Association Between Concentration of Organic Nutrients in the Grain, Endosperm Cell Number and Grain Dry Weight Within the Ear of Wheat

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted to examine the association between the concentrations of sugars and amino acids in the grain, cell number in the endosperm and final dry weights of grains at various positions within the ear of wheat. Variation in the grain weight within a spikelet or between spikelets was dependent upon the number of cells formed in the endosperm. Concentrations of assimilates measured in the grain, however, showed either no relationship or an inverse relationship with the endosperm cell numbers. Variation in cell number in the endosperm between spikelets inserted at different positions on the rachis was not related to the carbohydrate concentration in the sections of rachis bearing the respective spikelets.