Awn anatomy of common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and its relatives

Abstract Awn of wheat is an important photosynthetic and transpiration organ on spike. In this study, awn transverse sections of Triticum monococcum, Triticum dicoccum, Triticum durum, Secale cereale, Hordeum vulgare and 3 common wheat cultivars, a synthetic hexaploid wheat were observed. Epidermal, chlorenchyma, sclerenchyma, and conducting tissues were presented in all observed cross-section of awns, difference between wheat and its relatives in awn anatomy were also observed. The cluster result using 16 awn anatomical traits is consistent with the results of traditional morphological traits, which indicated that using awn anatomical characters to distinguish species and to analyze the genetic relationship is feasible.