W. Aufhammer et al., LIGHT INTERCEPTION AND DRY-MATTER PRODUCT ION OF A CONVENTIONAL AND AN EPIGONAL GENOTYPE OF THE WHITE LUPINE (LUPINUS-ALBUS), Journal of agronomy and crop science, 171(1), 1993, pp. 1-12
Yield formation of two white lupin (Lupinus albus) genotypes differing
substantially in growth habit was investigated. Grain production was
quantified as the product of harvest index and dry matter production,
the latter being a function of light interception and utilization. Exp
erimental data were obtained from two-year field experiments with a co
mbined variation of plant density and distribution. The conventional,
freely branching cultivar Kalina showed higher leaf area indices and g
rowth rates than the 'epigonal' (little branching) genotype. The highe
r growth rates of Kalina were partly due to increased light intercepti
on, but were mainly a result of a higher light use efficiency. This ca
n be explained with a more even fight distribution over a greater leaf
area. The more rapid increase of the harvest index in the epigonal ge
notype compared to Kalina only partially compensated for the differenc
es in dry matter production.