2.4 Statistical analysis
All measurements described were comprised of at least 4 biological replicates. Data were separately analyzed for variance using SAS/STAT statistical analysis package (version 6.12, SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA). Means were tested by least significant difference at the P 0.05 level (LSD 0.05).
3 | RESULTS
Compared with CK, kernel numbers (KNS) in DS, HS and DHS treatments was all decreased significantly (Figure 4a). The decrease rate of KNS among treatments was in the order of HS<DS<DHS. The KNS was decreased by 27%, 13%, 42% in DS, HS and DHS treatment, respectively. Furthermore, the subsequent impacts on grain filling of stress episodes around flowering was also observed in both field experiment in Exp. 1 and laboratory incubation experiment through grain vitro culture in Exp. 2 (Figure 4b, c).
3.1 The response of grain weight to early stress