyethylene glycol (PEG) activator solutions affects the viability and vigour of deteriorating wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Caxton) seed lot. Seeds were subjected to PEG priming solutions with varying osmotic potentials (-1, -2, -3 MPa) at temperatures of 15 or 20°C for 6, 12, 18 or 24 h and compared to the non-primed control. Highest germination percentage at first and final count, length of plumule and dry weight of seedling were all associated with Treatment -1 MPa/20°C/6 h (92%, 94%, 9.2 cm, 0.0133 mg, respectively) compared to the control (82.5%, 86%, 7.8 cm, 0.0112 mg, respectively). The best values of coefficient of velocity of germination (CVG), mean germination time (MGT) and germination rate index (GRI) were associated with Treatment -2 MPa/15°C/24 h. There were significant interactions between the factors under study and whilst most positive effects decreased with incubation time the opposite was true at 15°C Treatment -2 MPa where an initial decrease in germination after 6 h was restored with longer incubation times. Significant correlations were found between most of the characteristics under study although these did not always account for a high percentage of variation but CVG and MGT were very highly correlated. It was concluded that, 6 h in Treatment -1 MPa PEG at a temperature of 20°C resulted in significantly improved germination percentage whilst 24 h Treatment -2 MPa at 15°C was optimal for the highest CVG and MGT. The highest speed of germination was not associated with the highest germination percentage. Key words: Osmotic potential, priming, soaking, temperature, Triticum aestivum L., wheat.

INCREASES IN SEED DENSITY CAN IMPROVE PLANT STAND AND INCREASE SEEDLING VIGOUR FROM SMALL SEEDS OF WHEAT (TRITICUM AESTIVUM)

SUMMARYEarly vigour in wheat (Triticum aestivum) is an important physiological trait to improve water-use efficiency and grain yield, especially on light soils in Mediterranean-type climates. Potential interactions for plant stand and seedling vigour between seed density and various seed quality treatments were examined for wheat grown in two experiments, conducted under controlled and field environments in Western Australia. Seed lots were graded into seed size classes and seed density fractions using saturated solutions of ammonium sulphate or sodium polytungstate. Dense seed improved plant stands or produced seedlings with greater early seedling vigour than their low-density counterparts in all three field environments. Artificial ageing reduced germination and emergence in the controlled environment. When grown in the field at Merredin, Western Australia, on the sandy soil, plant development was delayed with aged seed, and total leaf area and dry weight of plants were reduced. Fungicide application diminished total plant dry weight in sandy soils, but had a much larger detrimental effect when applied to aged and low-density seeds than normal seeds, retarding development, total leaf area and total plant dry weight. Our results indicate that an increase in seed density, particularly in small seed, can potentially improve plant stand and seedling vigour independently of seed size, and may be especially important for wheat grown on sandy soils of poor fertility and low water-holding capacity. The results also suggest consistency in seedling vigour may benefit from combined screening against small seed size and low seed density, which may also reduce the likelihood of adverse reactions to seed-applied fungicides. More attention should be paid to seed density as a valuable trait for improved reliability in plant stand and seedling vigour.

The influence of drying methods on the acquisition of seed desiccation tolerance and the maintenance of vigour in wheat (Triticum durum)

The influence of drying methods on the acquisition of seed desiccation tolerance and the maintenance of vigour in wheat (Triticum durum)

Influence of the gibberellin-sensitive Rht8 dwarfing gene on leaf epidermal cell dimensions and early vigour in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

The gibberellin-insensitive Rht-B1b and Rht-D1b dwarfing genes are known to reduce the size of cells in culms, leaves and coleoptiles of wheat. Resulting leaf area development of gibberellin-insensitive wheats is poor compared to standard height (Rht-B1a and Rht-D1a) genotypes. Alternative dwarfing genes to Rht-B1b and Rht-D1b are available that reduce plant height, such as the gibberellin-responsive Rht8 gene. This study aims to investigate if Rht8 has a similar dwarfing effect on the size of leaf cells to reduce leaf area. The effect of Rht8 on cell size and leaf area was assessed in four types of epidermal cells (interstomatal, long, sister and bulliform) measured on leaf 2 of standard height (rht8) and semi-dwarf (Rht8) doubled-haploid lines (DHLs). The DHLs were derived from a cross between very vigorous, standard height (rht8) ('Vigour18') and less vigorous, semi-dwarf (Rht8) ('Chuan-Mai 18') parents. Large differences were observed in seedling vigour between the parents, where 'Vigour18' had a much greater plant leaf area than 'Chuan-Mai 18'. Accordingly, 'Vigour18' had on average longer, wider and more epidermal cells and cell files than 'Chuan-Mai 18'. Although there was correspondingly large genotypic variation among DHLs for these traits, the contrast between semi-dwarf Rht8 and tall rht8 DHLs revealed no difference in the size of leaf 2 or average cell characteristics. Hence, these traits were independent of plant height and therefore Rht8 in the DHLs. Correlations for leaf and average cell size across DHLs revealed a strong and positive relationship between leaf width and cell files, while the relationships between leaf and cell width, and leaf and cell length were not statistically different. The relative contribution of the four cell types (long, sister, interstomatal and bulliform) to leaf size in the parents, comparative controls and DHLs is discussed. Despite a large range in early vigour among the DHLs, none of the DHLs attained the leaf area or epidermal cell size and numbers of the vigorous rht8 parent. Nonetheless, the potential exists to increase the early vigour of semi-dwarf wheats by using GA-sensitive dwarfing genes such as Rht8.

Genotypic variation in specific leaf area for genetic improvement of early vigour in wheat

Rapid leaf area development early in the season has potential to increase weed competitiveness, water use efficiency and grain yield of winter cereals. Greater early vigour, defined here as an increase in seedling leaf area, is partly associated with a larger specific leaf area (SLA). Selection in a breeding program for greater SLA should contribute to genetic increases in early vigour. However, little is known of factors influencing genotypic variation for SLA of seedling leaves. Random sets of wheat and barley genotypes were evaluated in field, glasshouse and outdoor tray studies for seedling characteristics including SLA, plant biomass and leaf area. Glasshouse-grown plants produced significantly ( P<0.01) higher SLA (308 cm 2 g −1) than outdoor (272 cm 2 g −1) plants. Genotypic differences for SLA were large, ranging between 276 and 335 cm 2 g −1 for wheat genotypes Stiletto and Tobari ‘S’, respectively. Broad-sense heritability on a genotype-mean basis varied from 51 to 68%, depending on environment type. Genotype×year interaction was smallest and heritability largest for outdoor (seedling tray and field) environments indicating the need for progeny evaluation in the field, or after preliminary evaluation in trays grown outdoors. Genetic correlations for SLA and leaf area were strongest for plants evaluated outdoors ( r g=0.60–0.96, P<0.05) while the genetic correlation for leaf 1 width and SLA was significantly ( P<0.01) different from zero in all environments ( r g=0.45–0.86). Significant ( P<0.05) genetic variance was observed for SLA in two segregating wheat populations evaluated over 2 years. Genotypic variation in SLA was under additive genetic control with small to moderate narrow-sense heritability ( h 2=1–51% on a single-plant basis). The higher heritability for leaf 1 width and its strong genetic correlation with SLA and leaf area indicates the value of leaf width in integrating genotypic variation for SLA toward selection of greater early vigour in wheat.

The impact of agronomic manipulation of early vigour in wheat on growth and yield in South Australia

The initial growth of wheat crops can be manipulated either by agronomic means, such as by increasing inputs of seed and fertiliser, or by genetic improvement in early vigour. Cultivars of wheat with enhanced early vigour are still not commercially available and so a series of experiments was conducted to examine the impact of increasing initial dry matter production and leaf area index by increasing sowing and nitrogen (N) rates on grain yield. Increasing the sowing rate and amount of N fertiliser applied significantly increased early dry matter production and leaf area, with the largest responses occurring when sowing rate was increased. However, there was little effect on yield. The increases in dry matter production that occurred early in the season as a result of the additional inputs diminished as the season progressed. Yield responses to the additional inputs depended on the seasonal distribution of rainfall and in particular the rainfall received in August and September when grains per m2 were being determined. Consequently, yield responses were affected more by changes in grain per m2 than by changes in grain weight, and the benefits of the improvements in early vigour were only realised when moisture availability was high during the immediate pre-anthesis and early grain filling period of growth. High rainfall in August and September increased the responses in grains per m2 from increased sowing rate and N. When N was used to increase early growth, the response in grain weight was negatively correlated with increasing pre-anthesis rainfall, but there was no relationship with rainfall when sowing rate was used to increase early growth. This effect of N, in which responses in pre-anthesis growth were offset by reductions in grain weight, is consistent with the ‘haying-off’ effect that can occur with applications of N. The results showed that increasing early vigour by increased inputs of seed and N fertiliser produce variable responses in grain yield. While improvements in vegetative growth occurred, the realisation of these gains only happened when rainfall in August and September was adequate. Basing improvements in early vigour only on agronomic manipulation appears to be associated with a relatively high level of risk, as it is difficult to control the balance between vegetative growth and the availability of soil moisture. Alternatively, the data suggest that the levels of early vigour under current agronomic practices may be adequate (&gt;50 g/m2 shoot DM at late tillering stage), and only marginal gains may be achieved by promoting early growth by additional inputs.

Field evaluation of early vigour for genetic improvement of grain yield in wheat

Improved early vigour in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) has been proposed as an important trait for increasing grain yield through greater water-use efficiency in rainfed, Mediterranean-type environments. Three years of field trials were undertaken in Western Australia at 2 sites, Merredin (low rainfall, 244 mm in the growing season) and Wongan Hills (medium rainfall, 308 mm), to examine the influence of increased early vigour on crop growth and yield. The effect of breeding for greater early vigour was tested in 1998 and 1999 using 3 high vigour and 3 low vigour BC2:F5 lines of the cultivar Amery backcrossed to a 'high vigour' donor. Averaged across environments, the high vigour backcross lines had a 10% increase in early vigour (i.e. leaf area/plant) at 50 DAS compared with the low vigour lines. Differences in yield across environments were associated with variation in total rainfall, rainfall distribution, and soil properties. In the wetter of the 2 years (1999), greater early vigour translated to increased yield of c. 12%, averaged across environments, but there was no difference in yield in either environment in the drier year (1998). Potential deleterious effects of the recurrent parent on yield were eliminated in field trials in 1999 and 2000 by manipulating early vigour through varying grain size (25, 35, or 50 mg) or seeding density (50, 200, or 400 plants/m2) of Amery at sowing. Large grain increased the embryo size and early vigour at 50 DAS in both environments in 1999. This translated to greater biomass production at anthesis and maturity to increase grain yield at Wongan Hills in 1999. In contrast, there was no relationship between grain size, biomass production, and yield at Merredin in 1999 or at either site in 2000. Sowing density treatments also had no effect on yield in 2000. In conclusion, there is potential to increase yield of wheat by selecting for greater early vigour in a wheat breeding program. The expression of vigour in field conditions and the translation of this improvement to higher yields is, however, dependent on the environment. Current yield limitations arising through backcrossing with a high vigour, yet poor yielding donor, need to be addressed.

Seedling vigour in wheat - sources of variation for genetic and agronomic improvement

The early growth of wheat is slow compared with that of barley and triticale. This is expected to limit the yield of wheat in environments where greater seedling vigour is advantageous. To overcome the slow growth of wheat, genetic sources of seedling vigour are required for use in breeding programs, and/or ways to increase seedling growth by manipulating seed characteristics. This study reports (i) new sources of and 3 heights at cutting (cutting was done when the grass reached 0.5, 1, and 1.5 m above the ground). The N fertiliser treatment did not yield any significant difference in DMD, ND, or IVDMD. Height at cutting had a significant (P &lt; 0.05) effect on rumen DMD and ND and their degradability characteristics for all incubation times. There was a reduction in DMD and ND and their degradability characteristics as plant height increased at cutting. Similarly, as height at cutting increased there was a decline in IVDMD. There was a positive linear correlation between IVDMD and both DMD and ND at 48, 72, 96, and 120 h (r = 0.917, 0.923, 0.921, and 0.850 for DMD; r = 0.795, 0.814, 0.787, and 0.787 for ND). Hence, further study on intake and performance of animals is suggested to develop Napier-based diets for smallholders.

Genetic improvement of early vigour in wheat

Grain yield potential of Australian wheat crops is often limited because of inadequate water for crop growth and grain filling. Greater early vigour, defined here as the amount of leaf area produced early in the season, should improve the water-use efficiency and yield of wheat crops grown in Mediterranean-type climates such as occurs in southern Australia. In order to maximise selection efficiency for early vigour in breeding programs, the magnitude and form of genetic variation for early vigour and its components was investigated for 2 contrasting wheat populations. The first population comprised 28 Australian and overseas wheat varieties evaluated in a serial sowing study in Canberra. The second population contained 50 random F 2:4 and F 2:6 families derived from a convergent cross of elite CIMMYT wheat lines evaluated in Canberra, and in the field at Condobolin, New South Wales. For the first population, environmental effects on leaf breadth and length, and to a lesser extent, phyllochron interval, produced significant (P &lt; 0.05) changes in leaf area. Large and significant (P &lt; 0.05) differences were observed among Australian and overseas wheats for early vigour and its components. Australian varieties were among the least vigorous of the lines tested, with a number of overseas varieties producing about 75% greater leaf area than representative Australian wheats. Increased leaf area was genetically correlated with increases in leaf breadth and length, and a longer phyllochron interval. Significant (P &lt; 0.05) genotype ´ environment interaction reduced broad-sense heritability (%) for early vigour (H ± s.e., 87 ± 26) compared with leaf breadth (96 ± 25) and length (97 ± 27). Narrow-sense heritability (%) in the second population was small for leaf area (h2 ± s.e., 30 ± 6) and plant biomass (35 ± 7), but high for leaf breadth (76 ± 14) and length (67 ± 16). Genetic correlations were strong and positive for leaf area with plant biomass, leaf breadth and length, specific leaf area and coleoptile tiller frequency, whereas faster leaf and primary tiller production were negatively correlated with leaf area. The high heritability for leaf breadth coupled with its strong genetic correlation with leaf area (rg = 0.56-0.57) indicated that selection for leaf breadth should produce genetic gain in leaf area similar to selection for leaf area per se. However, the ease with which leaf breadth can be measured indicates that selection for this character either by itself, or in combination with coleoptile tiller production, should provide a rapid and non-destructive screening for early vigour in segregating wheat populations. The availability of genetic variation for early vigour and correlated traits should enable direct or indirect selection for greater leaf area in segregating wheat populations.

Phytotoxicity of pathogenic fungi and their mycotoxins to cereal seedling viability.

Aspergillus flavus, Alternaria alternata and Fusarium oxysporum were the pathogenic fungi most reduced cereal (barley, sorghum and wheat) seedlings. The pathogens have the ability to produce aflatoxin B1 and G1, diacetoxyscirpenol, kojic acid and tenuazonic acid that reduced seedling viability. The inhibition dose for 50% reduction (LD50) was recorded by aflatoxins at 0.83 mg L-1 for barley, 1.74 mg L-1 for wheat and 2.75 mg L-1 for sorghum. Diacetoxyscirpenol produced its inhibition at 1.26 mg L-1 for barley, 3.98 mg L-1 for wheat and 10 mg L-1 for sorghum. Kojic acid induced 50% inhibition at 63 mg L-1 for barley, 105 mg L-1 for wheat and 251 mg L-1 for sorghum. However, tenuazonic acid was less toxic where the toxicity ranged between 79-550 mg L-1. The germination inhibition was more pronounced in barley followed by wheat and was negligible in sorghum for all tested mycotoxins. This inhibition was attributed to the reduction in the seedling amylase activity, where amylase was also reduced in the same trend: barley > wheat > sorghum. Grain treated with carboxin-captan and thiophanatemethyl-thiram at 1 g kg-1 grain increased the seedlings vigour of wheat in sterilized soil by 45 and 22%, barley by 24 and 33% and sorghum by 15 and 30%, respectively. These fungicides also had a positive effect on cereal when the soil was inoculated with A. flavus, A. alternata and F. oxysporum, but the improvement was still below normal.

Impact of threshing on hard red spring wheat seed vigour

Improper handling of seed during harvesting may result in severe seed vigour loss. The objective of this study was to determine, under field conditions, the effect of threshing on wheat seed vigour. A conventional combine and an axial flow rotary combine were used at three cylinder speeds. The proportion of visually damaged seeds was assessed for all samples, and subsequent vigour tests were conducted using visually sound seed. Seed vigour was reduced when wheat was threshed at a high cylinder speed. Wheat kernels threshed with the rotary combine were less damaged than wheat kernels threshed with the conventional combine. Both seedling emergence and grain yield were reduced by 20 plants m−2 and by 200 kg ha−1, respectively, in plots seeded with kernels threshed at a high cylinder speed compared with kernels threshed at a low cylinder speed. Vigour of sound wheat kernels was negatively correlated with the number of broken kernels in samples. To maintain high vigour in wheat seed, it is essential to thresh at a low cylinder speed. Key words: Wheat, seed vigour, threshing damage, rotary combine, conventional combine

Coleoptile tiller development is associated with fast early vigour in wheat

Faster canopy development in temperate cereals can result in more efficient utilization of wate, light and nutrients if these are in limited supply. It can also result in more competitive plants and less use of herbicides. The possible importance of the coleoptile tiller for increasing early vigour in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was determined for twelve F4 lines in two experiments. Each F4 line was chosen for variation in the presence and absence of a coleoptile tiller in plants in the previous generation; each F4 line was traced to a single F2 plant from a multiple convergent cross of sixteen parents. Eight plants of each of the F4 lines were grown in a single row in both experiments. Just after the coleoptile tiller appeared, plants within each line were classified into one of two groups; one group contained plants with large coleoptile tillers whereas the other group had either small coleoptile tillers or none at all. Leaf expansion rates were determined non-destructively at regular intervals, and plants were harvested to determine leaf and tiller characteristics when there were about five mainstem leaves. There was substantial variation in the leaf area of the coleoptile tiller both between groups and among lines. In both experiments plants with a large coleoptile tiller had 24–30% more leaf area and dry weight than plants selected with a small or absent coleoptile tiller up to the final harvest. Leaf expansion rates (increase in leaf area per day) were 25 to 35% greater in the large coleoptile tiller selections from the time tillers first appeared to the time of harvest, whereas the relative leaf expansion rate (increase in leaf area per unit of leaf area present per day) of the large selections was significantly greater than the small selections only at the time of appearance of the coleoptile tiller and just after. There was no evidence that the early appearance of a coleoptile tiller was associated with the largest seedlings or that it inhibited the growth of later tillers. It is concluded that selection for the appearance of a large coleoptile tiller should improve the early vigour of temperate cereals.

Stored polyadenylated RNA and loss of vigour in germinating wheat embryos

Loss of vigour in wheat seed is associated with lesions affecting the rate of disappearance of stored poly A + RNA (presumptive mRNA) in the germinating embryo when germination takes place at a sub-optimal temperature. During germination in the presence of α-amanitin and consequent of de novo polyA + RNA biosynthesis, the wheat embryo can degrade up to 70% of the stored poly A + RNA of the quiescent embryo before any significant reduction in the rate of protein biosynthesis in the embryo becomes apparent. It is possible that two subpopulations of poly A + RNA species exist in wheat embryos during early germination, one population being degraded rapidly upon rehydration of the embryo whilst the other population supports protein biosynthesis in the initial germination stages prior to degradation.

The effect of certain external factors upon the manifestation of hybrid vigour in wheat

The effect of certain external factors upon the manifestation of hybrid vigour in wheat