Leaf number associated with double ridge and terminal spikelet in wheat cultivars

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the number of leaves, represented by the Haun stage, in the double ridge and terminal spikelet of wheat cultivars with different development cycles and grown on different sowing dates. A field experiment was conducted in Santa Maria, RS with 13 sowing dates over three years (2005, 2006 and 2007). Six wheat genotypes were used with development cycles ranging from early to late: BRS Louro, CEP 52, BRS 177, CEP 51, Nova Era and BRS Tarumã. The experimental design used was of randomized complete blocks, with six treatments (cultivars) and four repetitions. The early stages of tillering, double-ridging (DA), terminal spikelet (ET) and the final number of leaves on the main stem (NFF) were determined, and on the date of DA and ET, the number of fully expanded leaves was quantified together with the decimal fraction of the length of the leaf blade of the last leaf (unfolded) in relation to the penultimate leaf (unfolding), with which the Haun Stage (HS) was calculated. The results indicate that the number of leaves on the main stem, represented by HS, in the double ridge (HSDA) and in the terminal spikelet (HSET) in wheat, varies with the cultivar (maturity group) and the date of sowing. Management practices such as fertilization with nitrogen and the application of hormonal herbicides can be improved by using the HSDA and HSET, instead of the onset of tillering and stem elongation, respectively.