Influence of temperature and nitrogen on dry matter partitioning and plant development of two tropical cultivars of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract

Wheat cultivars Mehran-89 and T.J.83 in controlled environment cabinet received two nitrate concentrations (6 and 0.6 mM) and two temperatures (20 °C and 15 °C). Both cultivars showed significant increase in growth and development parameters at high nitrate concentration. However, response of both cultivars varied to temperature as rate of development was enhanced by high temperature in Mehran-89 whereas same was accelerated by low temperature in T.J.83. Dry matter partitioning in shoots and roots increased by high nitrate concentration and low temperature in cultivar T.J.89, however, in cultivar Mehran-89, high nitrate concentration and temperature increased shoot dry matter whereas root dry matter was increased by low nitrate concentration at high temperature. The relationship of shoot dry weight to different parameters showed that high nitrate and temperature has significantly shortened the growth and developmental processes in cultivar Mehran-89 whereas similar results were obtained in cultivar T.J.83 at high nitrate and low temperature.

Keywords

• Triticum aestivum L.
• wheat
• temperature
• nitrogen
• dry matter partitioning