A study of New Zealand wheats. III. Effects of soil moisture stress at different stages of development

Abstract

Single plants of Arawa and Hilgendorf 61 wheat growing in pots were exposed to soil moisture stress at different stages of development. Plants treated when the apical meristem had reached the double-ridge stage had fewer spikelets than plants treated later, but the greatest effect on grain yield occurred through reduction of grain number in plants subjected to dry conditions from the time of spikelet formation. Single grain weight was most affected by moisture stress imposed at ear emergence. Treatment after anthesis reduced single grain weight in Arawa but not in Hilgendorf 61. Plant height was reduced most if water shortage occurred before ear emergence.