SPAD GREENNESS TO ESTIMATE GENOTYPIC VARIATION IN FLAG LEAF CHLOROPHYLL IN SPRING WHEAT UNDER MEDITERRANEAN CONDITIONS

Abstract

Leaf chlorophyll (Chl) is emphasized as an indicator for photosynthesis in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). SPAD greenness meters are used to predict extractable Chl, but few studies have evaluated relationships between flag leaf greenness and Chl among wheat genotypes. Sixteen spring wheat genotypes with similar development patterns were studied in eight environments (2 years, 2 irrigation treatments and 2 sowing times) to investigate the precision of the SPAD-502 meter to predict Chl content/concentration. Relationships of Chl with SPAD greenness generally best fit linear and quadratic models.  Relationships of SPAD greenness with Chl concentration were weak and inconsistent. Strongest associations were observed with Chl_a content (highest R² = 0.71 under late sowing), whereas associations with Chl_b content were weak (highest R² = 0.46) or insignificant. Relationships  between  SPAD greenness and  total Chl  content ranged from low (R² = 0.24, p = 0.054) to moderate (R² = 0.64, p < 0.001) under rainfed conventional-sowing and late-sowing conditions in the second year, respectively. SPAD greenness can be used to diagnose spring wheat genotypes differing in flag leaf Chl_a and total Chl content under warm Mediterranean conditions, but may not always applicable in cooler Mediterranean conditions, where genetic variability, especially in Chl_b, was not expressed adequately.

Keywords

• Chlorophyll meter
• Chlorophyll content
• Chlorophyll concentration
• Flag leaf
• Spring wheat
• drought

References

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