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Highest grain weight per spike (2.59 g) in intact plants reduced to
lowest (1.69 g) when flag leaf was removed. A reduction of
20.4 and 16.8 % was recorded when 3rd nodal leaf or awns were
removed, respectively (Table 2). This trend
is evident in Fig. 1c. Ibrahim and Abo
Elenein (1977) also found that the flag leaf contributed 41-43% to
the grain weight due to increase in kernel weight and number per
spike since the flag leaf is photosynthetically the most active leaf
during the grain formation period. 100-grain weight is directly
related to photosynthetic accumulation and must be altered if any of
the photosynthetic organs closer to the grain formation site are
removed. This fact was displayed as reduction of 100-grain weight
from 4.14 to 3.31 g when flag leaf was removed. Significant
reductions were also recorded when 3rd nodal leaf and awns were
removed. These reductions, however, were low because of the presence
of the flag leaf (Fig. 1d).
Interaction of varieties and treatments was significant for seed set,
grains per spike and 100-grain weight where the effect of the removal
of the flag leaf was quite prominent in both the varieties (Fig.
1). Both of the varieties presented a marked reduction in the
four traits studied when the flag leaf was removed. Removal of 3rd
nodal leaf or awns also produced a reasonable amount of reduction.
Inqalab 91 was superior to Pasban 90 in respect of all the characters
studied. Seed set was higher in Inqalab 91 which resulted in more
grain number per spike with greater grain weight per spike and
100-grain weight in Inqalab 91 in comparison with Pasban 90.
A significant reduction of 22.1% in seed set was recorded in Pasban
90 in comparison with 10.9% in Inqalab 91 when flag leaf was removed.
While reduction due to the removal of 3rd nodal leaf and awns was
11.8 and 6.1% in Pasban 90 and 6.2 and 2.3% in Inqalab 91,
respectively. However, removal of awns in Inqalab 91 depicted a
non-significant reduction in seed set percentage (Table
2).
Significant reduction in grains per spike was also recorded due to
the removal of the three green parts. Maximum (22.2%) reduction
occurred in Pasban 90 as a result of flag leaf removal while this
reduction was 7.1% in Inqalab 91. Similarly reduction in other traits
due to flag leaf removal was greater in Pasban 90 than in Inqalab
91.
The above cited results signify the major contribution of flag leaf
towards yield related traits studied. Thus genotypes with larger flag
leaf will produce better than those with smaller one. Enough
contribution from awns and 3rd nodal leaf was also observed,
nevertheless, this was less than the flag leaf. Olugbemi et al.
(1976) also concluded that under absence of severe drought there is a
little photosynthetic accumulation through awns in grains rather
their presence decreased photosynthesis in the remaining ear
structures and flag leaf. Genotypes may differ in their individual
response depending upon their genetic architecture and prevailing
environmental conditions. Further this response may be of greater
extent in one genotype and less in other but the general response is
similar. In ranked order maximum contribution occurred from flag leaf
followed by 3rd nodal leaf and awns at the last.
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