Effects of Genotype and Sowing Density on Growth, Biomass Allocation and Yield of Winter Wheat at Tillering Stage

Using two-factor randomized blocks design,four wheat cultivars and six sowing densities were chosen to study the response of growth,biomass allocation and yield characteristics of winter wheat.The results showed that the growth and biomass allocation were mainly affected by genotype × sowing density,while ears,grains per ear mainly affected by sowing density,and genotype was the primary factor resulting in the changes of grain yield,1 000-kernel weight and spike length.The optimal sowing density of Bailisanhao and Chuanmai39 was 315×104 hm-2,and their grain yields were 5 863.8 kg hm-2 and 5 882.1 kg hm-2,respectively.The optimal sowing density of Xinong2000 and Shanmai139 was 195×104 hm-2,and their grain yields were 6 422.4 kg hm-2 and 7 062.4 kg hm-2,respectively.The grain yields of Shaanxi wheat were 12.90%~18.62% higher than those of Sichuan wheat.The correlation analysis showed that the grain yield had highly significant positive correlation with ears and 1 000-kernel weight(r = 0.859 7**,r = 0.499 3**),had highly significant negative correlation with spike length,root length and shoot dry mass,and had no significant correlation with other growth and biomass characteristics.The results imply that the wheat cultivars from dry area have more potential yield than those from wet area.In addition,more attention should be paid in wheat production to the advantage of interaction between sowing density and genotype.Tab 5,Ref 31