Genetic dissection of grain nitrogen use efficiency and grain yield and their relationship in rice

Breeding for improved grain yield (GY) and grain nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is an important objective of many rice breeding programs. A better understanding of the genetics of these two complex traits and their genetic relationship is required for more efficient breeding. This study reports the results of a linkage mapping study conducted for these two traits using 127 rice recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from the cross of Zhanshan 97/Minghui 63. Phenotypic data were collected under two nitrogen conditions in 2006 and 2007. For NUE, four and six QTLs were identified in 2006 and 2007, respectively. These QTLs were on chromosomes 1, 2, 6, 7 and 11. For GY, nine and five QTLs were detected on chromosomes 1, 2, 7 and 11 in 2006 and 2007, respectively. The phenotypic and genetic correlations between NUE and GY are positive and highly significant. Four genomic regions, including C86-C2340 on chromosome 1, RZ599-R1738 on chromosome 2, RZ471-C1023 on chromosome 7 and R3203-RM20a on chromosome 11, were found to contain QTLs for both NUE and GY. The effects of the co-located QTLs were in the same direction for NUE and GY, providing a genetic basis for the observed positive genetic correlation between the two traits. These genomic regions might be explored for the simultaneous improvement of NUE and GY in breeding.     

Ecophysiological determinants of biomass and grain yield of wheat under P deficiency

Grain yield of crops can be expressed as a function of the intercepted radiation, the radiation use efficiency and the partitioning of above-ground biomass to grain yield (harvest index). When a wheat crop is grown under P deficiency the grain yield is reduced but it is not clear how these three components are affected. Our aim was (i) to identify which of these components were affected in spring bread wheat under P deficiency at field conditions and (ii) to relate the grain yield responses to processes of grain yield formation during the spike growth period. Three field experiments were conducted in the potentially high wheat yielding environment of southern Chile. All experiments had two levels of P availability: with (155 kg P ha⁻¹) or without P fertilization (average soil P-Olsen concentration of 10 ppm, a medium level of P availability). High wheat grain yields were obtained varying between 815 and 1222 g m⁻² with P applications. Experiments showed a grain yield reduction caused by P deficiencies of 35, 16 and 18% in experiments 1, 2 and 3, respectively. This was related (R² = 0.99, P < 0.01) to a reduction in the total above-ground biomass at harvest and not to the harvest index. Reductions in above-ground biomass were due to a reduction in radiation intercepted under P deficiency without effecting radiation use efficiency. Grain number per square meter was the main yield component (R² = 0.99, P < 0.01) that explained the grain yield reduction caused by the P deficiency which was due to low spike biomass at anthesis (R² = 0.96, P < 0.05). The reduction in spike biomass at anthesis was related (R² = 0.86, P < 0.01) to reductions in crop growth rate during the spike growth period as a consequence of a lower radiation intercepted during this period. This study showed that under high wheat yield conditions the main effect of a P deficiency on grain yield reduction was a negative impact on the total above-ground biomass due to the negative impact on intercepted radiation, particularly during the spike growth period, affecting negatively spike biomass at anthesis and consequently grain number and yield.     

Effect of nitrogen and phosphorus application on soil nitrogen morphological characteristics and grain yield of oil flax

In order to identify effects of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) on soil nitrogen morphological characteristics and grain yield of oil flax, a two-factor experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design in typical semi-arid and hilly-gully area of Loess Plateau with 3 replicates in 2013 and 2014. Two levels of N application included 150 ​kg/hm² (N₂) and 75 ​kg/hm² (N₁). P application included 150 ​kg P₂O₅/hm² (P₂) and 75 ​kg P₂O₅/hm² (P₁). Temporal and spatial variation of soil nitrate nitrogen (NO₃⁻-N) and ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N) contents in 0–60 ​cm soil layer, and relationship between soil NO₃⁻-N accumulation (SNA) and grain yield of oil flax were analyzed. Results showed that SNA increased with evaluated N application rate in different soil layers (0–20 ​cm, 20–40 ​cm and 40–60 ​cm). With the increased P application, SNA increased at N₁ level but decreased at N₂ level. SNA under N₂P₁ treatment increased by 73.33% in 2013 and 74.97% in 2014 respectively, compared with control treatment (CK) at maturity stage. Grain yield of oil flax also increased by 44.27% in 2013 and 56.55% in 2014, compared with CK under the same treatment. Correlation analysis showed that SNA in different soil layers were respectively positively correlated with grain yield. In conclusion, this research suggested that the optimal fertilizer application rate was 150 ​kg ​N/hm² and 75 ​kg P₂O₅/hm² in the Northwest of China.     

不同小麦品种产量和氮素吸收利用的差异

为明确不同氮肥水平下不同小麦品种产量、氮素吸收和利用的差异,在大田条件下,以山东省主推的21个小麦品种为材料,研究了0、120、180、240和300kg·hm~(-2)共5个氮肥水平下不同小麦品种的产量、氮素利用率、氮素吸收效率和氮素利用效率等指标。结果表明,氮肥、品种及两者的互作效应显著影响冬小麦籽粒产量、氮素利用率、氮素吸收效率和利用效率;氮肥水平不同则品种间的氮效率差异程度不同。大部分供试品种的氮效率类型在不同氮肥水平下的聚类结果不一致,仅临麦4号、鲁原502、泰山28和山农25在各氮肥水平下的产量、氮素利用率均较高,可划为氮高效品种。氮高效品种达到高氮效率的途径不同,临麦4号通过高氮素吸收效率、泰山28通过高氮素利用效率、鲁原502和山农25通过氮素吸收效率和利用效率共同作用实现氮高效。由此可知,应在不同氮肥水平下对冬小麦品种进行产量和氮素利用率的综合评价,以筛选出适应不同地力环境的品种和与品种特性相适应的施肥技术;在氮高效品种的选育和推广中,应针对不同小麦品种的氮素吸收和利用特性进行鉴别和调控,才能最大程度挖掘和利用其高产、高效潜力,实现增产增效。     

Yield response of corn to irrigation and nitrogen fertilization in a Mediterranean environment

Productivity and resource-use efficiency in corn (Zea mays L.) are crucial issues in sustainable agriculture, especially in high-demand resource crops such as corn. The aims of this research were to compare irrigation scheduling and nitrogen fertilization rates in corn, evaluating yield, water (WUE), irrigation water (IRRWUE) and nitrogen use (NUE) efficiencies. A 2-year field experiment was carried out in a Mediterranean coastal area of Central Italy (175 mm of rainfall in the corn-growing period) and corn was subjected to three irrigation levels (rainfed and supply at 50 and 100% of crop evapotranspiration, ETc) in interaction with three nitrogen fertilization levels (not fertilized, 15 and 30 g (N) m⁻²). The results indicated a large yearly variability, mainly due to a rainfall event at the silking stage in the first year; a significant irrigation effect was observed for all the variables under study, except for plant population. Nitrogen rates affected grain yield plant⁻¹ and ear⁻¹, grain and biomass yield, HI, WUE, IRRWUE and NUE, with significant differences between non-fertilized and the two fertilized treatments (15 and 30 g (N) m⁻²). Furthermore, deficit irrigation (50% of ETc) was to a large degree equal to 100% of the ETc irrigation regime. A significant interaction “N × I” was observed for grain yield and WUE. The effect of nitrogen availability was amplified at the maximum irrigation water regime. The relationships between grain yield and evapotranspiration showed basal ET, the amount necessary to start producing grain, of about 63 mm in the first and 206 mm in the second year. Rainfed crop depleted most of the water in the 0–0.6 m soil depth range, while irrigated scenarios absorbed soil water within the profile to a depth of 1.0 m. Corn in a Mediterranean area can be cultivated with acceptable yields while saving irrigation water and reducing nitrogen supply and also exploiting the positive interaction between these two factors, so maximizing resource-use efficiency.     

Possible alternative utilization of Cynara spp.: I. Biomass, grain yield and chemical composition of grain

Globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) and cultivated cardoon (C. cardunculus L. var. altilis DC.) are horticulturally important crop plants. These species have potential as biomass and oilseed crops. We field tested, for 3 years, two artichoke and two cardoon cultivars and one wild cardoon (C. cardunculus L. var. sylvestris Lam.) population on the Sicilian plain of Catania (37°27′ N, 15°04′ E, 10 m a.s.l.). On a 3-year average, the dry aboveground biomass resulted about 31 t ha⁻¹ in both cultivated cardoons, 18.8 t ha⁻¹ in wild cardoon, 13.7 t ha⁻¹ in globe artichoke ‘3/10 V.S.’ and 9.9 t ha⁻¹ in globe artichoke ‘374’ F₁. The caloric values of aboveground biomass (except for seeds), which was not significantly different among genotypes, ranged between 16 005 and 17 028 KJ kg⁻¹ of dry matter. The cultivated cardoon ‘Gigante di Lucca’ had the greatest grain yield (on 3-year average, 2.6 t ha⁻¹), whereas the two globe artichokes had the lowest yield (on 3-year average, 0.5 t ha⁻¹). Regardless of genotypes and years, the grains contain 20.1% crude protein, 24.4% oil, 18.5% crude fiber and 4.1% ash (dry weight basis). The grains of globe artichokes showed the highest crude protein content (21.6%), whereas those of cardoons the highest oil content (25.2%).     

Radiation interception and biomass and nitrogen accumulation in different cereal and grain legume species

The increasing interest in the sustainability of agricultural systems has emphasised the importance of incorporating legumes into cereal production, in spite of their lower and less reliable grain yields. The basis of the poor performance of legumes has been analyzed in a 2-year comparison between varieties of pea, faba bean, durum wheat and triticale, in terms of resource capture and use. The cereals developed a full canopy 350 °Cd earlier than did the grain legumes, and the triticale more rapidly than the durum wheat. This difference, and the 11-day longer duration of the growing cycle of cereals allowed them to intercept more photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) than grain legumes. This, combined with their higher radiation use efficiency (2.35 ± 0.07 vs 2.10 ± 0.05 g MJ⁻¹), resulted in a biomass greater, on average, by about 500 g m⁻². Within the cereals, triticale accumulated 34% more biomass than durum wheat. Radiation interception and nitrogen uptake are closely tied in both cereals and grain legumes. There was no difference between cereals and legumes in the relationship between the amount of nitrogen assimilated and the fraction of intercepted PAR (FIPAR), but there were differences in the form and in the parameters of the relationship between nitrogen assimilated and PAR intercepted. Below a FIPAR of 0.8, the relationship between FIPAR and N uptake is crop independent, underlining the influence of FIPAR on N uptake. The significance of this FIPAR level is that by the time it has been achieved, the plants will have accumulated most of the N present in their biomass at maturity.     

不同向日葵品种群体光合生理参数及产量比较研究

以3个向日葵品种为材料,通过两年的田间试验研究向日葵群体的光合生理特征。结果表明,向日葵群体的叶面积指数（LAI）增长极快,出苗后第51d前后即达到最大值（LAImax）3.57～5.64,因品种而异。群体光合势与生物产量和子实产量呈极显著正相关。平均净光合率为5.08～7.02g/m2&;#8226;d,因品种和年份而异。生物产量积累动态趋势为“慢-快-慢”,符合Logistic方程。生物产量在各个器官中的分配比例一般为：茎秆（或子实）>子实（或茎秆）>叶片>葵盘>叶柄,子实所占比例即经济系数两年平均为29.7%和34.4%,因年份而异。早熟品种的经济系数大于中早熟和中熟品种。     

Sulfur fertilization improves nitrogen use efficiency in wheat by increasing nitrogen uptake

Nitrogen (N) fertilization plays a central role for improving yield in wheat and high N use efficiency (NUE) is desired to protect ground and surface waters. Several studies showed that sulfur (S) fertilization may increase NUE, but no attempts have been made to explain whether this increase is due to greater recovery efficiency (RE), an enhanced internal efficiency (IE) or by an improvement of both efficiencies. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of different N and S fertilizer rates, and their interaction on N uptake, its partition at maturity, NUE and its main components. Field experiments were carried out during two consecutive growing seasons in the Argentinean Pampas using a single bread-wheat genotype grown under different combinations of N and S fertilizer rates. Additional experiments were performed in farmer fields using N and S fertilization evaluating different genotypes in order to analyze the components of NUE in other environmental conditions. Plant N uptake increased linearly in response to N addition until rates of ca. 80 kg N ha⁻¹. Sulfur addition showed no effect at the lowest N fertilizer rate, but N uptake was increased when S was applied at the highest N rate, revealing a synergism between both nutrients. At the lowest S rate RE was 42%, and increased to 70% when S fertilizer was added. No changes in IE in response to S fertilization were observed. These results were also observed in farmer field experiments, in genotypes that showed different IE. This study showed that S addition increased NUE mainly by increasing the N recovery from the soil. Thus, the concurrent management of N and S is important for reducing the potential pollution of residual soil nitrate by increasing N recovery from the soil while sustaining high nitrogen use efficiency.     

Grain weight,radiation interception and use efficiency as affected by sink-strength in Mediterranean wheats released from 1940 to 2005

Bread wheat has been frequently characterised as sink-limited during grain filling but the degree of sink-limitation could vary with the contribution of breeding in increasing the number of grains per unit land area. This hypothetical change in the level of sink-limitation due to breeding has been insufficiently documented. Two source–sink manipulation experiments under field conditions with three released cultivars and an advanced breeding line representing important steps in wheat breeding in the Mediterranean area of Spain were conducted in order to quantify whether genetic improvement of grain yield in Mediterranean wheat modified the source–sink balance during grain filling, and how it affected grain weight and post-anthesis photosynthetically active radiation intercepted by the crop (IPAR) and radiation use efficiency (RUE). Average grain weight of control and trimmed spikes during grain filling was not significantly affected by halving the number of growing grains in the two oldest cultivars, but it was significantly increased in the most modern line, and had an intermediate response in the intermediate cultivar. In those cases in which a certain degree of source-limitation during grain growth occurred the magnitude of the response reflected a co-rather than a source-limitation. Considering grains from different positions within the spikes the smaller (distal) grains responded more markedly than the larger (proximal) grains. No differences in post-anthesis IPAR were found between the trimmed and control sub-plots for any of the genotypes. However, trimming the spikes reduced post-anthesis RUE, a fact corroborated by a simultaneous reduction in leaf net photosynthetic rate at noon. It seems that bread wheat breeding has tended to reduce the strength of the sink-limitation during post-anthesis even under Mediterranean conditions, and consequently the most modern line presented a sort of co-limitation.     

Radiation interception and use efficiency as affected by breeding in Mediterranean wheat

Past breeding achievements in grain yield were mainly related to increases in harvest index (HI) without major changes in biomass production. As modern cultivars have already high HI, future breeding to improve grain yield will necessarily focus on increased biomass. Improved biomass would depend on our capacity to improve the amount of photosynthetically active radiation intercepted by the crop (IPAR_%) or the efficiency with which the canopy converts that radiation into new biomass (radiation use efficiency, RUE). Four field experiments with a set of wheat cultivars selected, bred and introduced in the Mediterranean area of Spain and that represent important steps in wheat breeding in Spain were conducted in order to identify whether and how wheat breeding in this area affected the amount of IPAR_% and RUE both before and after anthesis. Although there was genotypic variability, cultivars did not show any consistent trend with the year of release of the cultivars for their biomass, pre and post-anthesis IPAR_%, Crop growth rate (CGR) or RUE but, the post-anthesis CGR and RUE of the two oldest genotypes were lower than that of the other cultivars. As the oldest genotypes have lower number of grains per m² than their modern counterparts, it is suggested that post-anthesis RUE in these cultivars was reduced by lack of sinks and therefore further increases in grains per unit area in modern cultivars could permit to improve biomass via increases in post-anthesis RUE.     

氮肥用量对油菜产量及氮素利用效率的影响

通过大田试验研究了氮肥用量对油菜产量、养分含量、养分累积量及氮肥利用效率的影响。结果表明,与不施氮相比,施氮肥75、150和225kg/hm2平均分别增产41.9%、70.3%和66.2%,籽粒含氮量分别提高9.1%、14.2%和13.1%,植株地上部氮素总累积量分别增加59.6%、111.6%和108.0%。施氮促进油菜生长发育,显著提高油菜对氮素的吸收、累积和籽粒需氮量,但氮肥农学利用率、偏生产力和表观利用率均随氮肥用量的增加显著下降。氮肥用量在150kg/hm2时,能较好地协调油菜较高产量水平与合理氮肥利用率的统一。     

Yield performance and grain lipid composition of standard and oleic sunflower as affected by water supply

Sunflower has potential in Mediterranean farming systems because of the modest auxiliary input requirement, appreciable productivity and quality of raw material. These aspects are affected by the interactions among genetic, environmental and agronomic factors, which have not been fully explored. Therefore, the effects of four water regimes as proportion of crop evapotranspiration (0%, 33%, 67%, 100%) on grain yield and its components, oil yield and grain lipid constituents, i.e. fatty acids (FAs), unsaponifiable matter (UM), phytosterol (Phy), policosanol (PC) and tocopherol (Toc) fractions of a standard and an oleic sunflower hybrids were assessed in a 2-year field experiment. The relationships between crop productive traits and oil quality features were also analysed.     

限水灌溉对极端晚播密植小麦籽粒产量、蛋白质含量和水氮利用效率的影响

为了解极端晚播密植小麦的限水灌溉效果,2012年11月至2014年6月以弱春性小麦偃展4110和半冬性小麦矮抗58为材料,在华北地区典型水浇地进行晚播(11月中旬)密植(600万株·hm-2)试验,比较了常规灌溉(拔节期和开花期各灌水60mm)和限水灌溉(拔节期灌水60mm)的小麦开花后氮素吸收转运分配、籽粒产量和蛋白质含量以及水氮利用效率。与常规灌溉相比,限水灌溉可促进极端晚播密植小麦开花前氮素在开花后向籽粒的转运量、转运效率及其对籽粒氮素的贡献率,显著提高氮素收获指数和籽粒蛋白质含量,但对开花后氮素积累量以及小麦氮素吸收效率、籽粒产量和水分利用效率的影响因生长季而异。与常规灌溉相比,限水灌溉下偏旱的2012-2013生长季开花后氮素积累量和氮素吸收效率降低,籽粒产量和水分利用效率无显著变化;偏湿润的2013-2014生长季开花后氮素积累量和氮素吸收效率维持稳定,籽粒产量和水分利用效率分别提高4.3%~5.3%和10.4%~13.3%。极端晚播密植栽培模式下,限水灌溉不仅可促进小麦营养器官氮素向籽粒的转运,提高小麦氮收获指数和籽粒蛋白质含量,还能在偏湿润的年份提高籽粒产量和水分利用效率。     

施氮量对冬小麦氮素利用和产量的影响

为给限量灌溉条件下冬小麦高产栽培中合理施氮提供依据,2008-2009年度分别在藁城市和清苑县以冀5265和科农199为材料,研究了限量灌溉条件下（小麦全生育期灌3水,每次灌水量75 mm）施氮量（0、120、180、240和300 kg·hm^-2,分别用N0、N120、N180、N240和N300表示）对冬小麦氮素吸收利用及小麦产量的影响。结果表明,增施氮肥有利于增加小麦植株和籽粒的含氮量和氮素积累总量。随施氮量的增加,藁城点籽粒氮素积累量呈持续增加趋势,清苑点在N240处理下籽粒中氮素积累量达到最高后开始下降。两地试验中氮素干物质生产效率均随施氮量的增加而降低,藁城的氮素生产效率、回收效率及农艺效率呈先升高后降低的趋势,以N180的氮素生产效率最高,回收效率和农艺效率则以N240最高;穗数和穗粒数随施氮量的增加而增大,千粒重随施氮量的增加而降低,且各处理间差异显著;籽粒产量随施氮量增加呈递增趋势,但N240与N300之间差异不显著。清苑县的试验中,氮素干物质生产效率、籽粒生产效率、回收效率和农艺效率都随施氮量的增加而降低,且在部分处理之间差异显著;穗数、穗粒数和籽粒产量均以N240的最高,千粒重则以N0的最高,再增加施氮量反而使产量及其构成因素有所降低。根据本研究结果,在河北平原限量灌溉条件下,小麦生产中施氮240 kg·hm^-2可以获得较理想的籽粒产量和氮素利用效率。     

Comparing the interactive effects of water and nitrogen on durum wheat and barley grown in a Mediterranean environment

The understanding of the interactive effect of water and N availability, associated with the ability of crops to efficiently use these resources, is a crucial issue for stabilizing cereal production in Mediterranean areas. A 3-year side by side experiment on durum wheat and barley, under different water regimes and nitrogen levels, was carried out in a typical Mediterranean environment of Southern Italy, to identify the outstanding features of these species that contribute to enhanced grain yield and improved water and nitrogen use efficiency.     

玉米自交系对低氮反应的田间与盆栽评价

深入了解玉米自交系的氮效率现状是选育氮高效品种的基础。利用20个自交系在两个地块上、两个施氮水平下,研究了它们的氮效率(产量/施氮量)表现。同时,进行盆栽试验,探讨利用苗期生物量实现氮效率快速筛选的可能性。结果表明,氮效率、氮吸收效率及氮利用效率在玉米自交系间存在显著差异。地块间自交系的氮效率变异较大,CA170(2)、原引1号(5)、早27(17)对土壤氮素的降低反应敏感,减产幅度达到45%以上,是高氮高效品系;478(1)是中产耐低氮品系;武312(13)、北黄4(20)为双低效品系。盆栽苗期试验与田间试验结果一致性较差,说明不能达到氮效率快速筛选的目的。     

A comprehensive study of plant density consequences on nitrogen uptake dynamics of maize plants from vegetative to reproductive stages

Nitrogen (N) use efficiency (NUE), defined as grain produced per unit of fertilizer N applied, is difficult to predict for specific maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes and environments because of possible significant interactions between different management practices (e.g., plant density and N fertilization rate or timing). The main research objective of this study was to utilize a quantitative framework to better understand the physiological mechanisms that govern N dynamics in maize plants at varying plant densities and N rates. Paired near-isogenic hybrids [i.e., with/without transgenic corn rootworm (Diabrotica sp.) resistance] were grown at two locations to investigate the individual and interacting effects of plant density (low—54,000; medium—79,000; and high—104,000 pl ha⁻¹) and sidedress N fertilization rate (low—0; medium—165; and high—330 kg N ha⁻¹) on maize NUE and associated physiological responses. Total aboveground biomass (per unit area basis) was fractionated and both dry matter and N uptake were measured at four developmental stages (V14, R1, R3 and R6). Both plant density and N rate affected growth parameters and grain yield in this study, but hybrid effects were negligible. As expected, total aboveground biomass and N content were highly correlated at the V14 stage. However, biomass gain was not the only factor driving vegetative N uptake, for although N-fertilized maize exhibited higher shoot N concentrations than N-unfertilized maize, the former and latter had similar total aboveground biomass at V14. At the R1 stage, both plant density and N rate strongly impacted the ratio of total aboveground N content to green leaf area index (LAI), with the ratio declining with increases in plant density and decreases in N rate. Higher plant densities substantially increased pre-silking N uptake, but had relatively minor impact on post-silking N uptake for hybrids at both locations. Treatment differences for grain yield were more strongly associated with differences in R6 total biomass than in harvest index (HI) (for which values never exceeded 0.54). Total aboveground biomass accumulated between R1 and R6 rose with increasing plant density and N rate, a phenomenon that was positively associated with greater crop growth rate (CGR) and nitrogen uptake rate (NUR) during the critical period bracketing silking. Average NUE was similar at both locations. Higher plant densities increased NUE for both medium and high N rates, but only when plant density positively influenced both the N recovery efficiency (NRE) and N internal efficiency (NIE) of maize plants. Thus plant density-driven increases in N uptake by shoot and/or ear components were not enough, by themselves, to increase NUE.     

Effects of free air carbon dioxide enrichment and nitrogen supply on growth and yield of winter barley cultivated in a crop rotation

The increase in atmospheric CO₂ concentration [CO₂] has been demonstrated to stimulate growth of C₃ crops. Although barley is one of the important cereals of the world, little information exists about the effect of elevated [CO₂] on grain yield of this crop, and realistic data from field experiments are lacking. Therefore, winter barley was grown within a crop rotation over two rotation cycles (2000 and 2003) at present and elevated [CO₂](375 ppm and 550 ppm) and at two levels of nitrogen supply (adequate (N2): 262 kg ha⁻¹ in 1st year and 179 kg ha⁻¹ in 2nd year) and 50% of adequate (N1)). The experiments were carried out in a free air CO₂ enrichment (FACE) system in Braunschweig, Germany. The reduction in nitrogen supply decreased seasonal radiation absorption of the green canopy under ambient [CO₂] by 23%, while CO₂ enrichment had a positive effect under low nitrogen (+8%). Radiation use efficiency was increased by CO₂ elevation under both N levels (+12%). The CO₂ effect on final above ground biomass was similar for both nitrogen treatments (N1: +16%; N2: +13%). CO₂ enrichment did not affect leaf biomass, but increased ear and stem biomass. In addition, final stem dry weight was higher under low (+27%) than under high nitrogen (+13%). Similar findings were obtained for the amount of stem reserves available during grain filling. Relative CO₂ response of grain yield was independent of nitrogen supply (N1: +13%; N2: +12%). The positive CO₂ effect on grain yield was primarily due to a higher grain number, while changes of individual grain weight were small. This corresponds to the findings that under low nitrogen grain growth was unaffected by CO₂ and that under adequate nitrogen the positive effect on grain filling rate was counterbalanced by shortening of grain filling duration.     

Effect of tolerance to Septoria tritici blotch on grain yield,yield components and grain quality in Argentinean wheat cultivars

Septoria tritici blotch (STB) caused by Zymoseptoria tritici (Mycosphaerella graminicola) is a major disease of wheat worldwide due to significant losses in grain yield and quality. Disease tolerance is the ability to maintain yield performance in the presence of disease symptoms. Therefore, it could be a useful tool in the management of the disease. Although it is known, that there is disease tolerance to STB in some wheat cultivars, this aspect has not been studied among Argentinean cultivars. The aims of this study were to evaluate genotypic differences in tolerance to STB among Argentinean cultivars, considering the relationship between the area under disease progress curve or the green leaf area or the non-green leaf area duration with the grain yield. In addition the effect of the disease on yield, yield components, test weight, grain protein concentration, wet and dry gluten concentration and the influence of tolerance on these traits was investigated. Field experiments were carried out with ten cultivars in a split-split-plot design during 2010 and 2011. Inoculation treatments were the main plots and cultivars, the subplots. STB significantly reduced grain yield, their components, test weight and increase grain protein and gluten concentration. Cultivar Baguette 10 showed major tolerance to STB, indicated by a consistent low regression slope between the green area duration and yield, while Klein Chaja was non-tolerant due to a high regression slope. However, many cultivars such as Buck Brasil, Buck 75 Aniversario, Klein Escorpion and Klein Flecha had considerably similar regression slopes to Baguette 10, provided good levels of tolerance. Other cultivars presented no significant differences. The correlation coefficient between tolerance and grain yield potential was not significant, suggesting that tolerant high-yielding cultivars can be obtained. No relationship was found between quality group or tolerance with the increase in protein and gluten concentration due to STB either.