Effects of genotype and environment on N uptake and N partition in organically grown winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Germany

Abstract

Differences among six winter wheat varieties regarding N efficiency (NE) and its components were assessed in field trials in four locations over 3 years under conditions of organic farming (OF). N uptake and utilization efficiency, redistribution of N vs. direct N uptake during grain filling, N uptake in three periods (tillering, stem elongation/heading and grain filling) and the quantity of mineralized N during the same sub-periods were determined. Significant differences for these traits and significant interactions among varieties and environments could be detected for NE and its components. Limiting N availability during grain filling was typical for the more extensive organic environments. Under these conditions, differences of NE could be attributed to differences in preanthesis uptake and in translocation from vegetative tissues to the developing grain. Pre-anthesis uptake contributed more to N efficiency than translocation efficiency. Under more favourable conditions, differences became more evident and were mainly due to direct uptake during grain filling. This confirms, that different varieties are necessary in different environments and that breeding may contribute to improve baking quality to a certain extent. However, utilization of mineralized N is still unsatisfactory in OF systems in Germany. More N efficient varieties alone will help only little to resolve this problem; this can be achieved only by also improving the cropping systems.

Diverse concepts of breeding for nitrogen use efficiency. A review

“…This last aspect was also noted by Barraclough et al (2010) and Górny et al (2011): they found a negative correlation between grain-NUtE and grain %N. There are a few studies that analyzed the genetic variation in NUtE distinguishing between remobilization efficiency (N in grains taken up until anthesis divided by N present in plant biomass at anthesis) and translocation efficiency (N in grains absorbed after anthesis divided by total nitrogen absorbed after anthesis) (e.g., Kichey et al 2007;Baresel et al 2008). From the latter studies, it was concluded that the genetic variation among European genotypes in both remobilization and translocation efficiency was limited.…”

Mode of inheritance of low-N tolerance adaptive traits in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under contrasting nitrogen environments

“…Although numerous reports on genotypic variation in components of N efficiency already suggest potential applications of this genetic knowledge for wheat improvements (Ortiz-Monasterio et al, 1997;El Bassam, 1998;Le Gouis et al, 2000;Gorny et al, 2006;Kichey et al, 2007;Baresel et al, 2008;Barraclough et al, 2010), relatively fewer attempts have been made to breed wheat for these traits (Van Ginkel et al, 2001;Wolfe et al, 2008). Progress in breeding bread wheat better adapted to less favorable nitrogen fertilization is still restricted for several reasons.…”

Comparison of quality parameters of wheat varieties with different breeding origin under organic and low-input conventional conditions

“…(Anderson et al 1991, Baresel et al 2008, Fliessbach et al 2007, Foulkes et al 1998, Gosling et al 2006. However, these experiments mainly concentrated on the agronomical properties of the plants, and fewer results have been published from the viewpoint of the processing industry.…”