The effect of low-temperature grain pre-treatment on the development, yield and grain of some varieties of wheat and barley

Extract

1. The effect of low-temperature grain pre-treatment on two winter varieties of wheat and two winter varieties of barley is seen in a very definite reduction in the number of tillers produced, which, however, had no subsequent effect on the number of ears surviving at harvest. Very little effect resulted from the treatment of spring varieties of wheat and barley in the number of tillers produced, although the spring wheat variety did show a slight reduction.

2. Gross yields per plot were unaffected by the treatment in all the varieties, but the yields per plant were affected in the wheat experiment, and the yield per ear in the barley experiment. There was a general increase in the yield per plant of all wheat varieties, while in the yield per ear one barley variety was unaffected, another showed an increase, while the third suffered a reduction.

3. The grain from treated plants was affected in 1000-grain weight and nitrogen content in the wheat experiment, while only the 1000-grain weight suffered any change in the barley experiment. Only one wheat variety showed an increase in 1000-grain weight, while each of the three varieties responded differently with regard to the nitrogen content of the grain. Similarly, each of the three barley varieties was affected differently with regard to 1000-grain weight, one being unaffected, another showing a decrease, while the third showed an increase.

4. Analysis of the behaviour of the varieties with regard to tillering and ear production showed clearly that the maximum of tillers produced bears little relation to the number of ears at harvest. In the barley varieties high yield and low nitrogen were associated with the largest number of ears, which in turn was associated with the lowest tillering. In the wheat varieties high yield was associated with high 1000-grain weight. In both experiments the spring varieties outyielded the winter varieties whether the latter had been treated or not.