ISSN:
1573-5060
Keywords:
Triticum aestivum
;
wheat
;
male sterility induction
;
gametocide
;
benzotriazole
;
cupferron
;
neocuproine
;
cuprizone
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
Notes:
Summary Because copper is extremely important to the development of normal polllen, an attempt was made to induce male sterility in wheat by applying specific copper-binding ligands to wheat plants. Four different chelates were used at two rates in three methods of application. All four chelates, cupferron, neocuproine, benzotriazole and cuprizone, reduced grain yield at high concentration applied to the soil at sowing but benzotriazole was most effective, even when applied at late tillering to either soil or foliage, and it also reduced yield to a lesser extent when applied at low concentration. At high concentration of benzotriazole (50 mg kg-1 of dry soil) the percentage of pollen staining with I2/KI was very low (0–7%) depending on method of chelate application), and this soil treatment resulted in complete male sterility. The appearance of the pollen, anthers, grain, ears and leaves in many cases mimicked that of normal copper deficiency, and also that caused by other recognised gametocides. These results raise the question of whether binding of copper or some other disturbance of copper metabolism may be the mechanism by which andro-gametocidal chemicals work and if so, dictate a theoretical basis for selecting such chemicals for testing.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00021871
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