Changes in stem and spike related traits resulting from breeding in Iranian wheat cultivars: associations with grain yield

Abstract

This study investigated changes in stem and spike characteristics resulting from breeding in Iranian wheat cultivars, and their relationship with grain yield. Eighty-one wheat cultivars released between 1930 and 2006 were examined under well-watered (WW) and terminal drought stress (DS) conditions in Karaj during 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 and under WW condition at Parsabad in Moghan region during 2010-2011. A genetic improvement over time in stem specific weight (SSW) along with significant positive correlations between this trait and grain yield were found at Karaj under DS conditions and at Parsabad, suggesting that SSW could be used as an indirect selection criterion for yield in these environments. Time-dependent changes in spike dry weight showed that the magnitude of partitioned photoassimilates to the spike during the phase anthesis - 16 days after anthesis (16 DAA) was not changed by breeding. However, during the 16 DAA ‒ maturity phase, modern cultivars had more photoassimilates allocated to the spike than the old ones. This suggests that the sink is more limited during early grain growth than during the end of grain filling.

Keywords

• partitioned photoassimilates
• sink limitation
• stem specific weight
• triticum aestivum
• triticum durum