Genotypic variation in water-soluble carbohydrate accumulation in wheat

• DOI: 10.1071/fp06062
• Publication Date: 2006-08-31T22:04:35Z
• Authors: Sari A. Ruuska; Greg J. Rebetzke; Anthony F. van He...; Richard A. Richards; Neil A. Fettell; Linda Tabe; Colin L. D. Jenkins
• Keywords: Fructan; Anthesis; Ecophysiology; Monogastric

The water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) that accumulates in the stems of wheat during growth can be an important contributor to grain filling, particularly under conditions when assimilation is limited, such as end-of-season drought. WSC concentration was measured at anthesis across a diverse set genotypes over multiple environments. Environmental differences were large (means for ranging between 108 and 203 mg g–1 dry weight), there significant repeatable accumulation among from 112 213 weight averaged environments), associated with broad-sense heritability (H = 0.90 ± 0.12). These results suggest breeding high should possible wheat. composition WSC, examined selected genotypes, indicated variation total attributed mainly fructan component, other major soluble carbohydrates, sucrose hexose, varying less. degree polymerisation (DP) fructo-oligosaccharides up ~13 samples where higher levels accumulated, owing either genotype or environment, but DP components (DP > 6) decreased lower WSC. are consistent biosynthesis occurring via sequential mechanism dependent on availability sucrose, contents unlikely due mechanistic differences.