Journal article

Publication year: 1977

Pages: 477-480

Journal: Agronomy Journal

Volume number: 69

Issue number: 3

ISSN: 0002-1962

eISSN: 1435-0645

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj1977.00021962006900030036x

Publisher: Wiley

Abstract: 
The effect of K on the translocation of N in wheat plants and its incorporation into the grains during the grain filling period was studied. Spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Kolibri) was grown in solution culture at 2 K levels throughout the growing period and at 3 N levels during the reproductive stage. N was labeled 15N with the beginning of anthesis. Plants at the higher K rate produced more vegetative dry matter, higher grain yields, fewer unproductive tillers and improved translocation of N from the vegetative plant parts into the grain. Between 87.4 and 89.0% of the N absorbed during the reproductive stage was present in the grain of plants which had received the higher K supply. In plants grown with the lower K level the percentage ranged 78.9-81.0%. This improved translocation of nitrogenous compounds from the various plant parts to the grain caused by K resulted mainly in higher contents of prolamin, glutelin and soluble amino acids in the grain. For the content of albumin and globulin the reverse was true. All 4 grain protein fractions showed the same degree of N labeling indicating that none of the 4 protein fractions was preferably supplied by the N absorbed during the reproductive stage. The label of the soluble amino acids in the grain was lower than that of the grain proteins. It is assumed that at the last stage of grain filling a relative high amount of N from senescing plant parts is exploited for grain filling, thus diluting the N taken up from the nutrient solution. The higher N levels applied during the reproductive stage had a negative rather than a positive effect on grain yield. The additional N increased mainly the content of soluble amino acids, prolamin and glutelin in the grain.

Harvard Citation style: KOCH, K. and MENGEL, K. (1977) EFFECT OF K ON N UTILIZATION BY SPRING WHEAT DURING GRAIN PROTEIN FORMATION, Agronomy Journal, 69(3), pp. 477-480. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj1977.00021962006900030036x

APA Citation style: KOCH, K., & MENGEL, K. (1977). EFFECT OF K ON N UTILIZATION BY SPRING WHEAT DURING GRAIN PROTEIN FORMATION. Agronomy Journal. 69(3), 477-480. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj1977.00021962006900030036x