Expression of Dwarfing Genes under Nitrogen and Moisture Stress in Wheat (Triticumspp): Dry Matter Partitioning, Root Growth and Leaf Nitrogen

Abstract

The balance between root and shoot growth is one of the mechanisms used by plants to adapt to a particular environment. This balance is affected by nutrient supply and water availability. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of nitrogen (N) levels on root and shoot growth and to determine whether there is any correlation between root growth and leaf N in 10 wheat cultivars differing in the presence of the dwarfing genes derived from Norin 10. The study was carried out with two levels of N and water availability in the pots. Before stem elongation, shoot growth was less sensitive to high soil N levels than root growth. Root growth was inhibited by higher soil N concentrations. Leaf N and production of root biomass correlated well in non‐stressed plants with low N. Tall types produced higher root biomass and maintained higher leaf N content than dwarf types under different N and water supply levels. The results suggest that shoot and root growth were affected differently by N availability.