Nutrient Dynamics in Wheat

Abstract

Nutrients are taken up by plant roots in a regulated manner and are then distributed around the plant according to demand. As the plant develops and matures, requirements will change and new sinks for nutrients will replace old. In the case of wheat, the developing grain replaces the canopy as the major sink. Hence, nutrient allocation is a dynamic phenomenon, achieved by nutrient recycling and linked to processes of development including senescence. The effectiveness of these processes strongly influences performance and quality, particularly grain protein and mineral nutrient content, which are important health and quality attributes of the seeds. The effective reuse of nutrients is an essential contributor to nutrient use efficiency, an important sustainability trait. Movement of nutrients is achieved by multiple large gene families encoding for transporters, each family usually specific for transporting individual substrates, but often with family members showing varied distribution and regulatory patterns. There are observed interactions between nutrients resulting in coordinated accumulation within the plant. Cycling of nutrients refers to the process of internal movements of nutrients between cells, compartments, and organs or their reuse in metabolic processes. It may also refer to processes occurring within the ecosystem including cycling in the soil and between soil and crop. In this article, emphasis is placed on initial uptake and use of nutrients by the wheat plant and the recycling and partitioning of these nutrients to grain tissues.

Biostimulant Effects of Glutacetine® and Its Derived Formulations Mixed With N Fertilizer on Post-heading N Uptake and Remobilization, Seed Yield, and Grain Quality in Winter Wheat

“…Regarding protein content, Bogard et al (2010) reported a mean of 11.25% for Récital, whereas Taulemesse et al (2015) observed a range from 14.2 to 15.8%; our findings were between the two (from 12.5 to 14.2%), which confirmed that our system was comparable to agronomic practices. It is also well documented that higher yield decreases the N and protein contents in grain (Hawkesford et al, 2018). Accordingly, in the present study, the protein content in wheat grain was highest in the control, whereas all of the formulations reduced it to 12.5% ( Table 1).…”

“…Interestingly, focusing on the post-flowering period, many studies have been undertaken on senescence processes in wheat and their importance in N use efficiency (NUE) (Gregersen et al, 2008;Distelfeld et al, 2014;Gaju et al, 2014;Hebbar et al, 2014). Indeed, nutrient allocation is a dynamic phenomenon, achieved by nutrient recycling and linked to processes of development including senescence and remobilization (Hawkesford et al, 2018). During senescence, proteins are degraded, and nutrients are remobilized from senescing organs toward developing grain (Gregersen et al, 2008).…”

The Dynamics of Phosphorus Uptake and Remobilization during the Grain Development Period in Durum Wheat Plants

“…During the grain filling stage, the grain becomes the main sink for assimilates and nutrients due to the progression of plant senescence. [17,40]. Thus, biomass increase occurring during this stage can be attributed to grain filling.…”

“…This indicates that roots can act as active sinks for P during grain filling. In fact, roots continue to take up nutrients after anthesis despite the progressive decrease of their activity due to plant senescence [40]. In the short-term (6 h) P uptake experiment using 32 P-tracer, Snapp and Lynch [50] showed that bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) roots retained over 80% of the acquired P under low P conditions while only 20% were retained at high P conditions.…”

“…The growing grains are the dominant sink for C and nutrients, including P during the post-anthesis period [22,40]. Before reaching the grains, the P goes through several steps, including exogenous Pi uptake, transport, and remobilization before the eventual delivery to the grains [32].…”