Vernalization is a process by which plants are inducted to enter the reproductive phase through an exposure to low nonfreezing temperatures. Vernalization response functions have been proposed for winter wheats, but no indication of vernalization response functions for Brazilian wheats were found in the literature. The objectives of this study were to evaluate vernalization response of some Brazilian wheat cultivars and to fit a vernalization response function for these cultivars. Eight vernalization treatments (0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42 and 49 vernalization days) and six wheat cultivars (BRS Louro, BRS 177, BRS Tarumã, CEP 51, CEP 52 e Nova Era) were used. The cultivar BRS Louro showed no response to vernalization, BRS Tarumã was strongly sensitive to vernalization, similar to winter wheat, and cultivars BRS 177, CEP 51, CEP 52, and Nova Era presented intermediate vernalization response. For the cultivars that presented some response to vernalization, response functions are presented, which can be used in models for simulating the development of Brazilian wheat cultivars with distinct vernalization requirements.
Triticum aestivum L.; modelling; temperature; thermal sum; leaf emergence
