Register      Login
Functional Plant Biology Functional Plant Biology Society
Plant function and evolutionary biology
RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

More fertile florets and grains per spike can be achieved at higher temperature in wheat lines with high spike biomass and sugar content at booting

M. Fernanda Dreccer A G , Kimberley B. Wockner A , Jairo A. Palta B , C. Lynne McIntyre C , M. Gabriela Borgognone D , Maryse Bourgault C , Matthew Reynolds E and Daniel J. Miralles F
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A CSIRO Plant Industry, Cooper Laboratory, PO Box 863, University of Queensland, Warrego Highway, Gatton, Qld 4343, Australia.

B CSIRO Plant Industry, Wembley, WA 6913, Australia.

C CSIRO Plant Industry, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, 306 Carmody Road, St Lucia, Qld 4067, Australia.

D Queensland Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Leslie Research Facility, 13 Holberton Street, Toowoomba, Qld 4350, Australia.

E CIMMYT, Int. Apdo. Postal 6-641, 06600 Mexico, DF, Mexico.

F Facultad de Agronomia, Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET and IFEVA, Av. San Martin 4453, (C 1417 DSE) Buenos Aires, Argentina.

G Corresponding author. Email: fernanda.dreccer@csiro.au

Functional Plant Biology 41(5) 482-495 https://doi.org/10.1071/FP13232
Submitted: 2 August 2013  Accepted: 30 November 2013   Published: 6 January 2014

Journal Compilation © CSIRO Publishing 2014 Open Access CC BY-NC-ND

Abstract

An understanding of processes regulating wheat floret and grain number at higher temperatures is required to better exploit genetic variation. In this study we tested the hypothesis that at higher temperatures, a reduction in floret fertility is associated with a decrease in soluble sugars and this response is exacerbated in genotypes low in water soluble carbohydrates (WSC). Four recombinant inbred lines contrasting for stem WSC were grown at 20/10°C and 11 h photoperiod until terminal spikelet, and then continued in a factorial combination of 20/10°C or 28/14°C with 11 h or 16 h photoperiod until anthesis. Across environments, High WSC lines had more grains per spike associated with more florets per spike. The number of fertile florets was associated with spike biomass at booting and, by extension, with glucose amount, both higher in High WSC lines. At booting, High WSC lines had higher fixed 13C and higher levels of expression of genes involved in photosynthesis and sucrose transport and lower in sucrose degradation compared with Low WSC lines. At higher temperature, the intrinsic rate of floret development rate before booting was slower in High WSC lines. Grain set declined with the intrinsic rate of floret development before booting, with an advantage for High WSC lines at 28/14°C and 16 h. Genotypic and environmental action on floret fertility and grain set was summarised in a model.

Additional keywords: floret, grain number, photoperiod, water soluble carbohydrates.


References

Bancal P (2008) Positive contribution of stem growth to grain number per spike in wheat. Field Crops Research 105, 27–39.
Positive contribution of stem growth to grain number per spike in wheat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Bancal P (2009) Early development and enlargement of wheat floret primordia suggest a role of partitioning within spike to grain set. Field Crops Research 110, 44–53.
Early development and enlargement of wheat floret primordia suggest a role of partitioning within spike to grain set.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Bonnett GD, Salter B, Albertson PL (2001) Biology of suckers: late-formed shoots in sugarcane. Annals of Applied Biology 138, 17–26.
Biology of suckers: late-formed shoots in sugarcane.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Boyer JS, McLaughlin JE (2007) Functional reversion to identify controlling genes in multigenic responses: analysis of floral abortion. Journal of Experimental Botany 58, 267–277.
Functional reversion to identify controlling genes in multigenic responses: analysis of floral abortion.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXhtlOlt7o%3D&md5=3150d4ffaa7999780f9d15191f5fa0d2CAS | 17105969PubMed |

Cochran WG, Cox GM (1992) ‘Experimental designs.’ (John Wiley & Sons: New York)

Dosio GAA, Tardieu F, Turc O (2011) Floret initiation, tissue expansion and carbon availability at the meristem of the sunflower capitulum as affected by water or light deficits. New Phytologist 189, 94–105.
Floret initiation, tissue expansion and carbon availability at the meristem of the sunflower capitulum as affected by water or light deficits.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXltlGgsg%3D%3D&md5=dbcda4a8ee24a41cade6256e9371f3c6CAS |

Dougherty CT, Rooney KR, Scott WR, Langer RHM (1975) Levels of water soluble carbohydrate in pre-anthesis ear of wheat, and grain set per spikelet. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 18, 351–356.
Levels of water soluble carbohydrate in pre-anthesis ear of wheat, and grain set per spikelet.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Dreccer MF, van Herwaarden AF, Chapman SC (2009) Grain number and grain weight in wheat lines contrasting for stem water soluble carbohydrate concentration. Field Crops Research 112, 43–54.
Grain number and grain weight in wheat lines contrasting for stem water soluble carbohydrate concentration.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Dreccer MF, Bonnett D, Lafarge T (2012) Plant breeding under a changing climate. In ‘Encyclopedia of sustainability science and technology. Vol. 11’. (Ed. RA Meyers) pp. 8013–8024. (Springer-Verlag: Berlin)

Dreccer MF, Chapman SC, Rattey AR, Neal J, Song Y, Christopher JT, Reynolds M (2013) Developmental and growth controls of tillering and water-soluble carbohydrate accumulation in contrasting wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes: can we dissect them? Journal of Experimental Botany 64, 143–160.
Developmental and growth controls of tillering and water-soluble carbohydrate accumulation in contrasting wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes: can we dissect them?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38XhvV2gsbvO&md5=8fbcab4526181ce554a62e0ae3ca888cCAS | 23213136PubMed |

Fischer RA (1984) Growth and yield of wheat. In ‘Potential productivity of field crops under different environments’. pp. 129–154. (International Rice Research Institute: Los Baños, Philippines)

Fischer RA (1985) Number of kernels in wheat crops and the influence of solar radiation and temperature. Journal of Agricultural Science 105, 447–461.
Number of kernels in wheat crops and the influence of solar radiation and temperature.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Fischer RAT, Edmeades GO (2010) Breeding and cereal yield progress. Crop Science 50, S85–S98.
Breeding and cereal yield progress.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Fischer RA, Stockman YM (1980) Kernel number per spike in wheat (Triticum eastivum L) – responses to pre-anthesis shading. Australian Journal of Plant Physiology 7, 169–180.
Kernel number per spike in wheat (Triticum eastivum L) – responses to pre-anthesis shading.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaL3cXktVCjs7s%3D&md5=87aeef2f7d0488b7086fad541dda66afCAS |

Ghiglione HO, Gonzalez FG, Serrago R, Maldonado SB, Chilcott C, Cura JA, Miralles DJ, Zhu T, Casal JJ (2008) Autophagy regulated by day length determines the number of fertile florets in wheat. The Plant Journal 55, 1010–1024.
Autophagy regulated by day length determines the number of fertile florets in wheat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXht1Srs77J&md5=47924fbda31d0185cf19eb756ed52584CAS | 18547393PubMed |

González FG, Slafer GA, Miralles DJ (2005) Photoperiod during stem elongation in wheat: is its impact on fertile floret and grain number determination similar to that of radiation? Functional Plant Biology 32, 181–188.
Photoperiod during stem elongation in wheat: is its impact on fertile floret and grain number determination similar to that of radiation?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Gonzalez FG, Miralles DJ, Slafer GA (2011) Wheat floret survival as related to pre-anthesis spike growth. Journal of Experimental Botany 62, 4889–4901.
Wheat floret survival as related to pre-anthesis spike growth.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXhtlejsrbL&md5=2cdec470ed6967314e6fc9ef7711b82eCAS | 21705386PubMed |

Haun JR (1973) Visual Quantification of Wheat Development. Agronomy Journal 65, 116–119.
Visual Quantification of Wheat Development.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

IPCC (2007) ‘Climate Change 2007: impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.’ (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK)

Ji XM, Shiran B, Wan JL, Lewis DC, Jenkins CLD, Condon AG, Richards RA, Dolferus R (2010) Importance of pre-anthesis anther sink strength for maintenance of grain number during reproductive stage water stress in wheat. Plant, Cell & Environment 33, 926–942.
Importance of pre-anthesis anther sink strength for maintenance of grain number during reproductive stage water stress in wheat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXnvVagsb4%3D&md5=9db4045e0ab055f4927239638fbc76eaCAS |

Kirby EJM (1974) Ear development in spring wheat. Journal of Agricultural Science 82, 437–447.
Ear development in spring wheat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Koch K (2004) Sucrose metabolism: regulatory mechanisms and pivotal roles in sugar sensing and plant development. Current Opinion in Plant Biology 7, 235–246.
Sucrose metabolism: regulatory mechanisms and pivotal roles in sugar sensing and plant development.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXjvVams7s%3D&md5=6be1b89985c16720b0fbc20130ef947aCAS | 15134743PubMed |

Long SP, Ainsworth EA, Leakey ADB, Nosberger J, Ort DR (2006) Food for thought: lower-than-expected crop yield stimulation with rising CO2 concentrations. Science 312, 1918–1921.
Food for thought: lower-than-expected crop yield stimulation with rising CO2 concentrations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28XmsVagsr4%3D&md5=270b6cf51453b6d878a71d1d6281963fCAS | 16809532PubMed |

Mathews KL, Malosetti M, Chapman S, McIntyre L, Reynolds M, Shorter R, van Eeuwijk F (2008) Multi-environment QTL mixed models for drought stress adaptation in wheat. TAG Theoretical and Applied Genetics 117, 1077–1091.
Multi-environment QTL mixed models for drought stress adaptation in wheat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

McIntyre CL, Mathews KL, Rattey A, Chapman SC, Drenth J, Ghaderi M, Reynolds M, Shorter R (2010) Molecular detection of genomic regions associated with grain yield and yield-related components in an elite bread wheat cross evaluated under irrigated and rainfed conditions. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 120, 527–541.
Molecular detection of genomic regions associated with grain yield and yield-related components in an elite bread wheat cross evaluated under irrigated and rainfed conditions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXotV2iug%3D%3D&md5=e53328b62da8cb84410faf60bdf3b87fCAS | 19865806PubMed |

Miralles DJ, Richards RA, Slafer GA (2000) Duration of the stem elongation period influences the number of fertile florets in wheat and barley. Australian Journal of Plant Physiology 27, 931–940.

Olivares-Villegas JJ, Reynolds MP, McDonald GK (2007) Drought-adaptive attributes in the Seri/Babax hexaploid wheat population. Functional Plant Biology 34, 189–203.
Drought-adaptive attributes in the Seri/Babax hexaploid wheat population.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Palta JA (2001) Source/sink interactions in crop plants: application of 13CO2 and urea-15N techniques in the quantitative analysis. In ‘Stable isotope techniques in the study of biological processes and functioning of ecosystems’: M. Unkovich, AM McNeill, DJ Gibbs) pp. 145–165. (Kluwer Academic Publishers: Dordrecht, The Netherlands)

Palta JA, Gregory PJ (1997) Drought affects the fluxes of carbon to roots and soil in C-13 pulse-labelled plants of wheat. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 29, 1395–1403.
Drought affects the fluxes of carbon to roots and soil in C-13 pulse-labelled plants of wheat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXmtVCgt7k%3D&md5=f3643edcc081902e4ca10db0c525735aCAS |

Palta JA, Kobata T, Turner NC, Fillery IR (1994) Remobilisation of carbon and nitrogen in wheat as influence by post-anthesis water deficits. Crop Science 34, 118–124.
Remobilisation of carbon and nitrogen in wheat as influence by post-anthesis water deficits.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Patrick JW, Offler CE, Wang XD (1995) Cellular pathway of photosynthate transport in coats of developing seed of Vicia faba L. and Phaseolus vulgaris L. 1. Extent of transport through the coat symplast. Journal of Experimental Botany 46, 35–47.
Cellular pathway of photosynthate transport in coats of developing seed of Vicia faba L. and Phaseolus vulgaris L. 1. Extent of transport through the coat symplast.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2MXjslKiu74%3D&md5=6369d78c8ab5ec8e5bd9f137df6a936eCAS |

Rattey A, Shorter R, Chapman S, Dreccer F, van Herwaarden A (2009) Variation for and relationships among biomass and grain yield component traits conferring improved yield and grain weight in an elite wheat population grown in variable yield environments. Crop and Pasture Science 60, 717–729.
Variation for and relationships among biomass and grain yield component traits conferring improved yield and grain weight in an elite wheat population grown in variable yield environments.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Rebetzke GJ, van Herwaarden AF, Jenkins C, Weiss M, Lewis D, Ruuska S, Tabe L, Fettell NA, Richards RA (2008) Quantitative trait loci for water-soluble carbohydrates and associations with agronomic traits in wheat. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 59, 891–905.
Quantitative trait loci for water-soluble carbohydrates and associations with agronomic traits in wheat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXhtFaisrfE&md5=722c2406b2447aa8daa15aff0e5844acCAS |

Reynolds M, Foulkes MJ, Slafer GA, Berry P, Parry MAJ, Snape JW, Angus WJ (2008) ‘Raising yield potential in wheat.’ (Oxford University Press: Nottingham, England)

Rosenzweig C (2012) Climate change and agriculture. In ‘Encyclopedia of complexity and systems science’. (Ed. RA Meyers) (Springer-Verlag: Berlin)

Ruan Y-L, Patrick JW, Bouzayen M, Osorio S, Fernie AR (2012) Molecular regulation of seed and fruit set. Trends in Plant Science 17, 656–665.
Molecular regulation of seed and fruit set.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38XpvFGmt74%3D&md5=3f8b68aa27de1bc7cacbea45c6ddfb6dCAS | 22776090PubMed |

Shaw LM, McIntyre CL, Gresshoff PM, Xue GP (2009) Members of the Dof transcription factor family in Triticum aestivum are associated with light-mediated gene regulation. Functional & Integrative Genomics 9, 485–498.
Members of the Dof transcription factor family in Triticum aestivum are associated with light-mediated gene regulation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXht1CmtrzJ&md5=1a6135ceb5e1232aac220f0e2ba64d20CAS |

Stockman YM, Fischer RA, Brittain EG (1983) Assimilate supply and floret development within the spike of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Australian Journal of Plant Physiology 10, 585–594.
Assimilate supply and floret development within the spike of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Tardieu F, Granier C, Muller B (2011) Water deficit and growth. Co-ordinating processes without an orchestrator? Current Opinion in Plant Biology 14, 283–289.
Water deficit and growth. Co-ordinating processes without an orchestrator?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21388861PubMed |

Turnbull C (2011) Long-distance regulation of flowering time. Journal of Experimental Botany 62, 4399–4413.
Long-distance regulation of flowering time.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXhtFKisbrE&md5=f5273b7ab317f8b54ea5ee905b5083e4CAS | 21778182PubMed |

van Herwaarden AF, Angus JF, Richards RA, Farquhar GD (1998) ‘Haying-off’, the negative grain yield response of dryland wheat to nitrogen fertiliser – II. Carbohydrate and protein dynamics. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 49, 1083–1093.
‘Haying-off’, the negative grain yield response of dryland wheat to nitrogen fertiliser – II. Carbohydrate and protein dynamics.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Vergauwen R, Van den Ende W, Van Laere A (2000) The role of fructan in flowering of Campanula rapunculoides. Journal of Experimental Botany 51, 1261–1266.
The role of fructan in flowering of Campanula rapunculoides.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXlsVyjtb4%3D&md5=e14f2e99071cf9057c1672b9ac0671dfCAS | 10937702PubMed |

Waddington SR, Cartwright PM, Wall PC (1983) A quantitative scale of spike initial and pistil development in barley and wheat. Annals of Botany 51, 119–130.

Xue G, McIntyre CL, Jenkins CLD, Glassop D, van Herwaarden AF, Shorter R (2008) Molecular dissection of variation in carbohydrate metabolism related to water-soluble carbohydrate accumulation in stems of wheat. Plant Physiology 146, 441–454.
Molecular dissection of variation in carbohydrate metabolism related to water-soluble carbohydrate accumulation in stems of wheat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXjtFCmtrc%3D&md5=523cb106506fddedd28f90d1578b46d7CAS | 18083795PubMed |

Xue GP, Drenth J, Glassop D, Kooiker M, McIntyre CL (2013) Dissecting the molecular basis of the contribution of source strength to high fructan accumulation in wheat. Plant Molecular Biology 81, 71–92.
Dissecting the molecular basis of the contribution of source strength to high fructan accumulation in wheat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38XhvV2ks7vM&md5=fbb6b2802c420a9ebf367da59cd9572fCAS | 23114999PubMed |

Yemm EW, Willis AJ (1954) The estimation of carbohydrates in plant extracts by anthrone. Biochemical Journal 57, 508–514.

Zadoks JC, Chang TT, Konzak CF (1974) Decimal code for growth stages of cereals. Weed Research 14, 415–421.
Decimal code for growth stages of cereals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Zheng BY, Chenu K, Dreccer MF, Chapman SC (2012) Breeding for the future: what are the potential impacts of future frost and heat events on sowing and flowering time requirements for Australian bread wheat (Triticum aestivium) varieties? Global Change Biology 18, 2899–2914.
Breeding for the future: what are the potential impacts of future frost and heat events on sowing and flowering time requirements for Australian bread wheat (Triticum aestivium) varieties?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |