AbstractThe photosynthesis, shoot formation, leaf area development and dry matter production were examined in control and de‐eared plants ofT. monococcumvar. G 1372andT. aestivumvar. Sonalika. The removal of ears decreased the diurnal maintenance of photosynthesis and consequently, the dry matter production in Sonalika but not in G 1372. There was a considerable growth of alternative sinks such as shoots and roots when ear sinks were removed. This alternative sink capacity of de‐eared plants seemed to have compensated for limited sink demand of ears in G 1372but could not entirely compensate for the more efficient grain sink in Sonalika. The diploid wheat produced more dry matter than the hexaploid wheat in the pre‐ear emergence period and less in the post‐ear emergence period. In the preear emergence period, the difference in dry matter appeared to be mostly because of the difference in duration to ear emergence. During the post‐ear emergence period, the lower dry matter in G 1372seemed to be owing to a rapid decrease in photosynthesis rate after anthesis because of the lower sink capacity of i