ABSTRACT
A wide range of dwarf and semi-dwarf wheats were grown at Narrabri in the north west of New South Wales and their response to pre-harvest rain compared. The response varied widely with both genotype and environment. Norin 10 dwarfing genes did not appear to significantly influence the reaction to rain. Lines containing Gai3/Rht3 were tolerant under most conditions, but apparently susceptible under others. Whole grains of a sample of Tordo (Gai3/Rht3), which appeared to be sprouting susceptible, produced higher levels of α-amylase during germination than a sprouting resistant sample of the same variety. The ratio of the amount of enzyme produced in the presence of added gibberellic acid to that produced during germination in water was the same in both cases. The implications of these results are discussed.
