Water stress and phenology in wheat

Abstract

Single wheat plants (cv. Gabo) were sown in tall pots and top-watered so that growth proceeded without stress until the time of floral initiation. Having reached this stage, plants encountered increasing stress as soil water was depleted. At intervals after the dawn leaf water potential, ψ1, had reached values of –5, –10, –15 bars etc., the stress was relieved with water sufficient for unstressed development until anthesis. The anthesis dates of plants which had encountered mild stress (ψ1 down to about ndash;15 bars) were ahead of the well-watered control, while those which had encountered more severe stress (ψ1 from about ndash;25 to ndash;40 bars) flowered after the controls. The results are discussed in relation to the possibilities of including the effects of stress in crop development models.

Potential value of traits associated with perennial habit in the development of new oil-seed crops for arid lands. A comparison of Lesquerella fendleri and L. mendocina subjected to water stress

“…However, our results are in accordance with previous reports in which flowering was generally hastened slightly by mild water stress (Fischer & Turner, 1978). In other crops like wheat, the effect of stress in flowering depends on the intensity; under mild stress flowering can be accelerated while it can be delayed under severe stress (Angus & Moncur, 1977).…”

Differences in developmental plasticity and growth rate among drought-resistant and susceptible cultivars of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum)

“…Preanthesis moisture stress delayed development, whereas moisture stress during grain filling hastened development, in agreement with the result of Angus and Moncur (1977). Different mechanisms have been suggested to explain this phenomenon.…”

Modelling crop growth and biomass partitioning to shoots and roots in relation to nitrogen and water availability, using a maximization principle

“…In studies by Hodges and French (1985) and Angus and Moncur (1977) water stress was reported to affect development rate of crops, and Peltonen (1993) showed that the N fertilization rate may affect development rate under controlled conditions. In contrast, Franck et al (1992) noticed no effect of N fertilization rate on duration of development phases.…”