Osmotic potential of winter wheat crowns for comparing cultivars varying in winterhardiness

• Published in: Agronomy journal Vol. 81; no. 2
• Main Authors: DeNoma, J.T. (Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, OR), Taylor, G.A, Ferguson, H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.03.1989
• Subjects: COUVERT; CUBIERTA DE COPAS; CULTIVOS DE INVIERNO; CULTURE D'HIVER; DURCISSEMENT; ENDURECIMIENTO; FRIO; FROID; NOEUD; NUDOS; POTENTIEL HYDRIQUE; RESISTANCE A L'HIVER; RESISTENCIA INVERNAL; TENSION DE ABSORCION; TRITICUM; TRITICUM AESTIVUM; VARIEDADES; VARIETE
• ISSN: 0002-1962; 1435-0645
• DOI: 10.2134/agronj1989.00021962008100020004x

Cold hardening of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crowns results in decreased water content, and in increases and changes in solutes. These facts led us to hypothesize that osmotic potential of hardened wheat crowns might be used as a screening technique for winterhardiness. Winter wheat with different levels of winterhardiness, ranked from long-term trials, were grown in the field. Periodically, during two winters, plants were removed and the osmotic potential of the crowns determined. Contrast comparisons between two hardy, and two or three less hardy cultivars showed significant differences, at every sampling date with the hardy lines having lower osmotic potential. During one winter the osmotic potential of 24 cultivars whose winter-hardiness had been evaluated over several years in the field was determined on three dates. Linear correlations (r2) between field scores (5 = most winterhardy, 1 = least hardy) and osmotic potential were highly significant, and varied from 0.75 to 0.83. Based on these data, we suggest that measurement of osmotic potential of winter wheat crowns following cold acclimation may be a valuable tool in the selection of winterhardy wheat cultivars