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Nitrogen Assimilation in Common Wheats Differing in Potential Nitrate Reductase Activity and Tissue Nitrate Concentrations 1
Author(s) -
Gallagher Lynn W.,
Soliman Khairy M.,
Rains D. W.,
Qualset C. O.,
Huffaker R. C.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci1983.0011183x002300050029xa
Subject(s) - straw , biology , nitrate reductase , hectare , nitrogen , cultivar , nitrate , anthesis , zoology , field experiment , agronomy , horticulture , chemistry , ecology , organic chemistry , agriculture
Two high‐yielding, short‐statured spring wheats ( Tritlcum aestivum L.), ‘Anza’ and UC 44‐111, have relatively low grain protein concentration and differ substantially (Anza, low; UC 44‐111, high) in in vitro nitrate reductase activity. These genotypes were planted in N‐rate field experiments for three seasons in California to study variation in tissue nitrate and in N accumulation in leaves, straw, and grain. In all experiments Anza often had signiticantly higher laminae tissue NO 3 concentrations than UC 44‐111. When measured, total N per gram of laminae dry weight was consistently higher in UC 44‐111 than in Anza. In two field studies with added N, UC 44‐111 accumulated by heading time more total protein per hectare than Anza. Percent grain protein of UC 44‐111 was slightly higher, usually significantly, than Anza. This was also true for percent straw protein except where adequate N and moisture were available throughout the life cycle. In an N‐rate study UC 44‐111 produced more grain protein per hectare per kilogram of N applied than Anza. Anza frequently had higher N translocation efficiency (N harvest index) than UC 44‐111. In one experiment, a third genotype ‘Yecora 70’, a high protein cultivar, had significantly higher grain protein concentration than the other two genotypes, apparently due to greater remobilizatinn and translocation of N from straw to grain after anthesis. Data from these and previous studies indicate that growth relationships are related to the differences in N assimilation observed between Anza and UC 44‐111: 1) in solution cultures the rate of leaf appearance of UC 44‐111, but not of Anza, was regulated by nitrate concentration; 2) in two field experiments, laminae of UC 44‐111 showed greater increases in area and dry weight in response to added N than did Anza; and 3) applied soil N resulted in greater increases in light interception at the early boot stage for UC 44‐111 than for Anza.