RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LEAF AREA SURFACE, CHLOROPHYLL CONCENTRATION AND YIELD COMPONENTS IN SPRING WHEAT

Abstract

The present paper presents the variability of some yields and non-yields components of a group of ten varieties of spring wheat. Flag leaf area, chlorophyll concentration, spike length, number of grains/spike, weight of grains/spike and estimated grain yield were analyzed as yield components or morpho-physiological traits with a high impact on final grain yield. Flag leaf area surface has a direct an important contribution to determine increased number and weight of grains per spike. Chlorophyll concentration determined from flag leaf at early milky stage is significant correlated with weight of grains per spike (0.64*) which means that maintaining of a high level of chlorophyll pigments in leaf contributes decisively to high grain yield. Grain yield performance of genotypes can be appreciated based on the preliminary information given by chlorophyll concentration measured in advanced generative stage. Obtaining information previous final grain yield creates the possibility of pursuing more closely of a valuable breeding material while eliminating non-conforming genotypes.