Grain filling of cereals under soil drying

Summary Monocarpic plants require the initiation of whole‐plant senescence to remobilize and transfer assimilates pre‐stored in vegetative tissues to grains. Delayed whole‐plant senescence caused by either heavy use of nitrogen fertilizer or adoption of lodging‐resistant cultivars/hybrids that remain green when the grains are due to ripen results in a low harvest index with much nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) left in the straw. Usually, water stress during the grain‐filling period induces early senescence, reduces photosynthesis, and shortens the grain‐filling period; however, it increases the remobilization of NSC from the vegetative tissues to the grain. If mild soil drying is properly controlled during…