Photosynthesis of flag and second wheat leaves during senescence

Abstract

The aim of this work was to define photosynthetic capacity of youngest wheat leaves, flag leaf and the leaf below it, during the period of anthesis and grain filling. Fourteen tetraploid and hexaploid wheat cultivars were used in order to study the effect of genotype on the photosynthetic O 2 evolution, quantum yield and leaf area duration. Significant variations among the genotypes and between the examined leaves were most apparent towards the end of vegetation. Correlations between most of the examined photosynthetic parameters and yield were not significant. Post-anthesis duration of photosynthesis showed to be one of the grain yield determinants.