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Plant growth regulators control ozone damage to wheat yield
Author(s) -
McKee I. F.,
Long S. P.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1046/j.0028-646x.2001.00207.x
Subject(s) - chlormequat , ethephon , photosynthesis , agronomy , anthesis , yield (engineering) , gibberellin , biomass (ecology) , chemistry , crop yield , ozone , gibberellic acid , phaseolus , biology , horticulture , germination , plant growth , botany , cultivar , ethylene , biochemistry , materials science , organic chemistry , catalysis , metallurgy
Summary• Tropospheric ozone (O 3 ) is damaging to plants and decreases crop yields. This study investigated the role of two plant growth regulators in affecting wheat‐yield responses to elevated [O 3 ]. In a controlled factorial experiment, wheat plants were treated with combinations of Ethephon, which releases ethene, Chlormequat, which blocks gibberellin synthesis, and elevated [O 3 ].• Spring‐wheat plants were subjected to lifelong exposures to ambient or moderately elevated [O 3 ]. At flag‐leaf emergence, the plants were treated with Ethephon and/or Chlormequat, or untreated (controls). Gas‐exchange measurements were made at anthesis; morphology, biomass, and yield components were recorded at harvest.• Elevated [O 3 ] accelerated development and decreased the number of grains per ear and ears per plant. Chlormequat abolished these O 3 effects, protecting against yield reduction though not biomass loss. Ethephon treatment partially protected against O 3 ‐induced biomass loss though not yield reduction.• This study suggests that the effects of elevated [O 3 ] on development and allocation are more important in determining the yield response of wheat than the accompanying decline in photosynthesis and biomass accumulation.