Late spring cold reduces grain number at various spike positions by regulating spike growth and assimilate distribution in winter wheat

Late spring cold (LSC) occurred in the reproductive period of wheat impairs spike and floret differentiation during the reproductive period, when young spikelets are very cold-sensitive. However, under LSC, the responses of wheat spikelets at various positions, leaves, and stems and the interactions between them at physiological levels remain unclear. In the present study, two-year treatments at terminal spikelet stage under two temperatures (2 °C, −2 °C) and durations (1, 2, and 3 days) were imposed in an artificial climate chamber to compare the effects of LSC on grain number and yield in the wheat cultivars Yannong 19 (YN19, cold-tolerant) and Xinmai 26 (XM26, cold-sensitive). The night temperature regimes were designed to reproduce natural temperature variation. LSC delayed plant growth and inhibited spike and floret differentiation, leading to high yield losses in both cultivars. LSC reduced dry matter accumulation (DMA, g) in spikes, stems, and leaves, reducing the DMA ratios of the spike to leaf and spike to stem. Plant cell wall invertase (CWINV) activity increased in upper and basal spikelets in YN19, whereas CWINV increased in middle spikelets in XM26. Under LSC, soluble sugar and glucose were transported and distributed mainly in upper and basal spikelets for glume and rachis development, so that spike development was relatively complete in YN19, whereas the upper and basal spikelets were severely damaged and most of the glumes in middle spikelets were relatively completely developed in XM26, resulting in pollen abortion mainly in upper and basal spikelets. The development of glumes and rachides was influenced and grain number per spike was decreased after LSC, with kernels present mainly in middle spikelets. Overall, reduced total DMA and dry matter partitioning to spikes under LSC results in poor spikelet development, leading to high losses of grain yield.