In order to explore the response characteristics of different wheat cultivars to planting density in rainfed agricultural area, a field experiment was conducted using wheat cultivars.Jimai 22,Annong 0711 and Yannong 19 widely cultivated in the Southern Huang-Huai wheat area. The experiment was arranged by split plot design of two factors, with four planting densities (225×104 plants·hm-2, 375×104 plants·hm-2, 525×104 plants·hm-2 and 675×104 plants·hm-2).The tiller characteristics, spike number per hectare, grain number per spike, 1 000-grain weight, yield, stem strength and lodging index were measured. The results showed that stem number(2015) at over-wintering was increased with the increase of planting density;The grain number per spike and stem strength were declined with the increase of planting density;The lodging index increased first and then decreased. As the increase of planting density, the variation trend of the maximum number of tillers,spike number per hectare,percentage of ear bearing tiller and yield depended on varieties and cultivation areas.At Wupu and Dayang,when the planting density increased from 225×104 plants·hm-2 to 675×104 plants·hm-2,the stem number(2015) at over-wintering of wheat cultivars Jimai 22,Annong 0711 and Yannong 19 was increased by 75.2% and 133.1%,72.3% and 72.6%,127.1% and 80.1%,respectively,and all the differences were significant at two experiment sites;The grain number per spike(2015 and 2016) decreased by 13.0% and 12.6%,12.6% and 9.7%,19.9% and 14.3%,respectively,and the differences between two density treatments of Yannong 19 in 2015 and all wheat cultivars in 2016 were significant at two experiment sites;The stem strength(2016) decreased by 36.3% and 6.2%,22.8% and 21.0%,45.6% and 33.2%,respectively,and the differences were significant between two treatments of all wheat cultivars at Wupu site.In summary, to achieve high yield in rainfed agricultural area, a variety with high stem strength and lodging resistance should be selected, taking number of spike number per hectare into consideration, and the potential of grain number per spike and 1 000-grain weight should be emphasized. |