KMC Fernando1,2*, C Wibowo1 and DL Sparkes1
1Division of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonnington Campus, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE12 5RD, United Kingdom
2Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Mapalana, Kamburupitiya 81100, Sri Lanka
Abstract
The root system is essential for taking up nutrients
while providing anchorage to the plant. The controlled environment experiment
was conducted to study root morphological traits, plant growth, yield and nitrogen
(N) uptake in different wheat species. Seven genotypes including cultivated emmer
(Triticum dicoccum), spelt (T. spelta L.) and modern bread wheat (T. aestivum)
under three N levels were examined. A split-plot design was used in the experiment where the
main plot factor was N levels and the sub-plot factor was genotypes and replicated
three times. Root samples at five depth layers were scanned and analysed using WinRHIZO
software at anthesis and maturity. Total root length, root volume, root biomass, root
diameter, root length density, rooting depth and root N uptake efficiency were recorded.
Plant N uptake, N uptake efficiency, N utilisation efficiency and N use efficiency were
calculated at maturity (excluding N in roots). Neither interaction effect between main factors
nor N level were significant for all measured root traits except N uptake efficiency of roots.
Similar results were observed for growth and yield traits together with plant N uptake, N uptake
efficiency, N utilisation efficiency and N use efficiency. All measured parameters were significantly
different among genotypes. Spelt genotypes recorded the highest total root length, root volume,
root biomass and root length density at all depth layers while emmer genotypes recorded the
greatest root N uptake efficiency. Plant N uptake was significantly different between genotypes
where all spelt genotypes had high plant N uptake followed by bread wheat and emmer. Plant N uptake
of the genotypes had a very strong positive correlation with total root length, root volume,
root biomass and rooting depth of the genotypes. Therefore, it could be concluded that the
high plant N uptake of spelt may be due to the robust and vigorous growth of root systems.
Keywords:
N uptake, maturity, root traits, spelt genotypes, wheat species
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