Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-8ctnn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-30T20:47:50.710Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Grain-filling patterns and nitrogen utilization efficiency of spelt (Triticum spelta) under Mediterranean conditions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2013

S. D. KOUTROUBAS ,
S. FOTIADIS ,
C. A. DAMALAS  and
M. PAPAGEORGIOU
S. D. KOUTROUBAS*
Affiliation:
Democritus University of Thrace, School of Agricultural Development, GR-68200 Orestiada, Greece
S. FOTIADIS
Affiliation:
Democritus University of Thrace, School of Agricultural Development, GR-68200 Orestiada, Greece
C. A. DAMALAS
Affiliation:
Democritus University of Thrace, School of Agricultural Development, GR-68200 Orestiada, Greece
M. PAPAGEORGIOU
Affiliation:
Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki, Department of Food Technology, PO Box 141, GR-57400 Thessaloniki, Greece
*
*To whom all correspondence should be addressed. Email: skoutrou@agro.duth.gr
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

The identification of factors determining the adaptation and nitrogen (N) utilization of spelt wheat is important for the successful introduction of the crop to a new environment. The present study was carried out to investigate the relative importance of grain-filling rate and duration of grain growth and to analyse the nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUtE) and biomass production efficiency of spelt under Mediterranean conditions. The performance of spelt was evaluated in relation to a well-adapted bread wheat cultivar. Three spelt cultivars (Ressac, Poème and Cosmos) and one bread wheat cultivar (Centauro) were grown for two growing seasons on a silty clay soil under two N levels (0 and 100 kg N/ha). Grain-filling parameters were estimated using the cubic polynomial model. This model provided good fit to the grain-filling data of spelt cultivars, with high coefficients of determination (R2) that ranged from 0·868 to 0·999. Cultivar differences were found for all grain-filling parameters studied, and these differences accounted for most of the variation observed within each particular grain-filling component in both years. Grain filling of spelt plants took place under adverse environmental conditions, mainly high temperatures, which led to a shortening of the grain-filling period. This fact was not fully compensated by the increase in the grain-filling rate, and eventually resulted in a reduction of the final spelt grain weight. Selection for early-flowering cultivars could be a successful strategy to moderate the influence of the environment on grain filling and improve the adaptation of spelt under Mediterranean conditions. The mean grain-filling rate was positively correlated with dry matter translocation, suggesting the crucial role of reserve assimilates in the vegetative tissues for the grain growth of spelt. The efficiency of N utilization to produce biomass was greater during the grain-filling period than the vegetative period. Averaged across N application rates, NUtE in spelt ranged from 20·1 to 29·5 g grain/g plant N. Cultivar differences in NUtE were observed in both years. Grain yield per unit grain N (grain DM/grain total N at maturity) contributed more to the total variation in NUtE among spelt cultivars compared with N harvest index (NHI). Spelt showed lower NUtE values, probably due to its higher grain N concentration and lower NHI compared with wheat. Low straw N concentration at maturity may be an indicator of improved NUtE in spelt, as evidenced by the negative relationship detected between the two variables. These results provide a better understanding of factors related with the adaptation and N utilization of spelt under Mediterranean conditions.

Type
Crops and Soils Research Papers
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 152 , Issue 5 , October 2014 , pp. 716 - 730
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Baligar, V. C., Fageria, N. K. & He, Z. L. (2001). Nutrient use efficiency in plants. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 32, 921–950.Google Scholar
Bertin, P., Grégoire, D., Massart, S. & De Froidmont, D. (2001). Genetic diversity among European cultivated spelt revealed by microsatellites. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 102, 148–156.Google Scholar
Blum, A. (1998). Improving wheat grain filling under stress by stem reserve mobilisation. Euphytica 100, 77–83.Google Scholar
Blumenthal, J. M., Baltensperger, D. D., Cassman, K. G., Mason, S. C. & Pavlista, A. D. (2008). Importance and effect of nitrogen on crop quality and health. In Nitrogen in the Environment: Sources, Problems and Management (Eds Hatfield, J. L. & Follett, R. F.), pp. 51–70. Amsterdam: Elsevier.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bolaños, J. (1995). Physiological bases for yield differences in selected maize cultivars from Central America. Field Crops Research 42, 69–80.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bonafaccia, G., Galli, V., Francisci, R., Mair, V., Skrabanja, V. & Kreft, I. (2000). Characteristics of spelt wheat products and nutritional value of spelt wheat-based bread. Food Chemistry 68, 437–441.Google Scholar
Bremner, J. M. (1965). Total nitrogen. In Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 2, Agronomy 9 (Eds Black, C. A., Evans, D. D., Ensminger, L. E., White, J. L. & Clark, F. E.), pp. 1149–1178. Madison, WI: American Society of Agronomy.Google Scholar
Bruckner, P. L. & Frohberg, R. C. (1987). Rate and duration of grain fill in spring wheat. Crop Science 27, 451–455.Google Scholar
Codianni, P., Paoletta, G., Castagna, R., Li Destri, O. & Di Fonzo, N. (1993). Agronomical performance of farro in southern Italy environments. L'Informatore Agrario 38, 45–48 (in Italian).Google Scholar
Cox, M. C., Qualset, C. O. & Rains, D. W. (1986). Genetic variation for nitrogen assimilation and translocation in wheat. III. Nitrogen translocation in relation to grain yield and protein. Crop Science 26, 737–740.Google Scholar
Dawson, J. C., Huggins, D. R. & Jones, S. S. (2008). Characterizing nitrogen use efficiency in natural and agricultural ecosystems to improve the performance of cereal crops in low-input and organic agricultural systems. Field Crops Research 107, 89–101.Google Scholar
Daynard, T. B., Tanner, J. W. & Duncan, W. G. (1971). Duration of the grain filling period and its relation to grain yield in corn, Zea mays L. Crop Science 11, 45–48.Google Scholar
Delogu, G., Cattivelli, L., Pecchioni, N., De Falcis, D., Maggiore, T. & Stanca, A. M. (1998). Uptake and agronomic efficiency of nitrogen in winter barley and winter wheat. European Journal of Agronomy 9, 11–20.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dias, A. S. & Lidon, F. C. (2009). Evaluation of grain filling rate and duration in bread and durum wheat, under heat stress after anthesis. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science 195, 137–147.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Egli, D. B. (2004). Seed-fill duration and yield of grain crops. Advances in Agronomy 83, 243–279.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Engels, C. & Marschner, H. (1995). Plant uptake and utilization of nitrogen. In Nitrogen Fertilization in the Environment (Ed. Bacon, P. E.), pp. 41–81. New York: Marcel Dekker.Google Scholar
Foulkes, M. J., Sylvester-Bradley, R. & Scott, R. K. (1998). Evidence for differences between winter wheat cultivars in acquisition of soil mineral nitrogen and uptake and utilization of applied fertilizer nitrogen. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 130, 29–44.Google Scholar
Foulkes, M. J., Snape, J. W., Shearman, V. J., Reynolds, M. P., Gaju, O. & Sylvester-Bradley, R. (2007). Genetic progress in yield potential in wheat: recent advances and future prospects. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 145, 17–29.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gebeyehou, G., Knott, D. R. & Baker, R. J. (1982). Rate and duration of grain filling in durum wheat cultivars. Crop Science 22, 337–340.Google Scholar
Gomez-Becerra, H. F., Erdem, H., Yazici, A., Tutus, Y., Torun, B., Ozturk, L. & Cakmak, I. (2010). Grain concentrations of protein and mineral nutrients in a large collection of spelt wheat grown under different environments. Journal of Cereal Science 52, 342–349.Google Scholar
Gooding, M. J., Ellis, R. H., Shewry, P. R. & Schofield, J. D. (2003). Effects of restricted water availability and increased temperature on the grain filling, drying and quality of winter wheat. Journal of Cereal Science 37, 295–309.Google Scholar
Górny, A. G., Banaszak, Z., Ługowska, B. & Ratajczak, D. (2011). Inheritance of the efficiency of nitrogen uptake and utilization in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under diverse nutrition levels. Euphytica 177, 191–206.Google Scholar
Ho, K. M. & Jui, P. Y. (1989). Duration and rate of kernel filling in barley. Cereal Research Communications 17, 69–76.Google Scholar
Hunt, L. A., Van Der Poorten, G. & Pararajasingham, S. (1991). Post-anthesis temperature effects on duration and rate of grain filling in some winter and spring wheats. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 71, 609–617.Google Scholar
Jones, D. B., Peterson, M. L. & Geng, S. (1979). Association between grain filling rate and duration and yield components in rice. Crop Science 19, 641–644.Google Scholar
Ju, J., Yamamoto, Y., Wang, Y. L., Shan, Y. H., Dong, G. C., Yoshida, T. & Miyazaki, A. (2006). Genotypic differences in grain yield, and nitrogen absorption and utilization in recombinant inbred lines of rice under hydroponic culture. Soil Science and Plant Nutrition 52, 321–330.Google Scholar
Kindred, D. R. & Gooding, M. J. (2004). Heterotic and seed rate effects on nitrogen efficiencies in wheat. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 142, 639–657.Google Scholar
Kobata, T., Palta, J. A. & Turner, N. C. (1992). Rate of development of post-anthesis water deficits and grain filling in spring wheat. Crop Science 32, 1238–1242.Google Scholar
Koutroubas, S. D. & Ntanos, D. A. (2003). Genotypic differences for grain yield and nitrogen utilization in Indica and Japonica rice under Mediterranean conditions. Field Crops Research 83, 251–260.Google Scholar
Koutroubas, S. D. & Papakosta, D. K. (2010). Seed filling patterns of safflower: Genotypic and seasonal variations and association with other agronomic traits. Industrial Crops and Products 31, 71–76.Google Scholar
Koutroubas, S. D., Veresoglou, D. S. & Zounos, A. (2000). Nutrient use efficiency as a factor determining the structure of herbaceous plant communities in low-nutrient environments. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science 184, 261–266.Google Scholar
Koutroubas, S. D., Papakosta, D. K. & Doitsinis, A. (2004). Cultivar and seasonal effects on the contribution of pre-anthesis assimilates to safflower yield. Field Crops Research 90, 263–274.Google Scholar
Koutroubas, S. D., Papageorgiou, M. & Fotiadis, S. (2009). Growth and nitrogen dynamics of spring chickpea genotypes in a Mediterranean-type climate. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 147, 445–458.Google Scholar
Koutroubas, S. D., Fotiadis, S. & Damalas, C. A. (2012). Biomass and nitrogen accumulation and translocation in spelt (Triticum spelta) grown in a Mediterranean area. Field Crops Research 127, 1–8.Google Scholar
Kumudini, S., Hume, D. J. & Chu, G. (2002). Genetic improvement in short-season soybeans. II. Nitrogen accumulation, remobilization, and partitioning. Crop Science 42, 141–145.Google ScholarPubMed
Le Gouis, J. (1993). Grain filling and shoot growth of 2-row and 6-row winter barley varieties. Agronomie 13, 545–552.Google Scholar
Le Gouis, J., Delebarre, O., Beghin, D., Heumez, E. & Pluchard, P. (1999). Nitrogen uptake and utilization efficiency of two-row and six-row winter barley cultivars grown at two N levels. European Journal of Agronomy 10, 73–79.Google Scholar
Leon, J. & Geisler, G. (1994). Variation in rate and duration of growth among spring barley cultivars. Plant Breeding 112, 199–208.Google Scholar
Mamolos, A. P., Veresoglou, D. S. & Barbayiannis, N. (1995). Plant species abundance and tissue concentrations of limiting nutrients in low-nutrient grasslands: a test of competition theory. Journal of Ecology 83, 485–495.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
May, L., Van Sanford, D. A., Mackown, C. T. & Cornelius, P. L. (1991). Genetic variation for nitrogen use in soft red×hard red winter wheat populations. Crop Science 31, 626–630.Google Scholar
Metzger, D. D., Czaplewski, S. J. & Rasmusson, D. C. (1984). Grain-filling duration and yield in spring barley. Crop Science 24, 1101–1105.Google Scholar
Moll, R. H., Kamprath, E. J. & Jackson, W. A. (1982). Analysis and interpretation of factors which contribute to efficiency of nitrogen utilization. Agronomy Journal 74, 562–564.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mou, B., Kronstad, W. E. & Saulescu, N. N. (1994). Grain filling parameters and protein content in selected winter wheat populations: II. Associations. Crop Science 34, 838–841.Google Scholar
Muurinen, S., Kleemola, J. & Peltonen-Sainio, P. (2007). Accumulation and translocation of nitrogen in spring cereal cultivars differing in nitrogen use efficiency. Agronomy Journal 99, 441–449.Google Scholar
Nass, H. G. & Reiser, B. (1975). Grain filling period and grain yield relationships in spring wheat. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 55, 673–678.Google Scholar
Ntanos, D. A. & Koutroubas, S. D. (2002). Dry matter and N accumulation and translocation for Indica and Japonica rice under Mediterranean conditions. Field Crops Research 74, 93–101.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ortiz-Monasterio, R., Sayre, K. D., Rajaram, S. & Mcmahon, M. (1997). Genetic progress in wheat yield and nitrogen use efficiency under four nitrogen rates. Crop Science 37, 898–904.Google Scholar
Papakosta, D. K. & Gagianas, A. A. (1991). Nitrogen and dry matter accumulation, remobilization, and losses for Mediterranean wheat during grain filling. Agronomy Journal 83, 864–870.Google Scholar
Penrose, L. D. J., Walsh, K. & Clark, K. (1998). Characters contributing to high yield in Currawong, an Australian winter wheat. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 49, 853–866.Google Scholar
Pospišil, A., Pospišil, M., Svečnjak, Z. & Matotan, S. (2011). Influence of crop management upon the agronomic traits of spelt (Triticum spelta L.). Plant Soil and Environment 57, 435–440.Google Scholar
Rahimizadeh, M., Kashani, A., Zare-Feizabadi, A., Koocheki, A. R. & Nassiri-Mahallati, M. (2010). Nitrogen use efficiency of wheat as affected by preceding crop, application rate of nitrogen and crop residues. Australian Journal of Crop Science 4, 363–368.Google Scholar
Rüegger, A. & Winzeler, H. (1993). Performance of spelt (Triticum spelta L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) at two different seeding rates and nitrogen levels under contrasting environmental conditions. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science 170, 289–295.Google Scholar
Rüegger, A., Winzeler, H. & Nösberger, J. (1990). Dry matter production and distribution of 14C-assimilates of spelt (Triticum spelta L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) as influenced by different temperatures before and during grain filling. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science 165, 110–120.Google Scholar
Schnyder, H. (1993). The role of carbohydrate storage and redistribution in the source-sink relations of wheat and barley during grain filling – a review. New Phytologist 123, 233–245.Google Scholar
Singh, V. P. & Arora, A. (2001). Intraspecific variation in nitrogen uptake and nitrogen utilization efficiency in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science 186, 239–244.Google Scholar
Stallknecht, G. F., Gilbertson, K. M. & Ranney, J. E. (1996). Alternative wheat cereals as food grains: Einkorn, emmer, spelt, kamut, and triticale. In Progress in New Crops (Ed. Janick, J.), pp. 156–170. Alexandria, VA, USA: ASHS Press.Google Scholar
Steel, R. G. D. & Torrie, J. H. (1980). Principles and Procedures of Statistics: A Biometrical Approach, 2nd edn, New York: McGraw-Hill.Google Scholar
Swain, D. K., Bhaskar, B. C., Krishnan, P., Rao, K. S., Nayak, S. K. & Dash, R. N. (2006). Variation in yield, N uptake and N use efficiency of medium and late duration rice varieties. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 144, 69–83.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tewolde, H., Fernandez, C. J. & Erickson, C. A. (2006). Wheat cultivars adapted to post-heading high temperature stress. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science 192, 111–120.Google Scholar
Troccoli, A. & Codianni, P. (2005). Appropriate seeding rate for einkorn, emmer, and spelt grown under rainfed condition in southern Italy. European Journal of Agronomy 22, 293–300.Google Scholar
Troccoli, A., Codianni, P., Ronga, G., Gallo, A. & Di Fonzo, N. (1997). Agronomical performance among farro species and durum wheat in a drought-flat land environment of southern Italy. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science 178, 211–217.Google Scholar
Van Ginkel, M., Ortiz-Monasterio, I., Trethowan, R. & Hernandez, E. (2001). Methodology for selecting segregating populations for improved N-use efficiency in bread wheat. Euphytica 119, 223–230.Google Scholar
Van Sanford, D. A. (1985). Variation in kernel growth characters among soft red winter wheats. Crop Science 25, 626–630.Google Scholar
Wardlaw, I. F. & Moncur, L. (1995). The response of wheat to high temperature following anthesis. I. The rate and duration of kernel filling. Australian Journal of Plant Physiology 22, 391–397.Google Scholar
Wiegand, C. L. & Cuellar, J. A. (1981). Duration of grain filling and kernel weight of wheat as affected by temperature. Crop Science 21, 95–101.Google Scholar
Yang, W., Peng, S., Dionisio-Sese, M. L., Laza, R. C. & Visperas, R. M. (2008). Grain filling duration, a crucial determinant of genotypic variation of grain yield in field-grown tropical irrigated rice. Field Crops Research 105, 221–227.Google Scholar
Zadoks, J. C., Chang, T. T. & Konzak, C. F. (1974). A decimal code for the growth stage of cereals. Weed Research 14, 415–421.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zahedi, M. & Jenner, C. F. (2003). Analysis of effects in wheat of high temperature on grain-filling attributes estimated from mathematical models of grain-filling. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 141, 203–212.Google Scholar
Zanetti, S., Winzeler, M., Feuillet, C., Keller, B. & Messmer, M. (2001). Genetic analysis of bread-making quality in wheat and spelt. Plant Breeding 120, 13–19.Google Scholar