Login | Request Account (DAF staff only)

Decrease in sorghum grain yield due to the dw3 dwarfing gene is caused by reduction in shoot biomass

View Altmetrics

George-Jaeggli, B., Jordan, D. R., van Oosterom, E. J. and Hammer, G. L. (2011) Decrease in sorghum grain yield due to the dw3 dwarfing gene is caused by reduction in shoot biomass. Field Crops Research, 124 (2). pp. 231-239. ISSN 0378-4290

Full text not currently attached. Access may be available via the Publisher's website or OpenAccess link.

Article Link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2011.07.005

Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2011.07.005

Abstract

Positive correlations between plant height and grain yield have been reported for sorghum. The introduction of stay-green in sorghum, and the associated reduction in lodging, has opened the possibility to exploit this positive association. The aim of this study was to analyse the direct effects of the dwarfing gene dw3 (and therefore plant height) on shoot biomass, grain yield, and yield components in pairs of 3-dwarf genotypes and their isogenic 2-dwarf tall mutants. Isogenic pairs with different genetic backgrounds were grown in three field experiments under nutrient and water non-limiting conditions. Tall mutants were significantly taller and produced more shoot and stem biomass than their shorter counterparts. Generally, tall types yielded more grain than short types, but significant interactions between experiment, genetic background and stature affected the consistency of the results. dw3 only affected grain size and not grain number. Increased grain mass of tall types was associated with significantly greater stem mass per grain at anthesis and greater shoot biomass per grain accumulated between anthesis and maturity. The increased biomass of tall plants was therefore important for increased grain yield under optimum conditions. Potential implications of increased biomass production for drought adaptation are discussed. Crown Copyright (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Item Type:Article
Keywords:Grain mass; grain number; plant height; sorghum bicolor; stem reserves; winter-wheat; plant height; vulgare pers; rht2 alleles; environments; components; efficiency; drought.
Subjects:Science > Botany > Genetics
Plant culture > Field crops > Sorghum
Live Archive:27 Mar 2019 23:10
Last Modified:03 Sep 2021 16:45

Repository Staff Only: item control page