Samples of grain from 40 New Zealand wheat and barley crops harvested in 2000 were assayed for Fusarium infection. Grain from all crops was infected, and Fusarium incidence ranged from 3 to 52% of grains infected, with a mean of 14%. Incidence of Fusarium was higher in spring wheat than in autumn wheat or spring barley. The highest level of infection (52% grains infected) was found in Otane whe...

Quinolizidine alkaloids (QAs) are toxic secondary metabolites found within the genus Lupinus, some species of which are commercially important grain legume crops including Lupinus angustifolius (narrow-leafed lupin, NLL), L. luteus (yellow lupin), L. albus (white lupin), and L. mutabilis (pearl lupin), with NLL grain being the most largely produced of the four species in Australia and worldwide...

Atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration has increased from 280 ppm (parts per million, mole fraction basis) in preindustrial times to 370 ppm today. As concentrations of CO2 and other greenhouse gases rise, global temperature is anticipated to increase. Elevated CO2 will improve crop yields due to increased photosynthesis. However, at above-optimum temperatures for reproductive growth pr...

Inoculation of forage and grain legumes with rhizobia is an important process to maximize biological N2 fixation capacity in these crops. Inoculation has the potential of increasing dry matter yield, N yield, and residual N levels. However, yield responses to inoculation are not universal in the region. In fields that have previously grown the same grain legume crop (i.e. contain an endemic rhi...

Average grain yield for the full-season varieties, over all treatment combinations, was 165 bu/acre. This average was impacted primarily by variety differences with ‘Wells’ averaging 180 bu/acre and ‘Cybonnet’ averaging 152 bu/acre. There were no significant differences between rotation, tillage, or fertility main-effect treatments. Summaries of grain yields for the main effect of tillage indic...

A computer simulation model was developed to determine the likely response of grain yield and quality of malting barley crops to differing availability of water or nitrogen (N) and differing soil and climatic conditions. The model was validated for New Zealand conditions by comparing the results of model simulations with data from malting barley crops grown in the Manawatu. Simulations were the...

• Lack of grain dormancy in cereal crops such as barley and wheat is a common problem affecting farming areas around the world, causing losses in yield and quality because of preharvest sprouting. Control of seed or grain dormancy has been investigated extensively using various approaches in different species, including Arabidopsis and cereals. However, the use of a monocot model plant such as ...

Members of the core pooids represent the most important crops in temperate zones including wheat, barley, and oats. Their importance as crops is largely due to the grain, particularly the storage capabilities of the endosperm. In this study, a comprehensive survey of grain morphology and endosperm organization in representatives of wild and cultivated species throughout the core pooids was perf...