Latent floret primordia in the glume axils of inflorescences in the subtribe Triticinae

Abstract

Swellings were consistently observed in the glume axils of young differentiating inflorescences of 22 taxa of the subtribe Triticinae. The swellings arose from cell divisions in the tunica (surface and subsurface) and outer cortex (underlying) layers, indicating that they were floret primordia, but since further development was arrested, they are termed latent floret primordia. Occasional floret development in the glume axils has been reported by others. The primordia were present in axils of both glumes in apical spikelets, but only in the second glume of lateral spikelets. They were rapidly obscured by developing glumes, and in lateral spikelets were more easily viewed from the abaxial (inner) side. Because of the ubiquity of the characteristic, it is proposed to be of ancient origin, and possibly can be exploited to increase the grain number and yield of wheats.