HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ehdaie, B. Articles by Waines, J. G. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Ehdaie, B. Articles by Waines, J. G. Agricola Articles by Ehdaie, B. Articles by Waines, J. G.

Growth and Transpiration Efficiency of Near-Isogenic Lines for Height in a Spring Wheat

Dep. of Botany and Plant Sciences, Univ. of California, Riverside, CA 92521-0124

^* Corresponding author.

The two most commonly used dwarfing genes of bread wheat (Triticure aestivum L.) are Rhtl and Rht2. The Rht3 gene is also a potent dwarfing gene. Information in the literature is limited as to the comparative effects of these genes on transpiration efficiency (TE) and wateruse efficiency (WUE). Carbon isotope discrimination () has proposed as a criterion to select for improved TE. Four near-isogenic lines, rhtrht, RhtlRhtl, Rht2Rht2, and Rht3Rht3, in ‘Maringa’ bread wheat background and four of their near-isogenic F₁ hybrids derived from crossing the original lines were used to determine the effects of dwarfing genes on plant height, root dry matter, shoot dry matter including grains, grain yield, total dry matter (TDM), TE (TDM/water transpired), WUE (grain yield/water used), and in well-watered droughted pot experiments in the glasshouse. The near-isogenlc lines and their six F₁ hybrids were also grown in well-watered and droughted field conditions. Plant height ranged from 60 to 124 cm and from 53 to 121 em in well-watered and droughted pot experiments, and it varied from 50 to 94 cm and from 49 to 90 cm in well-watered and droughted field experiments, respectively. Total dry matter, grain yield, TE, and WUE declined with plant height in well-watered glasshouse conditions. No significant relationships were found between plant height and these traits in droughted glasshouse conditions. Carbon isotope discrimination was negatively correlated with TE, but significantly so only in the well-watered pot experiment. Plant height was negatively associated with in both well-watered and droughted pot and field experiments. Grain yield and shoot dry matter also declined with plant height in field conditions. Negative correlations were observed between and grain yield and and shoot dry matter in well-watered field conditions. In most cases, the dwarfing genes reduced shoot dry matter more than grain yield and, therefore, harvest index of the semidwarf and dwarf lines was higher than that of the tall standard fine. The dwarfism caused by RhH, Rht2, and Rht3 genes had, in general, depressing effects on TE, WUE, TDM, and grain yield.

Received for publication October 25, 1993.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. G. Waines and B. Ehdaie Domestication and Crop Physiology: Roots of Green-Revolution Wheat Ann. Bot., October 1, 2007; 100(5): 991 - 998. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Ehdaie, G. A. Alloush, M. A. Madore, and J. G. Waines Genotypic Variation for Stem Reserves and Mobilization in Wheat: II. Postanthesis Changes in Internode Water-Soluble Carbohydrates Crop Sci., September 8, 2006; 46(5): 2093 - 2103. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]