In the production of wheat seeds several factors (both biotic and abiotic) can alter the yield and quality of the seeds, among these is the appropriate establishment of the plants in the field. The aim of this work therefore, was to investigate the effect of randomly reducing the wheat population on yield and physiological quality of the seeds produced. The study was carried out on the cultivars, Fundacep Horizonte, Marfim, Mirante and Quartzo. Prior to the tillering stage, plants were removed at random at levels of 0; 20; 40 and 60% of the original population (350 plants per square metre). After harvest, the yield and quality of the seeds produced were evaluated by testing germination, accelerated ageing, mass electrical conductivity and thousand-seed weight. It was found that the cultivars perform differently when subjected to random plant reduction, demonstrating different capabilities in compensating for any flaw in seeding. The response for wheat yield due to the random reduction in plant population varies by genotype. As for the quality of the seeds produced, random reductions of wheat plants negatively affect the physiological quality of the seeds.
Triticum aestivum L; Spatial distribution of plants; Germination
