What are the major components of yield in cereals?

• A. Plant height, leaf area, and stem diameter.
• B. Kernel weight, plant height, and grain color.
• C. Number of ears/spikes per area, kernels per ear, and kernel weight.
• D. Water use, photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll content.

Answer: (C)

Yield in cereals is determined by three specific yield components: how many ears or spikes are present per unit area, how many kernels are on each ear, and how heavy each kernel is. The overall grain yield per area is essentially the product of these three factors. If you have more ears per square meter, more kernels per ear, or heavier kernels, the total grain produced increases. These components are the direct contributors to finished grain yield, whereas traits like plant height, leaf area, or stem diameter mainly affect biomass or plant structure rather than the actual amount of grain produced. Physiological factors such as water use, photosynthetic rate, and chlorophyll content influence how well the plant can reach its yield potential, but they aren’t the yield components themselves. Among the options, the combination of ear density, kernels per ear, and kernel weight precisely represents the measurable pieces that determine yield.