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Wheat vegetative nitrogen compositional changes in response to reduced reproductive sink strength.
C T Mackown1, D A Van Sanford, N Zhang
1Department of Agronomy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546-0091.
Plant Physiology
|August 1, 1992
Summary
Wheat plants store excess nitrogen in vegetative tissues, but this storage is primarily in amino acids, not storage proteins. This finding impacts understanding of nitrogen use in wheat development.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Plant Physiology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Nitrogen (N) redistribution is crucial for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield.
- Vegetative tissues play a role in temporary N storage.
- The function of vegetative storage proteins in N economy is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate N redistribution patterns in wheat.
- To determine the role of vegetative storage proteins in temporary N storage.
- To evaluate N composition in vegetative tissues with altered reproductive sink strength.
Main Methods:
- Assessed N redistribution in wheat plants with varying reproductive sink strengths.
- Analyzed N composition of vegetative tissues above the peduncle node.
- Measured leaf senescence, chlorophyll, total N, and protein levels.
Main Results:
- Reduced sink strength did not prevent vegetative tissue senescence.
- Plants with reduced sink strength redistributed N effectively to the spike.
- Accumulation of polypeptides in vegetative tissues was not observed; amino acids appeared to store excess N.
Conclusions:
- Vegetative storage proteins likely play an insignificant role in wheat's N economy.
- Amino acid accumulation accommodates excess N in vegetative tissues.
- Nitrogen use efficiency in wheat is primarily mediated by amino acid storage rather than protein storage.