The Pattern of Distribution of Phosphorus and Dry Matter with Time in Spring Wheat

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Abstract
The pattern of distribution of dry matter and phosphorus was followed in individual plants harvested from a field crop of spring wheat throughout its development. There was a continued uptake of phosphorus with time and almost half of the total phosphorus was accumulated in the post-anthesis period of growth. The various component parts of the main shoot were followed in detail and both individual leaves and the stem showed substantial net losses of phosphorus with time well before they reached their dry weight maxima. The ear was the major sink for phosphorus and it was estimated that approximately one third of its phosphorus content was supplied by retranslocation. The main shoot stem and leaves also showed a significant decline in d. wt during the final stages of grain development. Half-ear removal at anthesis increased both grain set and the growth of the grain of the upper florets of the remaining spikelets. Defoliation had little effect on grain yield but resulted in a reduction in the phosphorus content of the grain.