
%0 Journal Article
%A Chowdhury, SI 
%A Wardlaw, IF 
%T The effect of temperature on kernel development in cereals
%J Australian Journal of Agricultural Research
%D 1978/04/01
%V 29
%N 2
%P 205-223
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/AR9780205
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/AR9780205 
%X A study has been made of the effect of temperature on kernel development and mature kernel weight of three contrasting cereals: wheat, rice and sorghum. Wheat and sorghum showed clear and well-separated optimum temperatures for individual kernel dry weights of 15/10&#176; and 27/22&#176;C respectively, while rice showed a relatively small change in weight over temperatures ranging from 21/16&#176; to 30/25&#176;. Rice kernel development was less affected by temperature extremes than sorghum, but was more sensitive to low temperature than wheat. At the lower temperatures (21/16&#176;) the rate of development of individual kernels was greater in wheat than in the other species, while in sorghum, which had a more marked temperature response, the rate of kernel development was greater than in the other cereals at the higher temperatures (30/25&#176;). A preliminary analysis of barley suggests that kernel development in this cereal responds to temperature in a similar way to wheat. Measurements of net photosynthesis of the flag leaf blade and ear of each cereal, at intervals after anthesis, suggested that at the completion of kernel development a source of carbohydrate was still available for continued development at all temperatures. A preliminary examination was carried out on the role of respiration and of translocation in limiting kernel development at high temperatures. 
