Tissue fructan content of vegetative parts was examined in four wheat genotypes to determine genotypic differences and distribution and accumulation patterns throughout growing season. Effects indicated that significant genotypic differences were established for tissue fructan content of stem, chaff, leaf, peduncle and total plant throughout growing season and grain protein content and grain yield. Total plant fructan content accumulated to a peak at about milk stage, and then rapidly declined until maturity, coinciding with the period of rapid grain filling. The two high protein genotypes, Cunningham and PST90 19, had lower tissue fructan content in the stem and the total plant than their low protein lower case counterparts, SUN109A and TM56, at most sampling dates. Among plant parts, stem was the most important tissue for fructan reserve and the greatest contributor to grain filling. Tissue fructan content was negatively correlated with grain protein content between heading and maturity, but not correlated with grain yield.
