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

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science 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 Ruiz, R. A. Articles by Maddonni, G. A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Ruiz, R. A. Articles by Maddonni, G. A. Agricola Articles by Ruiz, R. A. Articles by Maddonni, G. A. Related Collections Seed Quality Crop Physiology & Metabolism Sunflower

CROP PHYSIOLOGY & METABOLISM

Sunflower Seed Weight and Oil Concentration under Different Post-Flowering Source-Sink Ratios

Dep. de Producción Vegetal, Fac. de Agronomía, Univ. de Buenos Aires, Av. San Martín 4453, Ciudad de Buenos Aires (C1417DSE), Argentina

^* Corresponding author (maddonni{at}agro.uba.ar)

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) seed weight and oil concentration are commonly related to post-flowering source of assimilates (e.g., leaf area index duration, LAD). A predictive variable including both the source of assimilates and the sinks (i.e., seed number) would better account for seed weight and seed oil concentration variability of crops with contrasting seed number and canopy size. We established quantitative relationships between oil weight per seed components and post-flowering source–sink ratio. Field experiments were conducted in Argentina from 1998 to 2001. Four hybrids were cultivated under contrasting plant populations and nutrient supplies. A wide range of LAD (913–3130 m²°Cd m^–2), seed number (4270–8880 seeds m^–2), and seed weight (41–62 mg) was recorded. In contrast, seed oil concentration was not modified (about 530 mg g^–1). Post-flowering source–sink ratio (LAD per seed) better accounted (r² = 0.69) for seed-weight prediction than LAD (r² = 0.42). Maximum seed weight (60 mg) was attained with source–sink ratios 0.33 m²°Cd seed^–1. Results from our data set pooled together with others of different agro-ecological regions reveal that sunflower crops are normally growing under limiting post-flowering source–sink ratios and a 47% reduction of seed weight occurs when post-flowering source–sink ratio is dramatically (100%) reduced. Seed weight is only 23% increased at saturated source–sink ratios. In contrast, for the wide range of post-flowering source–sink ratios analyzed, seed oil concentration did not vary.

Abbreviations: fIPAR, fraction of photosynthetically active radiation intercepted • GLAI, green leaf area index • IPAR, intercepted photosynthetically active radiation • LAD, leaf area index duration • RMSE, root mean square error

This article has been cited by other articles:

				V. D. Zheljazkov, B. A. Vick, M. W. Ebelhar, N. Buehring, B. S. Baldwin, T. Astatkie, and J. F. Miller Yield, Oil Content, and Composition of Sunflower Grown at Multiple Locations in Mississippi Agron. J., May 7, 2008; 100(3): 635 - 642. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. G. Izquierdo, G. A. A. Dosio, M. Cantarero, J. Lujan, and L. A. N. Aguirrezabal Weight per Grain, Oil Concentration, and Solar Radiation Intercepted during Grain Filling in Black Hull and Striped Hull Sunflower Hybrids Crop Sci., March 19, 2008; 48(2): 688 - 699. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]