Development of the Young Wheat Spike: A Sem Study of Chinese Spring Wheat

The number of leaves on the main culm was correlated with morphological changes in the wheat spike during development, up to the terminal spikelet stage. The developmental changes were divided into nine stages, which were compared with stages described by other investigators. Several environmental conditions were utilized to determine the consistency of morphological correlations. Although the different environments did influence the length of time required to reach the various stages, the relationship between leaf number and stage of spike development was consistent. Regardless of environmental conditions, all stages were evident. Vernalization period affected the number of spikelets. Plants vernalized 6 wk produced 17–19 spikelets, compared to 21–24 spikelets on plants vernalized 3 wk. There were three major morphological events during spike development: 1) the change from vegetative to reproductive growth, 2) lateral spikelet development, and 3) the initiation and development of the terminal spikelet.