Plant growth rate after, and not during, waterlogging better correlates to yield responses in wheat and barley

CIANCIO, NICOLÁS; ABELEDO, LEONOR G.; MIRALLES, DANIEL J.; STRIKER, GUSTAVO G.

JOURNAL OF AGRONOMY AND CROP SCIENCE

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2021 vol. 207 p. 304 - 316

0931-2250

Waterlogging is a stress that affects wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and barley (Hordeumvulgare L. ssp. distichum) yield. This work aimed at analysing the impact of a waterlogging event during pre-anthesis (critical period) on yield, its numerical componentsand their relationships with plant growth rate in wheat and barley. Two pot experiments were carried out under contrasting environmental conditions (early and latesowing date), in which six wheat and six barley cultivars were exposed to controland waterlogging conditions imposed c. 18 days prior to anthesis. Measurementsincluded total above-ground biomass at the beginning and at the end of the waterlogging treatment and at maturity, when grain yield and its numerical components werealso measured. Wheat showed higher yield losses (−76%) due to waterlogging thanbarley (−49%). Grain yield was explained by both numerical components (the numberof grains per plant and grain weight), which better correlated with the relative growthrate of plants during the post-stress recovery than during the waterlogging period.Plant growth during the recovery period should be targeted as a key factor to estimate yield losses from waterlogging in these cereals