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 Peterson, C. M. Articles by Rickman, R. W. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Peterson, C. M. Articles by Rickman, R. W. Agricola Articles by Peterson, C. M. Articles by Rickman, R. W.

Tiller Development at the Coleoptilar Node in Winter Wheat¹

The formation of a secondary crown from a coleoptilar tiller can be important in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) producing regions where severe frosts can destroy or limit primary crown development in winter wheat. The outgrowth of a tiller from the coleoptilar node is influenced by both seed and environmental factors. This study was conducted to determine and compare factors likely to affect the carbohydrate status of the seedling, including seed reserves, seedling leaves, irradiance, and planting density.

Plants of ‘Stephens’ wheat, grown from seeds of three sizes, were maintained in a controlled environment. Before being sown, endosperm reserves were removed; after germination, the blade from one of the first three foliage leaves was excised to determine the influence of reduced endosperm and foliage leaf food sources on coleoptilar tiller development. Plants grown from largest seeds produced the most coleoptilar tillers, and these tillers appeared earlier in leaf development. The greatest number of subtillers and nodal roots were formed on coleoptilar tillers when plants from large seeds were grown under bright irradiance and a lower planting density. Treatments where a reduced number of coleoptilar tillers was obtained included: small seed sizes, blade excision from the first foliage leaf, intermediate irradiance, and high planting density. No coleoptilar tillers or nodal roots were produced at coleoptilar nodes both when endosperm reserves were excised prior to germination and when seedlings were grown under low irradiance. The length of the coleoptilar tiller and the number of its leaves at termination of the experiment were influenced both by seed size and irradiance levels during seedling development. The use of large seeds and adequate irradiance levels during early seedling growth resulted in more numerous coleoptilar tillers with more vigorous growth.

Key Words: Seed size • Endosperm • Leaf development • Seedling growth • Crown roots • Irradiance • Triticum aestivum L.

² Associate professor of botany, Dep. Botany, Plant Pathology, and Microbiology, Auburn Univ., AL 36849; plant physiologist and soil scientist, USDA, ARS, Columbia Plateau Consv. Res. Ctr., Pendleton, OR 97801. Work performed while CMP was on sabbatical leave from Auburn Univ., and supported in part by a postdoctoral fellowship from USDA, ARS.

Received for publication March 23, 1981.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. M. Carr, R. D. Horsley, and W. W. Poland Tillage and Seeding Rate Effects on Wheat Cultivars: II. Yield Components Crop Sci., January 1, 2003; 43(1): 210 - 218. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. A. LAFARGE, I. J. BROAD, and G. L. HAMMER Tillering in Grain Sorghum over a Wide Range of Population Densities: Identification of a Common Hierarchy for Tiller Emergence, Leaf Area Development and Fertility Ann. Bot., July 1, 2002; 90(1): 87 - 98. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]