Whyte 



■27 — 



Research in Vernalization 



whole experiment was carried out with two sowing occasions. Each treat- 

 ment was replicated eight times giving in all (6 X 10 X 2 X 8) 960 plots. 

 A factorial design was used for the experiment which covered an area of 

 approximately 0.6 acres. As the results are shortly to be published in full, 

 only a brief summary is given here. 



The variety, Little Joss wheat, was found to behave like a winter wheat 

 and showed a very large response to vernalization as seen from the table. 



Yield of Grain and Straw for Little Joss Wheat in cwt. per acre: 



The efifect in the true spring varieties of the vernalization treatments 

 on grain yields are given in the table below. 



Effect of Treatment on Grain Yield in ctvt. per acre in True Spring Cereals: — 



With each variety vernalization has led to an increase in grain yield, 

 but only in the case of the two barley varieties are these increases statistically 

 significant. The mean effect of vernalization on all varieties combined is 

 about 5 per cent and is significant. The mean effects of temperature of 

 vernalization on grain yield combining all varieties used were : 

 37°F. 23.5 cwt.; 40°F. 24.0; 45°F. 23.3; 60°F. 23.6. 



There is no suggestion of an optimal temperature of vernalization, and 

 consequently no support can be found in this experiment for the view that 

 spring cereals require higher temperature than winter cereals during ver- 

 nalization, as Lysenko recoiTimended. Nor is there any evidence that 

 shorter durations are more effective ; the mean grain yield for long duration 

 being 23.2 cwt. and short duration 23.8 cwt. 



Observations were made during the course of the experiment on ear 

 emergence in the true spring cereals ; only a small effect of vernalization was 



