Frost injury to wheat stems and grain production

Abstract

Wheat plants which had suffered frost injury to stems in the field were studied to determine the effects on grain production. Damage was also induced artificially by freezing sections of stems of plants growing outdoors and in the glasshouse.

Stem injury caused lodging or death of some tillers, and reduced the number of grains set in others. However, on many occasions, even in the field, there appeared to be no association between damage to stems and grain production. In no case was the size or composition of the grains significantly affected.