Effect of heat stress at anthesis on yield formation in winter wheat

Abstract

Heat stress around anthesis is considered to have an increasing impact on wheat yield under the ongoing climate change. However, the effect of high temperatures and their duration on formation of individual yield parameters is still little understood. Within this study, the effect of high temperatures applied during anthesis for 3 and 7 days on yield formation parameters was analysed. The study was conducted in growth chambers under four temperature regimes (daily temperature maxima 26, 32, 35 and 38°C). In the periods preceding and following heat stress regimes the plants were cultivated under ambient weather conditions. The number of grains per spike was reduced under temperatures ≥ 35°C in cv. Bohemia and ≥ 38°C in cv. Tobak. This resulted in a similar response of spike productivity. Thousand grain weight showed no response to temperature regime in cv. Tobak, whereas in cv. Bohemia, a peak response to temperature with maximum at 35°C was observed. The duration of heat stress had only little effect on most yield formation parameters.