Why
do you think your paper is highly cited?
Translocation of assimilates is a subject of increasing
interest. The changed distribution of assimilates between
vegetative and generative organs in favor of generative ones
(grain) was the main reason of harvest index increasing and
higher grain yield in the modern cultivars compared to the
classical ones.
|
“Present
knowledge about conditionality of translocation
process depending on environment and genotype
conditions are critically synthesized in the
paper.” |
|
Translocation of assimilates relates to the source and sink
capacity rate of grain and the rate of source-sink depends on
environment and genotype. Assimilates accumulated till anthesis
can stabilize yields by translocation process during
grain-filling period. Translocation process in plant species can
be the source of wheat genotypes’ adaptation and tolerance to
the aridization of the environment due to climatic changes.
Does
it describe a new discovery, methodology, or synthesis of knowledge?
Present knowledge about conditionality of translocation
process depending on environment and genotype conditions are
critically synthesized in this paper. Lines from generations F4
and F5 were used as experimental material, allowing an
estimation of how genotypes share in the translocation process.
Lines were evaluated during two successive years, with
diametrically different distributions of precipitation and
temperature, enabling us to specify the definition of
environment for translocation of assimilates.
Would
you summarize the significance of your paper in layman’s terms?
A method is presented, defining how to estimate the effects
of environmental conditions up until and after anthesis on the
portion of translocated biomass, which is produced until
anthesis and translocated after anthesis from vegetative organs
to the grain. A portion of the translocated biomass is limited
by two parameters—the rate of accumulated biomass before heading
from produced biomass till maturity and also by harvest index.
How
did you become involved in this research, and were there any
particular problems encountered along the way?
I became involved in this research because I was quite
interested in what factors limit and stabilize wheat and barley
grain yield, sources or sink. Results achieved in this field are
exploitable in the chosen selection.
Where
do you see your research leading in the future?
Into more research, pertaining to how the root system
participates on translocation and particularly on what is the
portion of assimilate translocation on the nitrogen
translocation—the process closely associated with grain quality.
Are
there any social or political implications for your research?
There are indirect implications. Crop productivity, yield
stability, and food sufficiency directly contribute to social
stability.
Dr. Martin Uzik
Research Institute of Plant Production
Piestany, Slovakia
