Final grain weight in wheat as affected by short periods of high temperature during pre- and post-anthesis under field conditions

Individual grain weight is an important source of variation for grain yield in wheat. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of short periods of high temperature immediately pre-anthesis, or during post-anthesis, on grain weight under field conditions. Thus, two wheat cultivars of different grain weight potential were sown on four different sowing dates to provide different temperature conditions during the pre- and post-anthesis periods. In addition, for two sowings, acrylic boxes were installed to increase spike temperature either immediately before anthesis, or during the lineal phase of the grain-filling period. Final grain weight was significantly affected by sowing date, genotype and grain position on the spike. Grain weight showed a clear relationship with the average temperature of the grain filling period, but this relationship was either linear or curvilinear, depending on the cultivar. Both high temperature treatments, i.e. at pre- or post-anthesis, significantly diminished final grain weight, and their effect was similar with the exception of heavier grains, which were unresponsive to the high temperature treatment at pre- anthesis. Finally, a better understanding of final grain weight was reached when temperatures from the pre- anthesis period were included in the analysis of grain weight response to temperature.