Variation in production among plants is normally observed in monocultures and it can occur since the establishment of the populations by their competitive ability. This work was performed with the aim of selecting the parameters of competitive ability during the initial growth that are related to yield potential at the end of development. Plants of wheat (EMBRAPA 16) and oat (UFRGS 15) were grown on masons and field conditions and correlation among morphological parameters during the tillering and bloom stages were followed. During tillering, our results revealed that the pseudoculm diameter and leaf development were relevant to define the competitive ability by high correlation with dry mass, independently of species and environment. In these populations, the sequence of emergency of plants was inversely related to the apical development (to inflorescence) and to parameters that defined the competitive ability. This initial competitive ability was directly related to the size and yield potential (spikelets per inflorescence) of plants at the bloom stage. Our results indicate that the individual yield potential can be predicted by measurement of non destructive parameters of the competitive ability in the early stages of plant development.
Triticum aestivum; Avena sativa; competitive ability; yield potential
