Environmental and genetic determination of protein content and grain yield in durum wheat under Mediterranean conditions

Soil nitrogen abundance, as well as nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), significantly affect the crop yield and grain protein content (GPC). Depending on the genotype, a negative correlation between the yield and GPC can occur. The aim of the study was to assess the agronomic performance, and to explore physiological pathways for the efficient use of N fertilizer for two durum wheat cultivars, “Aureo” and “Vespucci”. After fertilization, the nitrogen content and values of some of the agronomic parameters and yield-related traits increased in both cultivars; nevertheless, a simultaneous rise in both the yield and GPC occurred only in Aureo. The biochemical parameters, analyzed at tillering, confirm the genotypic specificity of nitrogen use. In Vespucci’s roots, the nitrogen supply did not affect the nitrate reductase (NR), but greatly increased the amino acids and proteins, suggesting that ammonium is preferentially assimilated. In Aureo, nitrate is in part assimilated by the roots, as suggested by the ammonium increase and NR enhancement. In the leaves of both cultivars, organic nitrogen significantly increased after fertilization; however, the rise in amino acids, as well as in NR activity, was higher in Aureo than in Vespucci. These results indicate that the different nitrogen use, and in particular the diverse NR behavior, at tillering, are in part responsible of the cultivar differences in grain yield and GPC.

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Potential importance of water status traits for durum wheat improvement under Mediterranean conditions

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859601001253 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 137 (2) ◽

pp. 139-145 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

O. MERAH

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Durum Wheat ◽

Morphological Traits ◽

Water Status ◽

Flag Leaf ◽

Grain Filling ◽

Dry Matter Partitioning ◽

Growing Seasons ◽

Mediterranean Conditions ◽

Leaf Morphological Traits

Water status traits have been proposed as criteria for drought tolerance improvement in several species especially in bread wheat, oat and barley. In order to test this possibility in durum wheat, in 1995 and 1997, a collection of 144 genotypes from different geographical origins was cultivated under rainfed Mediterranean conditions in Montpellier (southern France). Relative water content (RWC), osmotic potential (OP), as well as leaf morphological traits, grain yield (GY), total above-ground biomass and harvest index (HI) were measured. Large genotypic variations were observed for all traits. Differences between the 2 years were also noticed for all the traits which could be attributed to differences in water availability between the 2 growing seasons. The correlation analysis has revealed significant positive associations between water status traits and both GY and HI within and across years. These results suggest that genotypes which can maintain higher water status and then higher transpiration rates during grain filling, are more efficient in dry matter partitioning to grain and hence higher yield. Heritabilities of water status characters were higher than those of productivity traits. Our results emphasized the value of RWC and OP as criteria for durum wheat grain yield improvement under rainfed Mediterranean conditions. Relationships between RWC, OP and flag leaf morphological traits are also discussed.

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Development of a High-Density SNP-Based Linkage Map and Detection of QTL for β-Glucans, Protein Content, Grain Yield per Spike and Heading Time in Durum Wheat

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms18061329 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 18 (6) ◽

pp. 1329 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Ilaria Marcotuli ◽

Agata Gadaleta ◽

Giacomo Mangini ◽

Antonio Signorile ◽

Silvana Zacheo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Durum Wheat ◽

Protein Content ◽

Linkage Map ◽

High Density ◽

Heading Time

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Durum wheat grain yield and quality as affected by S rate under Mediterranean conditions

European Journal of Agronomy ◽

10.1016/j.eja.2011.03.007 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 35 (2) ◽

pp. 63-70 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Laura Ercoli ◽

Leonardo Lulli ◽

Iduna Arduini ◽

Marco Mariotti ◽

Alessandro Masoni

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Durum Wheat ◽

Wheat Grain ◽

Yield And Quality ◽

Grain Yield And Quality ◽

Mediterranean Conditions

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Seeding rate and genotype effects on agronomic performance and grain protein content of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. Durum) in south-eastern Ethiopia

African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development ◽

10.18697/ajfand.58.10555 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 13 (58) ◽

pp. 7693-7710

Author(s):

Haile D ◽

◽

R Nigussie-Dechassa ◽

W Abdo ◽

F Girma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Durum Wheat ◽

Protein Content ◽

Agronomic Traits ◽

Grain Protein Content ◽

Grain Protein ◽

Agronomic Performance ◽

Seeding Rate ◽

Eastern Ethiopia ◽

Number Of Seeds

The use of optimum seeding rate for the genotype may enhance productivity and grain protein content of durum wheat. Therefore, an experiment was conducted at two locations in south-eastern Ethiopia during the main cropping season of 2008 with the objective of elucidating the effects of seeding rate and genotype on agronomic performance and grain protein content of the crop. The experiment consisted of factorial arrangements of four improved durum wheat genotypes and five seeding rates, which were laid out as a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Seeding rates significantly influenced agronomic performances including number of fertile spikes m-2, plant height, number of seeds spike-1, and grain yield. Number of fertile spikes m-2 was increased proportionally with the seeding rate and the highest number (382 spikes m-2) was recorded in the highest seeding rate of 200kg ha-1. Inversely, the highest number of kernels spike-1 (29.8) was at the seeding rate of 100 kg ha-1. The highest grain yield (4341 kg ha-1) was obtained in response to seeding rate of 175 kg ha-1, which was in statistical parity with the yield obtained at the seeding rate of 150 kg ha-1. However, grain protein content was not influenced by the seeding rates. There were significant (P ≤ 0.05) variations among the genotypes for all the agronomic traits measured. The largest number of fertile spikes m-2 was recorded for the genotypes Oda (360 spikes m-2) and Bakalcha (345 spikes m-2). Genotype Illani produced the longest spike (6.9 cm). Oda and Illani produced the highest numbers of seeds spike-1, 38.8 and 36.9, respectively. The number of fertile spikes m-2, number of seeds spike-2 and kernels weight significantly contributed grain yield. The genotypes had exhibited less variation for grain protein content. Except for grain yield and harvest index, seeding rate x genotype interaction had no significant effect on other agronomic traits. Highest grain yields of 4938 kg ha-1 and 4774 kg ha1 were obtained from genotypes Ejersa and Bakalcha when sown at the seeding rate of 150 kg ha-1 and 175 kg ha-1, respectively. Grain protein response was significantly influenced by the interaction effect in which genotype Oda had the highest (12.9%) and lowest (10.5%) protein contents at the highest (200 kg ha-1) and lowest (100 kg ha-1) seeding rates, respectively.

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