Source-sink manipulation effects on postanthesis photosynthesis and grain setting on spike in winter wheat

Abstract

Source-sink manipulation could regulate the net photosynthetic rate (P(N)) of winter wheat after anthesis, however, the direction and magnitude of the regulation varied with time after anthesis. The P(N) was significantly increased by source reduction at the initial time of grain filling, but sink reduction had little influence on the P(N), which suggested that the sink (spike) limitation did not occur at this time. Source-sink relation markedly affected P(N) during rapid grain filling. The P(N) was increased by source reduction and decreased by sink reduction significantly, which indicated that P(N) was closely associated with the change of source or sink size. The effect of source-sink manipulation on P(N) had some relationship with the occurrence of plant senescence at the time of late grain filling. Source reduction accelerated the senescence and dropped the P(N), meanwhile, sink reduction delayed the senescence and promoted the P(N). A direct relation between the effect of source-sink manipulation on P(N) and stomatal limitation was not found. Removing one quarter of leaves (RQ) had little influence on spike development after anthesis. In this case there was enough compensation in source production through photosynthesis. Removing one half of leaves (RH) made grain mass per spike and mass of grains lowered, especially the grain mass in the top and base positions of spike declined markedly. The source supply was grain-limiting. Removing one quarter of spikelets (RS) was beneficial to grain-setting in the remaining spikelets, leading to the increase of grain mass. Thus promoting the source supply of photosynthates after anthesis is of major importance for grain to set and to develop.