Monday, November 5, 2007 - 10:00 AM
55-3

Leaf Epicuticular Wax Improves Heat Tolerance in Wheat.

Suchismita Mondal and Dirk Hays. Texas A & M University, Soil &Crop Sciences, 2474 Tamu, College Station, TX 77845

We are investigating the role epicuticular wax in heat tolerance in wheat. Higher epicuticular wax deposition in leaf increases the reflectance. Increase in light reflectance may be involved in heat tolerance in wheat. Thirteen adapted cultivars of wheat were grown in greenhouse. The wheat lines were subjected to a heat treatment at 10DAP for 2 days at 38°C/20°C day and night temperatures respectively. Reflectance of leaves was measured with a Unispec spectral analysis system at 10DAP, 12DAP, 15 DAP. Wax content in the leaves was quantified. The yield data from the wheat cultivars were also recorded. Statistical analyses will determine whether the variations in heat tolerance between the cultivars might be attributed to the difference in reflectances resulting from variation in leaf epicuticular wax content. It is expected that the heat tolerant wheat cultivars would have an increased reflectance due to increase in epicuticular waxes after heat treatment.