Abstract
Stomatal density (SD) and stomatal index (SI) on the abaxial flag leaf epidermis, gas exchange of flag leaves and yield of six wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars differing in drought resistance were studied in plant growth chamber. There were significant differences among cultivars in SD, SI, epidermal cell density (ED), photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (E), instantaneous transpiration efficiency (ITE), shoot dry weight yield (Ys), grain yield (Yd) and whole growth season water use efficiency (WUE), but not in stomatal conductance (gs). Wheat cultivars with moderate drought resistance had higher Pn and Yd than cultivars with strong or weak drought resistance. SD was negatively correlated with ITE (r=−0.85) and WUE (r=−0.84), but not with Pn, E and Yd. There were significant relationships between ED and Yd (r=−0.92), between SI and Pn (r=0.84). These results revealed that breeding wheat cultivar only to raise drought resistance might cause yield decrease when water stress was not too severe. Wheat cultivars with lower SD might improve ITE and WUE, but Pn and yield (Ys and Yd) were not influenced significantly. Greater ED was not beneficial to Yd. SI might be a criterion to use in selecting parents for producing high-yielding wheat cultivars.
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Liao, JX., Chang, J. & Wang, GX. Stomatal density and gas exchange in six wheat cultivars. CEREAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 33, 719–726 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1556/CRC.33.2005.2-3.140
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1556/CRC.33.2005.2-3.140