Yield considerations in selected cereals

Environmental stresses at the time spikelet components are differentiated in sorghum seriously reduce grain number and yield. Competition for assimilates between simultaneously expanding floral and vegetative parts at this time may put a strain on development of spikelet differentiation and expansion, and suppressing vegetative expansion appears to have merit. A second area meriting research relates to delaying senescence in grain in order to lengthen the grain filling period and increase total assimilate supply for grain production.