Wheat spike temperatures in relation to varying environmental conditions

Abstract

Most field studies investigating the effect of temperature on growth processes use temperatures recorded within a Stevenson screen. These are likely to deviate from temperatures within the plant. This investigation reports a comparative study of methodologies and applications for measuring temperatures in the field during grain development by comparing Stevenson screen, ambient (air temperatures within the crop canopy), and wheat spike temperatures. Miniature sensors were inserted into wheat spikelets located midway on the spike of a primary tiller at anthesis. Located also within the crop canopy, and at the same height as the spike sensors, were sensors to measure ambient temperatures. Stevenson screen temperatures were also recorded at the site. Temperatures were recorded automatically every 12 min during grain filling from anthesis to maturity. Plants were grown in dryland and irrigated conditions within the same location, with the aim of determining differences in plant temperatures between stressed and non-stressed plants.

Stevenson screen temperatures did not relate closely to ambient or spike temperatures. Plants growing in adequate soil moisture conditions had spike temperatures lower than ambient temperatures, but in some dryland trials, where soil moisture was limiting, spike temperatures equalled ambient temperatures, indicating that the plants were under moisture stress. Temperature differences of up to 5˚C were observed between the spikes of irrigated and non-irrigated crops on a hot day. Neither ambient nor screen temperatures gave an accurate measurement of spike temperature on hot days. Spike temperature differences between 2 cultivars, awned and awnless, were investigated. Trends were not consistent over both years; however, in 3 of the 4 environments, the maximum spike temperatures were higher for the awned cultivar (Hartog) than the awnless cultivar (Halberd). On very hot days, when ambient temperatures exceeded 40˚C, spikes of Hartog were cooler than those of Halberd.