INHERENT DIFFERENCES IN DEPTH OF CROWN IN WHEAT AND BARLEY

Abstract

Varieties of spring wheat and barley were found to differ considerably in the length of subcrown internode and consequently in the depth of crown formation in the soil. Single plant selections within varieties showed no significant variations in depth of crown. The depth of crown appeared to be a heritable character in randomly selected lines from the cross Thatcher × Reward, the former parent tending to form deep crowns and the latter shallow crowns. Possible physiological and pathological effects of depth of crown are discussed.