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Ash content might predict carbon isotope discrimination and grain yield in durum wheat
Author(s) -
Merah Othmane,
Deléens Eliane,
Souyris Irenée,
Monneveux Philippe
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.1469-8137.2001.00012.x
Subject(s) - agronomy , yield (engineering) , grain yield , flag (linear algebra) , water content , biology , mathematics , materials science , geotechnical engineering , pure mathematics , metallurgy , algebra over a field , engineering
• Dry mass per unit of leaf area (LDM) and ash content were evaluated as alternative criteria for carbon isotope discrimination (Δ) in durum wheat ( Triticum durum ) flag leaves and grains. • Using correlation analysis the relationships between the three parameters (LDM, Δ, ash content) and productivity were determined over three consecutive years in 37 field‐grown durum wheat genotypes under contrasting drought conditions. • Highly significant differences were found between years and among genotypes for all measured traits. Grain Δ and ash content, and LDM and flag leaf Δ were negatively correlated under nondroughted conditions. Positive correlations were found between grain yield, harvest index and both Δ and ash content of the flag leaf under drought. No significant correlations were found between LDM and both Δ and grain yield. • Differences in LDM do not predict variations in Δ, whereas ash content of grain and flag leaf (under droughted conditions) might be useful in predicting Δ and grain yield. Ash content might provide an alternative screening method in the improvement of drought tolerance and yield stability in durum wheat.