Seeding density in wheat: the more, the merrier?

GENETICS AND PLANT BREEDING

Seeding density in wheat: the more, the merrier?

Igor Pirez Valério^I; Fernando Irajá Félix de Carvalho^I; Giovani Benin^II; Gustavo da Silveira^I; José Antonio Gonzalez da Silva^III; Rafael Nornberg^I; Thais Hagemann^I; Henrique de Souza Luche^I; Antônio Costa de Oliveira^I,*

^IUFPEL/FAEM/CGF, C.P. 354 – 96010-900 – Pelotas, RS – Brasil

^IIUTFPR, Via do Conhecimento km 01, Campus Pato Branco – 85501-970 – Pato Branco, PR – Brasil

^IIIUNIJUI – Depto. de Estudos Agrários, R. do Comércio, 3000, Bairro Universitário – 98700-000 – Ijuí, RS – Brasil

ABSTRACT

Adjustment of seeding schemes is one of the crop management techniques that most influences grain yield components. This work aimed to characterize the potential grain yield and its components in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes with contrasting tillering ability under different seeding densities and environments. Five experiments were conducted in split-plot design, each with ten cultivars (main plot), sown in five distinct seeding densities (subplots). Experiments were sown in three locations in southern Brazil in the years 2005, 2006 and 2007. The grain yield per plot and its yield components: number of fertile tillers, weight of 1,000 grains, ear weight and number of grains per ear were evaluated. Genotypes with reduced tillering ability expressed an increase in grain yield with an increase in seeding densities, however showing a reduction in ear weight. The number of grains per ear did not affect grain yield but was highly influenced by seeding densities. The compensatory effect was expressed by the weight of a thousand grains as a function of the experimental conditions in which the genotypes were evaluated, regardless of seeding densities used. Results pointed to differences among cultivars tested in specific locations and years.

Keywords: Triticum aestivum L., G × E interaction, tiller number, yield components

Introduction

Seeding density is important for the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop, since it directly affects the number of ears per unit area. As a consequence, other yield components such as the number of grains per ear and individual grain weight (Davidson and Chevalier, 1990; Lloveras et al., 2004; Ozturk et al., 2006). The ability of wheat and other cold-season cereals to compensate the lack or excess of a yield component through changes in the other components is essential for their best performance (Freeze and Bacon, 1990). Such compensation can maximize the yield potential of the species per unit area, depending on the genotype, the environment and their interaction.

Currently, the seeding density used for the wheat ranges from 250 to 400 viable seeds per square meter. This is based on the cultivar cycle, as well as its dual ability as a forage and grain crop (Comissão Brasileira de Pesquisa de Trigo, 2007). Nevertheless, differential performances of cultivars regarding tiller formation and survival as well as the crop environment, should be taken into account for achieving proper seed densities.

In favorable environments, there is a uniform yield due to regular tiller formation and to the distribution of photosynthesis products, which contribute to grain yield (Rickman et al., 1983). On the other hand, tiller development in stress conditions is irregular, forming a high rate of underdeveloped or weak tillers which compete with normal tillers and affect plant grain yields (Martin, 1987). Also, adjusting seeding density to environmental (favorable or unfavorable) conditions adequate the level of competition between tillers, especially around tillering initiation. A better understanding of genotypic responses in tillering to environmental and management conditions will ease the optimization of seeding density. This allows exploitation of the genetic potential of a particular genotype with respect to tillering dynamics and its effect on crop yield (Ozturk et al., 2006). Therefore, the objective of this work was to characterize grain yield and yield components of wheat genotypes with contrasting tillering abilities under a range of environmental conditions, and seeding densities.

Materials and Methods

Five experiments were conducted in three locations in southern Brazil in the years 2005, 2006 and 2007 (Table 1). Three of these (2005, 2006 and 2007) were sown in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul State-RS, Brazil. The remaining two experiments were both sown in 2007, one in Ijui-RS and the other in Pato Branco, state of Paraná, Brazil. Ten Brazilian wheat cultivars, with different tillering potentials, were used in the experiments: FUNDACEP 29 (FUNDACEP); IPR 85 (IAPAR); CD 108, CD 114 and OCEPAR 11 – JURITI (supplied by COODETEC); SAFIRA (supplied by OR Seed Breeding Company) and BRS FIGUEIRA, BRS UMBÚ, BRS 177 and BR 18 (supplied by Embrapa wheat). The cultivars IPR 85, CD 108, OCEPAR 11 – JURITI, FUNDACEP 29 and BR 18 have low, and CD 114, BRS UMBU, BRS 177, SAFIRA and BRS FIGUEIRA have high tillering abilities. All experiments included five densities (50, 200, 350, 500 and 650 viable seeds m^–2), which included two levels above and below standard recommended density (Comissão Brasileira de Pesquisa de Trigo, 2007).

The experimental design was a split plot with three replications, where the genotypes composed the main plots and density the subplots. The environment was considered the third experimental factor. The following field characters were evaluated: number of fertile tillers (NFT), counted at physiological maturity for each genotype in one linear meter. In the laboratory, the following measurements were performed: i) grain yield (GY), by individually threshing each subplot; ii) weight of a thousand grains (WTG), by counting four 250 grain subsamples from each subplot; iii) ear weight (EW), obtained by weight seven randomly selected ears in each subplot, and iv) number of grains present in seven randomly selected ears.

Analysis of variance in the split plot design was performed, considering the environmental factor as random and genotype and density as fixed, using the WinStat software (WinStat, 2006). For the characters number of fertile tillers and grain yield, the interaction effects between these factors were tested by a linear regression analysis.

For weight of 1,000 grains, the interaction effects between factors were tested in the mean analysis for genotypes using the Scott and Knott test, fixing the environmental factor. For ear weight and number of grains per ear, the effects of the interaction between the factors were tested by a linear regression analysis, testing the significance of many polynomial orders for different density, fixing the genotype factor for ear weight and environmental factor for number of grains per ear.

Results and Discussion

Significant effects were detected (p ≤ 0.05) of the major factors Environment, Genotype and Density for all evaluated characters, as well as the GxE interaction. Interactions between Environment × Density were not detected (p > 0.05) for weight of 1,000 grains (WTG). The influence of the interaction Genotype × Density was not detected for the character number of grains per ear (NGE) and number of fertile tillers (NFT). The triple interaction was only detected (p ≤ 0.05) for the variables number of fertile tillers (NTF) and grain yield (GY) (Table 2).

The Environment × Density interaction for the character grain yield highlight the importance of having an ideal stand for the wheat crop, and the need for recommendations based on more than one year and for specific locations. These changes caused by seeding density are particular of a given environment, with a direct effect on genotype yield (Lloveras et al., 2004). Therefore, the best exploitation of the genotype is related with the direct use of resources by the plant, as well as a density that fits to a higher yield response (Darwinkel, 1978). This response expresses the best performance obtained from a balance between competition for light, water and nutrients.

The environmental effect was essential for the performance of genotypes evaluated at different seed densities. This can be observed from the average grain yield (overall means) obtained at different environments: 2,948; 1,924; 1,396 and 1,459 kg ha^–1 for Pelotas/2005, Pelotas/2006, Pelotas/2007, Pato Branco/2007 and Ijuí/2007, respectively (data not shown). The best grain yield was observed in the Pelotas/2006 environment, which was the one with the best conditions for the wheat crop (Table 1).

The experiment conducted in Pelotas/2006 was favored mainly by the adequate rain index during all the crop season (Table 1). Thus, the best tiller development and survival in this environment are explained, leading to a direct effect on grain yield. Stresses caused by excess water in the soil provoke intense modifications in agronomically important characters, with a direct effect on the wheat crop yield (Scheeren et al., 1995).

The damages caused by water stress during the crop development and a high maximum temperature were essential to cause a reduced performance of genotypes evaluated at Pato Branco/2007 (Table 1). Many reserachers report the influence of high temperature on tiller reduction (Cannell, 1969; Thorne and Wood, 1987; Hucl and Baker, 1990). Under ideal temperature conditions (15.5 to 20.5 °C), plants respond efficiently to tillering (Bos and Neuteboom, 1998). Lower grain yield was observed for varieties conducted under dry winter, with reduction in tillering and consequently in the final number of ears (Lloveras et al., 2004).

Climate and management conditions did influence the increase in WTG on the distinct tested environments. Thus, the observed large yield changes in the experiment conducted in Pelotas are due to an effect on WTG, with 34.7; 30.5 and 17.4, respectively, for the years 2005, 2006 and 2007 (Table 3). In this last year of testing at Pelotas, the maximum temperatures were very low during the tiller developmental stage, favoring a higher tiller production and leading to an indirect effect on yield components, as observed for WTG.

Seeding density for the point of maximum tiller production per meter was not the same density found for maximum grain yield (Table 4). Thus, the optimal grain yield density level may not necessarily be related with the higher tiller production per meter, being the genotype effect essential for this change. The higher grain yields were obtained with lower density for the genotypes with high tillering potential and with higher density for genotypes with reduced tillering potential (Table 4).

The differential effect of genotype on the seeding density for the maximum yield can be observed from the results for cultivars CD 114 (high tillering) and FUNDACEP 29 (low tillering). In both high yielding (Pelotas/2006) and low yielding (Pato Branco/2007) conditions, optimum density of CD114 (< 400 seeds m^–2) was lower for FUNDACEP 29 (> 550 seeds m^-2) (Table 4).

An effect of genotype and environment on the seeding density that maximizes grain yield was observed (p ≤ 0.05). Similar results are reported for the wheat crop, with a maximum grain yield obtained at densities of 371 – 508 seeds m^–2, 200 - 280 seeds m^–2 and 400 seeds m^–2, in distinct evaluating environments (Joseph et al., 1985; Ellen, 1990; Lock, 1993; Lloveras et al., 2004). These effects on the ideal seeding density indicate that further studies aiming to recommend an ideal density for each specific genotype and location would have an important impact on the crop.

As observed for the majority of genotypes with reduced tillering potential, the increase in seeding density was essential for the increase in the performance for NFT and GY (Figures 1 and 2), especially for cultivars IPR 85 and BR 18. This larger increase observed for the majority of low tillering potential genotypes could be explained by the need to augment the density in order to compensate the reduced number of tillers produced by these genotypes, reaching higher yields. This compensation can be important in determining the contribution of yield components (Freeze and Bacon, 1990).

The compensation among yield components was evident from the high ear weight of low tillering genotypes (Figure 3). However, weight per ear declines with increasing seeding density, indicating the need to explore the maximum grain yield potential, at the density level, for low tillering potential genotypes, i.e., genotypes with low tillering potential are more dependent on the seeding density for yield performance (Geleta et al., 2002; Ozturk et al., 2006).

The excellent performance of low tillering potential genotypes when the seeding density was increased can be observed for the genotype FUNDACEP 29 in the environments of Pelotas/2005, Pelotas/2006 and Pelotas/2007, with increases of 74, 105 and 97 %, respectively. Similar but less striking results have also been reported as 33 and 49 % of grain yield increase, with the increase in density (Geleta et al., 2002; Ozturk et al., 2006). Therefore, it can be highlighted the better performance of low tillering potential genotypes in the high seeding densities, since the maximum grain yield was obtained in densities above 400 seeds m^–2 (Table 4).

The density adjustment for low tillering potential genotypes results in the better use of resources, enabling the uniform tiller production without having an excessive energy cost towards tiller with retarded development. Also, it can result in a higher efficiency of nutrient uptake and transport, without the risk of having losses due to high tiller senescence during development and leading to a better conversion of energy to grain yield.

The higher tillering potential, observed for the genotypes FIGUEIRA, UMBU, CD 114, BRS 177 and SAFIRA at different seeding densities, indicates the better performance of these genotypes at reduced densities, probably due to a better water, radiation and nitrogen use efficiency (Masle, 1985). Light acts as an early signal for cell division and determines higher leaf growth, which is correlated with the emission of new leaves and tillers (Skinner and Nelson, 1994; Skinner and Nelson, 1995). Also, it enables an increase in the plant green area, resulting in higher radiation capture ability (Whaley et al., 2000).

The superior performance of high tillering potential genotypes, at reduced density levels, reveals a mechanism by which wheat can produce a canopy with high radiation absorption ability and, therefore, to maintain a high grain yield (Whaley et al., 2000). Similar results are found in the literature, with higher grain yields at reduced densities and a direct effect in the number of grains per ear (Wood et al., 2003).

The fall in NFT and GY values with an increase in seeding density can be observed for genotypes with high tillering potential (Figures 1 and 2). At high densities there is high competition for soil water after anthesis, resulting on a reduction on the grain filling stage, leading to a reduction in grain yield (Darwinkel, 1977). Genotypes with higher tillering potential, when subjected to high densities had their development affected due to a higher competition between plants. This competition is markedly higher than the one that occurs for low tillering ability genotypes, decreasing nutrient uptake and leading to higher lodging and disease rates (Ozturk et al., 2006; Valerio et al., 2009).

The number of grains per ear varied among environments (p ≤ 0.05), following a linear trend (Table 5). However, the genotypes did not influence the number of grains per ear obtained in distinct seeding densities (Table 2). On the other hand, increased seeding density reduced grain number per ear in all environments (Figure 3). Similar responses have been reported by many authors Lloveras et al. (2004) and Arduini et al. (2006). Thus, the tillering potential of genotypes does not seem to affect the changes in number of grains per ear, regarding the balancing effect that wheat has to increase grain yield, being the seeding density the cause for changes in this character.

The weight of 1,000 grains did not reveal an effect on the yield variations found in this study, due to a change in seed density rates (Table 2). Similar results have been reported, in which the character WTG appears to be less affected by seeding density (Donaldson et al, 2001; Lloveras et al., 2004; Hiltbrunner et al., 2005; Ozturk et al., 2006). On the other hand, the same character is highly influenced by seeding time, which results on longer or shorter grain filling periods (Ozturk et al., 2006).

On the experiments performed in Pato Branco/2007 (35.9 g) and Ijui/2007 (35.1 g), the high WTG values observed did not influence grain yield (Table 3 and Figure 2). This result can be attributed to a large effect of the high maximum temperature and to the low and high rain indexes observed in Pato Branco/2007 and Ijui/2007, respectively. These extreme situations were not observed in Pelotas. Thus, the balancing effect observed by the reduced number of ears per meter in these environments (Figure 1), did not allow an increase in grain yield.

Conclusions

The seeding density for wheat should take into account genotype tillering potential and location. Genotypes with low tillering potential express higher effect on grain yield and ear weight, as a function of an increase in seeding density. The character number of grains per ear reveals the lowest genotype effects and it is highly influenced by seeding density. The balancing effect expressed by the character weight of 1,000 grains, independent from density levels, is influenced by the experimental conditions in which the genotypes are tested.

Received April 08, 2012

Accepted February 15, 2013

Edited by: Daniel Scherer de Moura

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  14 May 2013
• Date of issue
  June 2013

History

• Received
  08 Apr 2012
• Accepted
  15 Feb 2013