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Abstract:
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Modern cultivars differed from old, in developing faster, flowering earlier, forming fewer, more erect leaves and having a reduced phyllochron interval. Tillering was reduced but light interception increased and biomass was slightly greater in modern compared to old cultivars. Biomass showed little variation among modern cultivars. The ear:stem ratio at anthesis was higher in modern than old cultivars and in dwarf lines compared with tall. A major finding was the positive correlation between harvest indexnd ear:stem ratio at anthesis, suggesting that harvest index is decided as early as the terminal spikelet stage and ear:stem ratio at anthesis can be used as a selection criteria for yield improvement. Water use efficiency for grain increased substantia
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