Grain protein and grain yield as functions of dry matter, plant protein, and chlorophyll characteristics in elite international winter wheats by Mohamed Ali Al-Khawlani A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science i n Agronomy Montana State University © Copyright by Mohamed Ali Al-Khawlani (1986) Abstract: Wheat grain protein content is important for product utilization and nutritional qualities. Improving protein content is difficult because of the inverse relationship with grain yield. The relationship of dry matter, plant protein and chlorophyll characteristics to grain pfotein and grain yield was studied in 66 international winter wheats (Triticum aestivum L.). Field experiments include low, medium, and high N fertility regimes in 1984 and 1985. The cultIvars differed for all measured traits. A significant but low negative correlation between grain yield and percent grain protein was found only in 1984. This suggested simultaneous increases in grain yield and grain protein could be achieved by selection. Total plant protein was positively correlated with biological yield and grain yield, but not correlated with percent grain protein. Nitrogen harvest index (NHI) decreased with increasing soil N levels. High grain protein cultivars were more efficient than medium and low grain protein cultivars at any soil N level above 110 kg/ha. A positive correlation between nitrogen harvest index (NHl) and percent grain protein was found in 1985. Chlorophyll concentration during grain filling period was correlated with grain yield and total plant protein. High grain protein cultivars had longer chlorophyll duration after anthesis than low protein cultivars. Nitrogen harvest index, total plant protein, and chlorophyll duration after anthesis accounted for 88% and 94% in 1984, and 94% and 90% in 1985, of the total variation among cultivars in grain yield and percent grain protein, respectively. Simultaneous increases in grain yield and percent grain protein could be achieved by selecting for high total plant protein, high N-translocation efficiency, and longer chlorophyll duration after anthesis in wheat. GRAIN PROTEIN AND GRAIN YIELD AS FUNCTIONS OF DRY MATTER, PLANT PROTEIN, AND CHLOROPHYLL CHARACTERISTICS IN ELITE INTERNATIONAL WINTER WHEATS by Mohamed A li Al -Khawlani A thesis submitted in p a r t i a l f u l f i l l m e n t of the requirements f o r the degree Of Master o f Science in Agronomy MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY Bozeman, Montana May 1986 Vf fit tUsC . 2— APPROVAL of a thesis submitted by Mohamed Ali Al -Khawlani This thesis has been read by each member of the autho r's graduate committee and has been found to be s a t i s f a c t o r y regarding con ten t, English usage, for ma t, c i t a t i o n s , bi b li o g r a p h ic s t y l e , and consistency, and is ready fo r submission to the College of Graduate Studies. ^ Date . (U L L < ? -r^ Chairperson, Graduate Cqtipmittee Approved f o r the Major Department Date / f ^ Head, Major Department Approved fo r the College of Graduate Studies Date - Graduate Dean iii STATEMENT OF PERMISSION TO USE In presenting t h i s thesis in p a r t i a l f u l f i l l m e n t o f the requ ire­ ments f o r a master's degree at Montana State U n iv e r s it y , I agree that the Library shall make i t a v a i l a b l e to borrowers under rules of the Li b r a r y . B r i e f quotations from t h is paper are allowable without special permission, provided th at accurate acknowledgement of source is made. Permission f o r extensive quotation from or reproduction of th is paper may be granted by my major professor, or in his absence, by the Dean of L i b r a r ie s when, in the opinion o f e i t h e r , the proposed use of the material material is f o r sch ola rly purposes. in t h is paper f o r f in a n c i a l gain shall not be allowed without my w r i t t e n permission. Signature Date Any copying or use of the M n * p .f). iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the fo llowing: Dr. G. Allan Ta y lo r, my major ad vi so r, fo r his advice, f r ie nd sh ip , and encouragement through the course of t h is study. Dr. Jarvis H. Brown, Dr. C. F. McGuire, and Dr. John M. Martin fo r sharing t h e i r time, t h e i r advice, and t h e i r enthusiasm whil e serving on my committee. The World Bank and Food and A g ri c u l t u r e Organization f o r f in a n c i a l support that made t h i s program successful. My w i f e , F a t h i a , and son, Nabel, f o r t h e i r patience and love. V TABLE OF CONTENTS Page APPROVAL. ........................................................................................................................ Ii STATEMENT OF PERMISSION TO USE............................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.......................................................................... iv TABLE OF CONTENTS........................................................................................................... v LIST OF TABLES................................................................................................... .......... vi I LIST OF FIGURES............... Ix ABSTRACT............................................................................................... x INTRODUCTION....................................................................................... I LITERATURE REVIEW.................................................. 2 Nitrogen and Dry M a t t e r ............................ Chlorophyll Content..................................... MATERIALS AND METHODS................................................................................ C u l t i v a r s ...................................................................................................................... Experimental Design................................................................................................. Soil N i t r o g e n ............................................................................ Chlorophyll E s t i m a ti o n .......................................................................................... . Measurements......... ...................................................................................................... S t a t i s t i c a l Analyses.............................................................................................. 2 4 6 6 7 7 8 8 9 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION.......................... ..................................................................... 11 C u l t i v a r Va ri a t io n in Grain Protein and Other T r a i t s ........................ Relationships Among T r a i t s . . . . ......................................................................... Dry M a t t e r .............................................................................................................. Plant P r o t e i n ....................................................................................................... Chlorophyll Content...........................................................; ............................ Grain Yi el d and Grain Protein as Function of Several T r a i t s ....................................... 11 14 14 17 20 SUMMARY 25 29 vi TABLE OF CONTENTS--Continued : Page LITERATURE CITED................................... ............................ ............................................. 30 APPENDIX.................................................... .......................................................................... 34 vii LIST OF TABLES Tables 1. 2. 3• 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Page Names and o r i g in s of cul t i v a r s used....................................................... Co rrelation c o e f f i c i e n t s 6 (r) among t r a i t means of 66 cul t i v a r s over 3 soil N levels in two years............................... )4 Correlation c o e f f i c i e n t s among t r a i t s of 66 geno­ type means over 3 soil N levels in two ye ar s ................................... 21 M u l t i p l e regression analysis expressing percent grain protein and NHI as function of several t r a i t s ( 19 84 ).......................................................................................................... 25 M u l t i p l e regression analysis expressing percent grain protein and NHI as functions of several t r a i t s ( 1985) .......................................................................................................... 26 M u l t i p l e regression analysis expressing percent grain protein and grain y i e l d as functions of several t r a i t s f o r 66 cul t i v a r s ............................................................... 27 Mean squares of grain y i e l d and percent grain protein of three height groups of c u l t i v a r s combined over years and soi l nitrogen l e v e l s ....................................... 35 Mean squares of biolo gic al y i e l d and t o ta l plant protein of three height groups o f c u l t i v a r s combined over years and soil nitrogen l e v e l s ....................................... 36 Mean squares of chlorophyll concentration (mg/g FW) at anthesis and e a r l y dough of three height groups of c u l t i v a r s combined over years and soil nitrogen l e v e l s .................................................................................... 10. Mean squares of chlorophyll concentration at hard dough and chlorophyll duration of height groups of c u l t i v a r s combined over years and soi l nitrogen l e v e l s ................................................................................... 11. Eight t r a i t means of 22 winter wheat c u l t iv a r s ( t a l l group) grown at 3 s oi l N le vel s in 1984................................. 39 vi i i LIST OF TABLES--Continued Tables Page 12. Eight t r a i t means of 22 wint er wheat c u l t i v a r s (medium height group) grown a t 3 soi l N levels in 1984..................................................................................... 13. Eight t r a i t means of 22 wint er wheat c u l t i v a r s (short group) grown at 3 soil N levels in 1984......... ..................... 41 Eight t r a i t means of 22 win te r wheat c u l t i v a r s ( t a l l group) grown at 3 soil N levels in 1 9 8 5 . . ............................. 42 14. 15. Eight t r a i t means of 22 win te r wheat c u l t i v a r s (medium height group) grown at 3 soil N levels in 1985.......................................................................... 16. Eight t r a i t means of 22 winter wheat c u l t i v a r s (short group) grown at 3 soil N levels in 1985............................... 17. 18. 19. T r a i t means of 22 t a l l c u l t i v a r s grown in 1984 and 1985 at 6 soil N l e v e l s ........................................................................... 44 45 T r a i t means of 22 medium height c u l t i v a r s grown in 1984 and 1985 at 6 soil N l e v e l s ....................................................... 46 T r a i t means of 22 short c u l t i v a r s grown in 1984 and 1985 at 6 soil N l e v e l s .......................................... 47 i X LIST OF FIGURES Figures 1. 2. 3. 4. 5- 6. 7- 8. Page Frequency d i s t r i b u t i o n o f percent grain protein f o r 66 c u l t i v a r s at 3 soil N le vel s ( 1 9 8 4 ) ........................................ 12 Frequency d i s t r i b u t i o n of percent grain protein f o r 66 c u l t i v a r s at 3 soil N lev el s (1 985 ) ......... .............................. 12 The r e l a ti o n s h ip between grain y i e l d and grain protein (%) f o r high and low grain protein c u l t i v a r s over 3 soil N levels ( 1 9 8 4 ) ..................................................... 15 Grain protein (%) and harvest index f o r high and low grain protein c u l t i v a r s over 3 soil N levels ( 1 9 8 4 ) ...................................................................................................................... 16 N harvest index and grain protein (%) f o r high and low grain protein c u l t i v a r s over 3 soi l N le vel s ( 1985) ....................................................................................................... 18 N harvest index f o r 3 grain protein wheat groups at 6 levels of soil N.................................................................................... 19 Chlorophyll duration and grain protein (%) for high and low protein c u l t i v a r s over 3 soil N levels ( 1 9 8 4 ) ....................................................................................................... 24 Chlorophyll duration f o r high and low grain protein groups at 3 soi l N levels in two years ............................... 24 ABSTRACT Wheat grain protein content is important fo r product u t i l i z a t i o n and n u t r i t i o n a l q u a l i t i e s . Improving protein content is d i f f i c u l t because of the inverse r e l a ti o n s h ip with grain y i e l d . The r e l a ti o n s h ip of dry m a t t e r , plant protein and chlorophyll c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s to grain pt ot ei n And grain y i e l d was studied in 66 i n te rn at io na l win te r wheats^ (T rit ic um aestivum L . ) . Fi el d experiments include low, medium, and high N f e r t i l i t y regimes in 1984 and 1985. The c u l t i v a r s d i f f e r e d f o r a l l measured t r a i t s . A s i g n i f i c a n t but low negative c o r r e l a t i o n between grain y i e l d and percent grain protein was found only in 1984. This suggested simultaneous increases in grain y i e l d and grain protein could be achieved by se l e c t i o n . Total plant protein was p o s i t i v e l y corr el at ed with bio lo gi c al y i e l d and grain y i e l d , but not cor re la te d with percent grain p ro te in . Nitrogen harvest index (NHl) decreased with increasing soil N^ levels. High grain protein c u l t i v a r s were more e f f i c i e n t than medium and low grain protein c u l t i v a r s at any s oi l N level above HO kg/ha. A p o s it iv e c o r r e l a t i o n between nitrogen harvest index (NHl) and percent grain protein was found in 1985Chlorophyll concentration during grain f i l l i n g period was corre­ lated with grain y i e l d and t o t a l plant pr o t e i n . High grain protein c u l t i v a r s had longer chlorophyll duration a f t e r anthesis than low protein c u l t i v a r s . Nitrogen harvest index, t o t a l pla nt p r o t e i n , and chlorophyll duration a f t e r anthesis accounted f o r 88% and 94% in 1984, and 94% and 90% in 1985, of the t o ta l v a r i a t i o n among c u l t i v a r s in grain y i e l d and percent grain p r o t e i n , re sp e c t iv e ly . Simultaneous increases in grain y i e l d and percent grain protein could be achieved by sel ect in g fo r high t o t a l plant p r o t e i n , high N-t ran sl oca tio n e f f i c i e n c y , and longer chloro­ phyll duration a f t e r anthesis in wheat. I INTRODUCTION Wheat grains c o n s t i t u t e the stabl e food of a large proportion of the world population. Therefore, wheat protein represents a major source of protein fo r both humans ahd animals. important f a c t o r fo r both baking and n u t r i t i o n a l wheat. Grain protein is an properties of bread Increasing grain y i e l d and grain protein simultaneously is the ul ti m a t e goal fo r many wheat breeding programs around the world. The simultaneous improvement of grain y i e l d and grain protein is d i f f i c u l t because of t h e i r inverse r e l a t i o n s h i p . However, c u l t i v a r s with high grain y i e l d and high percent grain protein have been obtained (Johnson et a l . , 1967). This suggests improving both grain y i e l d and protein content by select ion is possible. Increased grain y i e l d and percent grain protein may be associated with increased use of nitrogenous f e r t i l i z e r s or increased e f f i c i e n c y in t ra nsl oca tin g nitrogenous compounds from ve g eta tiv e parts of the plant to the gr ai n. nitrogenous f e r t i l i z e r s Higher costs of in recent years have drawn a t t e n t i o n to the creation of genotypes with an improved e f f i c i e n c y of nitrogen u tilization (Austin et a l . , 1977). This study was conducted to examine the genetic v a r i a t i o n and the r el at io ns hi ps of characters related to grain y i e l d and percent grain protein in e l i t e inte rn at io na l win te r wheats. 2 LITERATURE REVIEW Nitrogen and Dry Matter Numerous in vestigators have reported s i g n i f i c a n t inverse r e l a t i o n ­ ships between grain y i e l d and percent grain protein in spring and wint er wheats (Terman et a l . , Busch, 1982). 1969; H a ll o r a n , 1981; B h at ia , 1975; L o f f l e r and The range o f c o r r e l a t i o n c o e f f i c i e n t s from - 0 . 4 8 to -0 .5 8 suggests no genetic l i m i t a t i o n s f o r improving both grain y i e l d and grain protein percentage in wheat. Stuber et al . ( 1962) reported high- y i e l d in g lines with high grain protein content were found in an F2 poput ion of a high x low protein wheat cross. This suggests simultaneous improvement of grain y i e l d and grain protein is possible. Wheat plants are known to accumulate most of t h e i r nitrogen in the v eg et a tiv e parts p r i o r to anthesis. developing grain a f t e r anthesis. The nitrogen is translocated to the McNeal e t a l . (1968) found the nitrogen content of ve g et a tiv e parts of seven spring wheat genotypes (leaves, stems, and head ch af f) decreased a f t e r anthesis, while grain nitrogen content increased. This is i n d i r e c t evidence f o r translocation of nitrogenous compounds from ve g et a tiv e organs to the developing grains. Translocation of labeled amino acids from culms to grains is d i r e c t evidence of mass tran sl oca tio n o f nitrogen to the grain (Mikesell et a l . , 1971). Nitrogen t ra nsl oca tio n e f f i c i e n c y represents the a b i l i t y of 3 genotype to t ra ns lo ca te nitrogenous compounds from the vege ta tive parts to the gr ains . The e f f i c i e n c y of p a r t i t i o n i n g of nitrogen between 3 straw and grains is expressed as nitrogen p a r t i t i o n i n g e f f i c i e n c y ( L o f f I e r and Busch, 1982), nitrogen tran sl oca tio n e f f i c i e n c y ( H a l loran and Lee, 1979 ), or nitrogen harvest index (Desai and Bhatia, 1978). It is calculated as the r a t i o of grain nitrogen to t o ta l plant ni tro g en S i g n i f i c a n t d iff ere nc es among wheat c u l t i v a r s were found fo r nitrogen tran sl oca tio n e f f i c i e n c y (Halloran and Lee, 1979; Dubois and F o s s a t i , 1981; L o f f l e r and Busch, 1982; L o f f l e r et a l . , 1985)• Halloran (1981) found nitrogen tran sl oca tio n e f f i c i e n c y decreased with increasing a v a i l a b i l i t y of soil nitr og en , but the high grain protein c u l t i v a r s remained highly e f f i c i e n t at high soil nitrogen le v e l s . L o f f l e r and Busch (1982) reported select ion f o r high nitrogen harvest index s i g n i f i ­ ca nt ly improved grain y i e l d in the progeny o f three crosses of hard spring wheat genotypes. Grain protein content s i g n i f i c a n t l y increased in one po pu lat io n, with no reductions in the others. Nitrogen t r a n s l o ­ cation e f f i c i e n c y can be an important c r i t e r i o n fo r improving grain yield (Dubois and Fossati , 1981) , or grain protein content (Halloran and Lee, 1979; L o f f l e r et a l . , 1985). Total plant nitrogen can be considered as an ind ic at or of the e f f i c i e n c y of nitrogen uptake (Desai and Bhatia, 1978). The phys iolog i­ cal basis f o r high grain y i e l d and high percent grain prot ein in wheat appeared to be associated with gr eat er nitrogen uptake. Increased to ta l plant nitrogen at maturity or more e f f i c i e n t and complete translocation o f nitrogenous compounds from the v e g et a ti ve plant parts to the grains are l i k e l y . Total plant nitrogen at m a tu r ity was p o s i t i v e l y correl ate d with grain y i e l d , but not s i g n i f i c a n t l y corr el at ed with grain protein content (Desai and Bhatia, 1978; Cox et a l . , 1985b; L o f f l e r et a l . , 4 1985) • This suggests select ion f or high t o t a l plant nitrogen could improve grain y i e l d without reducing percent grain p ro te in . al. Johnson et (1967) found nitrogen uptake and nitrogen tran sl oca tio n e f f i c i e n c y functions were separate and independent physiological systems in wheat pl ant s. Both t o ta l plant nitrogen and nitrogen tran sl oca tio n e f f i c i e n c y could be used in select ing wheat genotypes f o r e f f i c i e n t nitrogen u tilizatio n (Rao et a l . , 1977). Studies of c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s rela te d to nitrogen u t i l i z a t i o n provide useful information f o r parent selections and planned crosses. et a l . (1978) crossed two spring wheat genotypes with complementary values of t o t a l efficiency. high t o ta l efficiency. Edwards reduced plant nitrogen and nitrogen tran sl oca tio n The high grain protein progeny had a combination of both reduced plant nitrogen and high nitrogen t ra nsl oca tio n Bhatia (1975) concluded th at grain protein y i e l d per unit ground area provides a good selection c r i t e r i o n fo r improving protein p r o d u c t i v i t y in spring wheat c u l t i v a r s . McNeal et a l . (1982) also found selec tion f o r high grain protein y i e l d increased grain y i e l d and protein p r o d u c t i v i t y in the progeny of spring wheat crosses. Chlorophyll Content The negative association between grain y ie ld and percent grain protein is due in part to the competition between carbohydrate and protein accumulation fo r assimilates and energy in plants (Bhatia and Robson, 1976). Penning de Vries et a l . (197(0 concluded I g of glucose produced by photosynthesis in plants can be used to produce O.83 g of carbohydrate or 0.40 g of protein (assuming n i t r a t e to be the N source). 5 Increasing both grain y i e l d and grain protein content could be achieved by increasing photosynthetic output, by increasing the ra t e of photosyn­ t h e s i s , and by extending the period of photosynthetic a c t i v i t y (Bhatia and Robson, 1976). Cox et a l . (1985b) found .10 to 22% of the total plant nitrogen accumulated a f t e r anthesis. They concluded c u l t i v a r s with longer green tissue duration a s s im i la t e more nitrogen than c u l t i ­ vars with short green tissu e duration. Mikesell et a l . (1971) found s i m i l a r N content in f l a g leaves o f high and low protein wheat lines at anthesis. They reported removing the f l a g leaves at anthesis had l i t t l e e f f e c t on grain N content of low protein wheat l i n e s , but g r e a t l y decreased grain N content of high protein wheat l in e s. They concluded the v i a b i l i t y and longevity of f l a g leaves are important f o r high protein l in e s . anthesis. High protein lines continued as s im ila ti on of N a f t e r Neales et a l . (1963) examined the e f f e c t of l e a f removal at anthesis on grain N content. They found l e a f removal at anthesis reduced the N uptake and the grain N content at ma tu rit y. al. Spiertz et ( 1971) concluded from 61 to 8 l% of the v a r i a t io n of grain y ie ld could be s t a t i s t i c a l l y predicted by green area duration of f l a g l e a f and peduncle. Rahman (1983) found a p o s it iv e c o r r e l a t io n between net photo­ synthetic ra t e and chlorophyll content per u n i t l ea f area in couchgrass. 6 MATERIALS AND METHODS Cult ivars S i x t y - s i x c u l t i v a r s selected from four In te rn ati ona l Winter Wheat Nurseries (1980, 1981, 1983, 1984) were used in t h is study (Table I ) . Table I . Name Brule Grana Bezos. I AWl2399 Arina NE7060 Od I ssa-4 A t l a s -66 Lavr in-24 Lethb.32 Martonv.5 Purdue Blueboy Houser Jana Alcedo Au ra MV-6 Martonv. NS2699 Redwin Lancota Names and o r i g in s of c u l t i v a r s used. Name Origin USA,NE Poland USSR E . Germany Swit z e r . USA,NE USSR USA,IN Romania Canada Hungary USA,IN USA,NC USA,NY Poland E . Germany Finland Hungary Hungary Yugoslav ia USA,MT USA,NE Sutjeska Lavr in-32 Orov. F29-75 MV-7 Horosh. CA8055 NS-15-89A Katya a - I Feng-Kang Saiente F29-76 GK-Prot. CIemen t Doina WWP.4394 Bastion TX71A562-6 WW330 Chokwang Centurk MT 7811 Origin Yugoslavia Roman I a Yugoslavia Romania Hungary Japan China Yugoslavia Bulgaria Ch i na Italy Romania Hungary Netherlands Romani a Austria Netherlands USA,TX Australi a Korea USA,NE USA,MT Name Vratza Daws MV-22-27 Val a Stephens Ogosta WWP.4258 Vega NS2630-1 Sudova S. Loudog. Bounty Pai Yu P. NS2699 NE79Y90576 NSR-I Adams Inernio Trakia Marisml. PL V Norwin Origin Bulgaria USA,WA Hungary Czechs I . USA,OR Bulgaria Austria Bulgaria Yugoslavia Bulgaria Bulgaria England Ch i na Yugoslavia USA,NE Yugoslavia Austria Italy Bulgaria England USA,KA USA,MT The c u l t i v a r s were selected to provide a wide range of grain protein content, grain y i e l d , and genetic backgrounds. from 20 countries. The c u l t i v a r s ori gin at ed They were grouped by height into three groups to 7 reduce i n t e r p l o t competitibn with 22 c u l t i v a r s in each group: 75 - 85cm- - Short 85 ~ 95cm- - Medium >95 cm — T al l Experimental Design The t hree height groups were planted separately in a completely randomized block f i e l d experiment with s i x r e p l ic a te s per harvest in 1984 and 1985 near Bozeman. nitrogen l e v e l . spacing. The groups were randomized wit hi n each The c u l t i v a r s were planted in h i l l plots with 0.3 m T h i r t y seeds of each c u l t i v a r were planted in each h i l l Seeds were dropped in 3"4 cm deep holes dug with hoes. plot. Each r e p l i c a t e was surrounded by a short winter wheat c u l t i v a r to avoid shading. Soi I Nitrogen The soil contained HO and 22 kg/ha N03-N in one meter depth in 1984 and 1985 harvest y e a r s , re sp e c t iv e ly . three s oi l nitrogen lev el s in 1984 and 1985* no nitrogen added in both years (NO). The experiments included The f i r s t experiment had The second experiment had 85 and HO kg/ha nitrogen added as ammonium n i t r a t e (NH^NO^) and 1985, resp e ct iv e ly ( N i ) . in 1984 The t h i r d experiment had 170 and 220 kg/ha NHljNO3 added in 1984 and 1985, re sp e ct iv e ly (N2) . applied in mid-May. ( 34 - 0- 0 ) F e r t i l i z e r was These soi l nitrogen levels in two years tota led s i x soil nitrogen environments. 8 Chlorophyll Estimations The need to estimate chlorophyll concentrations in f l a g leaves of f i e l d grown wheat c u l t i v a r s required a nondestructive method of analy­ sis. Rahman ( 1983) suggested visual color ratings provide an estimate of chlorophyll content per un i t area. He found a p o s it iv e c o r r e l a t io n between visual color ratings and chlorophyll content per un i t area. A chlorophyll meter s i m i l a r to one used by Wallihan (1973) to estimate chlorophyll concentrations in leaves o f c i t r u s trees was used in t h is study. C a li b r a t io n of the chlorophyll meter included samples of leaves taken from 17 f i e l d grown wheat c u l t i v a r s . The leaves were selected to provide a wide range o f chlorophyll content on the basis of t h e i r color (dark green to y e l l o w ) . Light absorbance readings were taken by chlorophyll meter and chlorophyll concentrations were estimated by e xt r ac t io n (Arnon, 1949). P l o t t i n g chlorophyll concentration (mg/g fresh weight) against absorbance readings showed 91% of the t o t a l v a r i a t i o n in chlorophyll concentration could be s t a t i s t i c a l l y predicted by absorbance readings taken by chlorophyll meter. The chlorophyll meter provided a good estimate of chlorophyll concentration in wheats. Measurements Heading dates and plant height were recorded f o r each h i l l The heading date was the number of days from January I u n t i l heads in a plot were f u l l y out of the boot. plot. 50% of the Plant height was measured 9 in centimeters from the s oi l surface to t i p of the m a jo r it y of spikes w it h in a p l o t , excluding awns. Flag l e a f chlorophyll concentration of the 66 c u l t i v a r s was e s t i ­ mated using the chlorophyll meter during grain f i l l i n g period; four times in 1984 and f i v e times in 1985. Chlorophyll duration was the number of days from anthesis u n t i l 75% of f la g leaves in a pl o t turned yellow. The following data were recorded f o r each experimental u n i t : 1. Grain Protein Percentage (GPP) — amount of protein expressed as percent of the dry weight of the gr ai n. 2. Grain Yield (GY) — grain weight ( g / p l o t ) . 3. Biological Yi el d (BY) — t o t a l dry weight ( g / p l o t ) of aerial biomass including gr ai n. 4. Harvest Index (Hi) - - GY/BY. 5. Total Plant Protein (TPP) — amount of protein in the a e r i a l 6. (g/plot) biomass at mat ur ity including g r a i n . Grain Protein Yield (GPY) - - amount of protein (g/plot.) in the grain (GY x GPP). 7. Nitrogen Harvest Index ( N H l ) " - - GPY/TPP. Percent protein in the grain (Williams, 1979) and the straw were e s t i ­ mated using the Near Infrared Reflectance analyzer (NIR) ( Noaman et a l . , 1984). S t a t i s t i c a l Analyses Analyses of variance were computed f o r data from each year and combined over years and soi l nitrogen l e v e l s . The pooled mean square 10 e r r o r was used to t e s t the c u l t i v a r mean squares and the c u l t i v a r x environment in te ra c ti o n fixed. (McIntosh, 1983)• Al I factors were considered Phenotypic c o r r e l a t io n s among t r a i t s were computed f or each year using entry means over soi l nitrogen l e v e l s . The r e la tio ns hi ps among t r a i t s were analyzed using a m u l t i p le regression procedure (Meter and Vasserman, 131b) . The rela tio ns hi ps aalong t r a i t s were examined using only c u l t i v a r s consistent fo r high and low percent grain pr ot ei n. grain protein i f A c u l t i v a r had high i t ranked in the top 10 (of 66) in at le ast four of six soil N environments. A c u l t i v a r was considered low grain protein i f i t ranked in the lowest 10 (of 66) in at least four of s i x soi l N environ­ ments. The c u l t i v a r s were divided by percent grain protein content into three groups: High grain protein c u l t i v a r s - - >15% grain protein Medium grain protein c u l t i v a r s — 13-15% grain protein Low grain protein c u l t i v a r s — <13% protein grain RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Growing conditions d i f f e r e d between the two years of t h is study. Environmental conditions were ideal f o r wheat growth in 1984. The soil nitrogen was high (H O kg/ha) and water stress occurred only l a te in the grain f i l l i n g pe r io d . In the 1985 experiment the soil nitrogen was low (22 kg/ha) with the drought beginning at heading. Although i r r i g a t i o n was applied at heading in 1985» grain y i e l d was about 50% higher in 1984 (Tables 11-16, Appendix). C u l t i v a r V a ri a t io n in Grain Protein and Other T r a i t s The analyses of variance showed highly s i g n i f i c a n t d iff ere nc es fo r all t r a i t s among c u l t i v a r s w ithin each year and combined across years. S i g n i f i c a n t c u l t i v a r x environment i n te ra ct io ns were a t t r i b u t e d l ar ge ly to years rather than soil N le v e l s . C u l t i v a r mean squares were much l ar ge r than c u l t i v a r x environment in te ra ct io ns (Tables 7 - 10 , Appendix). In 1984, the check treatment (NO) soil nitrogen content was high (HO kg/ha). Nitrogen added to the soi l (NI and N2) caused no s i g n i f i c a n t changes in grain y i e l d , biolo gic al y i e l d , and to ta l pl ant p r o t e i n . Grain protein percentage s i g n i f i c a n t l y increased with increasing soil nitrogen. In 1985, the soil nitrogen content was low (22 kg/ha) check (NO) treatments. in the S i g n i f i c a n t d iff ere nc es fo r a l l measured t r a i t s were obtained among nitrogen l e v e l s . 12 I PROTEIN X Figure I . Frequency d i s t r i b u t i o n of percent grain protein f or 66 c u l t i v a r s at 3 soil N levels (1984). U 15 PROTEIN % Figure 2. Frequency d i s t r i b u t i o n of percent grain protein fo r 66 c u l t i v a r s at 3 soil N levels (1985). 13 This suggested genetic v a r i a b i l i t y in the e l i t e in te rn ati ona l w in te r wheats fo r grain y i e l d , percent grain pr o t e in ,.a n d other t r a i t s Percent grain protein of the 66 c u l t Ivars was symetrica11y evaluated. d i s t r i b u t e d around the means in 1984 f o r a l l (Figure I ) . three soi l nitrogen regimes The low protein c u l t i v a r s increased t h e i r protein content with increased soi l N, while few changes in grain protein content occurred in the high grain protein c u l t i v a r s . Although the analysis of variance revealed s i g n i f i c a n t d iff er en c es among soil N l e v e l s , the range of grain protein content was the same at three soil N lev el s (from 11 to 1 8 %). Percent grain protein o f the 66 c u l t i v a r s in 1985 was symetri c a l I y d i s t r i b u t e d around individual means f o r each of the three soil N levels (Figure 2 ) . pr o t e i n . Increased soi l N s i g n i f i c a n t l y increased mean percent grain The range and the v a r i a t i o n f o r percent grain protein were s i m i l a r at the three soi l N regimes. The s i g n i f i c a n t di ffe re nc es f o r grain protein content in 1984 and 1985 among c u l t i v a r s and the wide range of grain protein at a l l levels soil N (Figures I and 2) suggested d i f f e r i n g genetic ca p a c i ti e s for accumulation of protein in the g r ai n . This is supported by the high h e r i tab?I i t y of percent grain protein in wheat (Stuber et a l . , L o f f l e r and Busch, 1982; Cox et a l . , 1985a). 1962; Frequency d i s t r i b u t i o n s of grain protein content in the. 66 c u l t i v a r s approaching normality at a l l soil N levels could be an evidence f o r q u a n t i t a t i v e gene control of per­ cent grain protein in these c u l t i v a r s . 14 Relationships Among T r a i t s Dry■Matter P o si ti ve c o r r e l a t io n s were found between bio log ical y i e l d and grain yield in both years (Table 2 ) . protein were not c o r r e l a t e d . Biological y i e l d and percent grain Thus select ion fo r high bio lo gi c al y ie ld could improve grain y i e l d without reducing grain pr ot ei n. Significant increases in grain y i e l d without reduction in percent grain protein were achieved by select ion f o r biolo gic al y i e l d Table 2. ( L o f f l e r et a l . , 1982) . Co rrelation c o e f f i c i e n t s ( r ) among t r a i t means o f 66 c u l t i v a r s over 3 soil N levels in two years. Biological Yield Grain Yield Harvest Index % Grain Protein Total Plant Protein Grain Yield 0.96 sVsV + 0.97 A* (3 Harvest Index 0.14 ns 0.17 ns 0.42 * a - 0.06 ns - 0. 0 4 ns -0 .0 3 ns -0 .2 7 * - 0.09 ns - 0.76 AA - 0.20 ns Total Plant Protein 0.97 * * 0.97 AA 0.91 * * 0.96 AA 0.07 ns - 0 . 0 7 ns 0.13 ns 0.13 ns Grain Protein Yield 0.97 AA 0.95 AA 0.93 * * 0.97 * * 0.15 ns 0.01 ns 0.21 ns 0.16 ns 0,99 * * 0.03 ns -0 .2 4 ns • 0.19 ns - 0.11 ns 0.60 AA 0.52 * * 0.22 ns - 0.10 ns -0 .1 7 ns % Grain Protein N Harvest I ndex *, ** ns + @ 0.25 * = S i g n i f i c a n t at P<0.05 and <0.01, respe ctive ly = Not s i g n i f i c a n t =1984 = 1985 0.99 * * 15 The c o r r e l a t io n between grain y i e l d and grain protein percentage was negative and s i g n i f i c a n t in 1984, and not s i g n i f i c a n t in 1985 (Table 2 ) . Consistent high or low grain protein across environments is import­ ant in wheat breeding. Therefore, the rel ati on sh ip s among t r a i t s were examined using only c u l t i v a r s consistent for high and low grain p ro te in , delet ing the intermediate groups causing an increase in c u l t i v a r x environment i n te r a c ti o n s . The grain y i e l d and percent grain protein of high and low grain protein c u l t i v a r s are plot ted in Figure 3- PROTON X Figure 3. The r e l a t i o n s h ip between grain y i e l d and grain protein (%) fo r high and low grain protein c u l t i v a r s over 3 soil N levels (1984). Despite the negative c o r r e l a t i o n between grain y i e l d and grain p r o t e i n , c u l t i v a r s with high percent grain protein and reasonably high 16 grain y i e l d were i d e n t i f i e d (Figure 3 ) . The simultaneous improvement of both grain y i e l d and grain protein percentage could be achieved by se l e c t i o n . Si milar conclusions were reported by L o f f l e r et a l . (1985) and Hal Ioran (1981). Negative c o r r e l a t io n s between percent grain protein and harvest index of - 0 . 76* * and - 0.20 were noted in 1984 and 1985, res pe ctively (Table 2 ) . High grain protein c u l t i v a r s had low harvest index and vice versa (Figure 4 ) . Selection f or high harvest index to improve grain y i e l d could r e s u l t in reduced grain protein percentage. Sim ilar high negative c o r r e l a t io n s between harvest index and grain protein were e.se- 0.S4- PR O TD N X Figure 4. Grain protein (%) and harvest index for high and low grain protein c u l t i v a r s over 3 soil N levels (1984). 17 reported by McNea I et a l . (1968), Bhatia (1975), and L o f f l e r et a I . (1982). They suggested as HI increases, the biomass of v eg et a tiv e plant parts which serve as an N rese rvoir decreases. T he re fo r e, less nitrogen is a v a i l a b l e fo r t ra nsl oca tio n to the developing grains. Plant Protein Total plant protein accumulated in above-ground parts of the wheat plants was p o s i t i v e l y cor related with bio lo gi c al y i e l d and grain y i e l d , but not cor re la te d with percent grain protein in 1984 and 19&5 (Table 2). Selection f o r high t o t a l plant protein could increase grain y i e l d without decreasing grain pr o t e i n . Total plant protein was strong Iy associated with both grain y i e l d and grain protein y i e l d accounting fo r 83 to 98% of t h e i r v a r i a t i o n (r = 0.91 and 0 . 9 9 , re sp e c t iv e ly ; Table 2 ) . This is in agreement with Neales et a I . ( 1963) and Cox et a l . (1985b), Nitrogen harvest index is the genotype's a b i l i t y to p a r t i t i o n nitrogenous compounds between the grain and the v eg et a tiv e plant parts. The NHI values from 0.60 to O.83 are w it h in the range reported by Dubois and Fossati (1981) f o r winter wheat c u l t i v a r s . This range was higher than that reported by Halloran and Lee (1981), and L o f f l e r et a l . ( i g 8 5 ) , fo r spring wheat c u l t i v a r s . S i g n i f i c a n t p o s it iv e c or r el at io n s between NHI and harvest index of 0.60 and 0.53 were found in 1984 and 1985, r es pe ct ive ly (Table 2 ) . This suggests tran slo cat ion of carbohydrate and nitrogenous compounds are associated. protein (r = 0.25 P O . 05) The c o r r e l a t i o n between NHI and percent grain in 1985 was s i g n i f i c a n t but low, and not s i g n i f i c a n t in 1984 (Table 2 ) . Factors other than NHI are important f or 18 fjrain protein percentage. However, the high grain protein c u l t i v a r s had higher NHI than the low grain protein c u l t i v a r s T r 12 13 t 14 t 1» I (Figure 5)• * IS 17 Grain yi e l d t IS * It PROTEIN X Figure 5• N harvest index and grain protein (%) for high and low grain protein c u l t i v a r s over 3 soil N levels (1985). was not corr el at ed with NHI in e i t h e r year. A greater e f f i c i e n c y for tran sloc atio n of nitrogen to the grain should resul t in increased grain protein content at e x i s t in g grain y i e l d le v e l s . These r es u lt s are in contrast with those reported in other wheat studies (Cox et a I . , L o f f l e r et a l . , 1982). 1985; They found NHI was p o s i t i v e l y cor re la te d with grain y i e l d but not corr el at ed with grain p r o t e i n . They concluded select ion f or high NHI could increase grain y i e l d without reduction in grain p r o t e i n . However, Halloran and Lee (1979) suggested selection fo r 19 high NHI could increase grain protein content without changing grain yield. Nitrogen harvest index (%) for high, medium, and low grain protein c u l t i v a t e at six soil nitrogen levels is shown in Figure 6 . HIGH GRAIN PROTEIN CULTlVARS LOW GRAIN PROTEIN CULHVARS 260 + N O -6 5 N I- 85 N I- 84 N 2 -8 5 N 2 -8 4 SO IL N LEVELS + = kg/ha nitrogen ( a v a i l a b l e + added) Figure 6 . N harvest index fo r 3 grain protein wheat groups at 6 I evels of soil N. S im ila r nitrogen harvest index occurred in high, medium, and low grain protein c u l t i v a r s at low soi l nitrogen le ve ls . index decreased with increased soil nitro ge n. c u l t i v a r s were more e f f i c i e n t Nitrogen harvest The high grain protein in t ra nsl oca tin g N to the grain than low grain prot ein c u l t i v a r s above 110 kg/ha of soi l nitrogen. Separation of 20 high, medium, and low grain protein c u l t i v a r s on the basis of nitrogen harvest index could be achieved at any soi l N levels above 110 kg/ha. High soil nitrogen is required f o r the phenotypic expression of the genes c o n t r o l l i n g the nitrogen harvest index. reported by Halloran (1981) A s i m il a r conclusion was in a study of nitrogen harvest index of six spring wheat c u l t i v a r s a t d i f f e r e n t s oi l N le v e l s . He reported the high grain protein c u l t i v a r s maintained t h e i r high e f f i c i e n c y in tra ns­ locating N to the grain at high soil N l e v e l s . He suggested selection f o r high nitrogen harvest index should be conducted at high soil nitrogen le v e l s . Chlorophyll Content S i g n i f i c a n t d iff ere nc es among c u l t i v a r s f o r f l a g l e a f chlorophyll concentration (mg/gFW), estimated by a chlorophyll meter, occurred at anthesis, e a r l y dough, mid-dough, and hard dough in both years and combined over years (Tables 9 and 10, Appendix). declined progressively from anthesis to m a t u r it y . Chlorophyll content Although the range of chlorophyll content was very small at anthesis ( 2 . 1 1 to 2.79 mg/g FW), the range increased at the subsequent stages. The chlorophyll concen­ t r a t i o n s of 2.11 to 2.79 mg/g FW were w it h in the ranges reported by Purves and Barmore (1981), Thimann (1985)» and Wallihan ( 1973)• S i g n i f i c a n t diffe re nc es among c u l t i v a r s f o r chlorophyll duration were found in both years and combined over years (Table 10, Appendix). The range was 36 to 49 days in 1984 (Tables 11-13, Appendix) and 30 to 46 days in 1985 (Tables 14-15, Appendix). S i g n i f i c a n t d iff er en c es among soil nitrogen levels f o r c h l or op hy ll. c on te nt occurred in both years. 21 Chlorophyll content and chlorophyll duration decreased with added nitrogen (Tables 17-19» Appendix). Wide ranges of chlorophyll content in the f l a g leaves of the 66 c u l t i v a r s were,obtained at e a r l y dough, mid-dough, and hard dough (Tables 11- 16 , Appendix). Significant p o s it iv e c o r r e l a t io n s were found between f l a g l ea f chlorophyll concen­ t r a t i o n at e a r l y dough, mid-dough, and hard dough and bio lo gi c al y i e l d , grain y i & l d , t o t a l 1985 (Table 3) • plant p r o t e i n , and grain protein y i e l d in 1984 and S i g n i f i c a n t negative c o r r e l a t io n s occurred between chlorophyll content and percent grain protein in 1984, but not in 1985 (Table 3)• Harvest index was p o s i t i v e l y corr el at ed with chlorophyll content in 1984, but not in 1985. Table 3• Co rrelation c o e f f i c i e n t s among t r a i t s of 66 genotype means over 3 soil N levels in two years. BY GY HI GPP TPP GPY NHI C H L O R O PH YLL C O N C E N T R A T IO N : E.dough 0.42**+ 0.48**@ 0.50** 0.51** 0.40** 0 . 15ns -0.50** - 0 . 16ns 0.35** 0.49** 0.34** 0.48** - 0 . 06ns -0.27* M.dough 0.45** 0.4?** O. 51* * 0.49** 0. 32 * 0 . 12ns -0.49** - 0-. 15ns 0.37** 0.49** 0.35** 0.46** - 0 . 13ns - O . 39* * H.dough 0.40** 0.39** 0.46** 0.40** 0. 30 * 0 . 05ns -0.41** - 0 . 09ns 0. 33 * 0.42** 0.32* 0.38** - 0 . 06ns - O . 39* * - 0 . 18ns 0.29* - 0 . 22ns 0 . 28* - 0 . 23ns 0 . 05ns O. 39* * 0 . 07ns - 0 . 07ns 0.29* - 0 . 09ns 0.31* - 0 . 18ns 0 . 13ns D U R A T IO N : BY = Biological Y i e l d ; GY = Grain Y i e l d ; HI = Harvest Index; GPP = Grain Protein Percentage; TPP = Total Plant P r o t e i n , GPY = Grain Protein Y i e l d , NHI = Nitrogen Harvest Index * , * * = S i g n i f i c a n t at P<0.05 and P<0.01, respe ct ive ly ns = Not s i g n i f i c a n t + = 1-984; @ - 1985 22 Grain y i e l d was more p o s i t i v e l y associated with chlorophyll concen­ tration content. in the f l a g l e a f during grain f i l l i n g than with grain protein . Most of the carbohydrate a v a i l a b l e f o r grain f i l l i n g is dependent on size and duration of green tissu e during the grain f i l l i n g period. Only 5 to 10% of the carbohydrate formed before anthesis is a v a i l a b l e fo r r e d i s t r i b u t i o n to the grain (Lupton, 1968). However, nitrogen is mostly accumulated in the v eg et a tiv e plant parts p r i o r to anthesis and then translocated to the g r a i n . Only 10 to 22% of the t o t a l nitrogen is assimilated during the grain f i l l i n g a I . , 1985b). period (Cox et The photosynthesis of the f l a g l e a f in wheat makes a major con tri bu tio n of the carbohydrate to the developing grain (S p i e r tz et a l , 1971). The negative association between chlorophyll content and grain protein is i n d i r e c t evidence of the p o s i t i v e association o f breakdown of chlorophyll and l e a f pr o t e i n . Peoples et a l . (1980) reported ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBPCase) was the major l e a f storage protein as well as a major c a t a l y s t of CO2 f i x a t i o n . of the t o t a l soluble l e a f protein in wheat. associated with degradation of chlorophyll RuBPCase accounted f o r 60% RuBPCase degradation is (Hall et a l , 1978). Percent grain protein was not corr el at ed with chlorophyll concentration at three grain f i l l i n g stages in 1985 (Table 3 ) . Drought stress e a r l y in the growing season which led to e a r l y heading and ea r ly m a tu r ity may have been a f a c t o r . Nitrogen harvest index was neg atively cor re la te d with chlorophyll concentration at mid-dough and hard dough in 1985, but not in 1984 (Table 3 ) . This suggests high percent grain protein was not associated with higher concentration of chlorophyll at any growth stage. in the f l a g leaves Si m ila r conclusions were reported by Cox et a l . 23 (1985a). They found that c u l t i v a r s with lower percent green tissue (estimated k~] days a f t e r anthesis) translocated more N to the grain than c u l t i v a r s with higher percent green tiss ue . Chlorophyll duration estimated from anthesis to the complete yellowing of the fla g l e a f was s i g n i f i c a n t l y corr el at ed with bio log ical y i e l d and grain y i e l d in 1985 (r = 0.29 and 0.28 P<0.05, r e s p e c t i v e l y ) , but not in 1984 (Table 3 ) . Grain protein percentage was p o s i t i v e l y corr el at ed with chlorophyll duration in 1984 (Table 3) , but not in 1.985 • Although the c o r r e l a t io n c o e f f i c i e n t between chlorophyll duration and grain prot ein was low, the high grain pr otein c u l t i v a r s had longer chlorophyll duration than the low grain protein c u l t i v a r s (Figure 7)• The chlorophyll duration f o r high and low grain protein c u l t i v a r s at three soi l N levels f o r two years is shown in Figure 8. The high grain protein c u l t i v a r s had longer chlorophyll duration than low grain protein c u l t i v a r s at any level of soi l nitrogen in both 1984 and 1985. This indicates long chlorophyll duration is associated with high grain protein c u l t i v a r s . The importance of the longevity of f l a g leaves and high protein wheat was reported by Neales et a I . ( 1963) and Johnson e t a I . (1968). They concluded the rete nt ion of leaves is important f o r phenotypic expression of high protein in wheat. chlorophyll Diseases that damage the in the leaves would adversely a f f e c t the level of prot ein . Close association of l e a f rust resistance and high prot ein in wheat was reported by Haunold e t a l . (1962). 24 Figure 7• Chlorophyll duration and grain protein (%) fo r high and low protein c u l t i v a r s over 3 soil N levels (1984). HIGH GRAIN PROTEIN CULTIVARS LOW GRAIN PROTEIN CULTIVARS NI SOIL N LEVELS Figure 8. Chlorophyll duration for high and low grain protein groups at 3 soil N levels in two years. 25 Grain Yield and Grain Protein as Functions of Several T r a i t s Percent grain protein and grain y i e l d as an expression of several t r a i t s was examined using m u l t i p l e regression. The pred ic tio n of GPP including GY, NHI, and TPP as independent var ia bl es accounted for 93% and 90% of the t o t a l v a r i a t i o n o f GPP among c u l t i v a r s in 1984 and 1985, r es pe ct ive ly (Tables 4 and 5 ) . Both NHI and TPP had p o s i t i v e regression c o e f f i c i e n t s , whil e GY produced a negative regression c o e f f i c i e n t . given grain y i e l d l e v e l , Table 4. At a increasing both NHI and TPP could increase GPP. M u l t i p l e regression analyses expressing percent grain protein and NHI as functions of several t r a i t s (1984). Independent Variables Grain Protein (%) GY,TPP,NHI NHI GY,TPP,GPP NHI GPY,SPY . Regression Co e ff ic ie n ts BI B2 B3+ R2 -0.28 1.56 ** 15-40 0.83 0.06 0.03 ft* 0.60 — 0.93 O Dependent Va riable Aft I m cU : O 0.09 ft* A* GY = Grain Y i e l d ; TPP = Total Plant Pro tein ; NHI = Nitrogen Harvest Index; GPY = Grain Protein Y i e l d ; SPY = Straw Protein Yi el d + =Bl, B2, B3 = M u l t i p l e regression c o e f f i c i e n t s * * = S i g n i f i c a n t at P<0.01 The pr edict ion of NHI including GY, TPP, and GPP (Tables 4 and 5) as independent var ia bl es accounted f o r 60% and 73% o f the t o t a l v a r i a ­ tion among c u l t i v a r s in 1984 and 1985, re sp e ct iv e ly . 26 Table 5. M u l t i p l e regression analyses expressing percent grain protein and NHI as functions of several t r a i t s (1985). Dependent Va riable Independent Variables Grain Protein (%) GY,TPP1NHI NHI GY1TPP1GPP Regression Co e ff ic ie n ts BI B2 BB+ R2 -0 .8 1 4.40 18.20 0.90 AA AA 0.03 AA GPY1SPY NHI 0.06 AA 0.04 - 0 . 18 0.73 AA AA — .- 0 . 2 1 0.91 AA GY = Grain Y i e l d ; TPP = Total Plant Protein; NHI = Nitrogen Harvest Index; GPY = Grain Protein Y i e l d ; SPY = Straw Protein Yiel d + = BI, B2, BB = M u l t i p l e regression c o e f f i c i e n t s * * = S i g n i f i c a n t at P<0.01 Grain y i e l d gnd percent grain protein had p o s it iv e regression c o e f f i ­ c i e n t s , while t o t a l plant protein had a negative regression c o e f f i c i e n t . The pr edi ction of NHl using only grain protein y i e l d straw protein y i e l d (GPY) and (SPY) accounted f o r 93% and 91% of the t o ta l v a r i a ­ tion in 1984 and 1985, resp e ct iv e ly (Tables 4 and 5 ) . Grain protein y i e l d had a p o s it iv e regression c o e f f i c i e n t , while amount o f protein remaining in the straw had a negative regression c o e f f i c i e n t . This suggests that high e f f i c i e n c y of tra ns lo ca tin g N from the straw to the grain is associated with high grain y i e l d and high percent grain protein. M u l t i p l e regression equations expressing percent grain protein and grain y i e l d as functions o f several t r a i t s are shown in Table 6. The prediction, of percent grain protein included t o ta l plant p r o t e i n , NHI, 27 chlorophyll du rat io n, and grain y i e l d . This combination of independent v a r i a b l e s accounted f o r 94% and 90% of the t o t a l v a r i a t i o n grain protein in 1984 and 1985, re sp e c t iv e ly . in percent The grain y i e l d predic­ tion equation including t o t a l plant p r o t e i n , NHI, and chlorophyll dura­ tion accounted f o r 88% and 94% of the t o t a l v a r i a t i o n 1984 and 1985, re sp e c t iv e ly . in grain y i e l d in Total plant pr o t e i n , NHI, and chlorophyll duration were the most important va r i a b l e s in a l l pred ic tio n equations. None of the other t r a i t s measured met the required s i g n i fi c a n c e levels f o r entry into the equations. Table 6. M u l t i p l e regression analyses expressing percent grain protein and grain y i e l d as functions o f several t r a i t s f o r 66 c u I t ivars. Independent Variables+ Dependent Variable 2 Rz 1984 Grain Protein (%) Grain Yield TPP, NHI, ChL.D., GY TPP, NHI , ChL.D. 0.94 0.88 1985 Grain Protein (%) Grain Yield TPP, NHI, ChL.D., GY TPP, NHI-, ChL.D. 0.90 0.94 +TPP = Total Plant Protein; NHI = Nitrogen Harvest Index; ChL.D. Chlorophyl I Duration; GY = Grain Yield Selection fo r high NHI, high t o t a l plant p r ot ei n, and long chlorophylI duration could increase both grain y i e l d and grain protein percentage. Johnson et a l . (1967) reported nitrogen uptake and n Itrogen p a r t i t i o n i n g function as separate and independent physiological systems in the wheat p l a n t . Both NHI and t o t a l plant protein independently contributed to percent grain protein in the current study. Therefore, 28 inclusion of both characters in wheat genotypes through breeding should r e s u l t in higher grain y i e l d and higher grain protein content. Rao et a I . (1977) suggested that selection f o r e f f i c i e n t nitrogen u t i l i z a t i o n must include two or more factors simultaneously, such as high N uptake and high e f f i c i e n c y of tran sl oca tin g ve g et a tiv e nitrogen to the grain. 29 SUMMARY The low negative c o r r e l a t i o n between grain y i e l d and percent grain protein in t h i s study indicates simultaneous increases in grain y ie ld and protein content could be achieved by se l e c t i o n . analyses suggested th at increases in t o t a l plant protein may increase grain y i e l d without reducing percent grain p ro te in . content was associated with high NHI. Simple c o r r e l a t io n High grain protein Selection f o r high NHI at high soil nitrogen could increase percent grain protein without reducing grain y i e l d . Although s i g n i f i c a n t c o r r e l a t io n s were found between grain y i e l d , biol og ic al y i e l d , t o t a l plant protein and chlorophyll concentration in the f l a g leaves at three grain f i l l i n g fo r p r e d i c t i v e purposes. grain prot ein content. stages, the values were too low Chlorophyll duration was associated with high Separation of high and low grain protein c u l t i v a r s was possible by chlorophyll duration. The m u l t i p l e regression analyses suggested t o t a l pla nt p ro te in , NHI, and chlorophyll duration contributed to both high grain y i e l d and high percent grain p ro te in . Combining high NHI, high t o t a l plant p r o t e i n , and long chlorophyll duration in h yb ri d iz at io n could provide wheat c u l t i v a r s with high y i e l d and high protein content. 30 LITERATURE CITED 31 LITERATURE CITED Arnon, D . 1 . 1949. loxidase in B Copper enzymes in isolated chlor opl ast s. v u lg a r is . Plant Ph ysi ol . 24: 1-15. Polypheno- e ta Austin, R.B., M.A. Ford, J.A. Edrich, and R D. Blackwel I . 1977. The nitrogen economy of win te r wheat. J. Agric. S c i . oo. l5 9 l o / . Bhatia C.R. 1975. C r i t e r i a f o r e a r l y generation sel ect io n in wheat breeding programmes f o r improving protein p r o d u c t i v i t y . Euphytica 24:789-794. C.R. , a n d R. R o b s o n . 1976. B io e n e r g e t ic c o n s id e r a tio n m cereal breeding f o r protein improvement. Science 194:1410-1421 B h a tia , Cox, M.C., C.O. Qua I s e t , and D.W. Rains. 1985a. Genetic v a r i a t i o n fo r nitrogen a ss im ila t io n and t ra nsl oca tio n in wheat. I . Dry matter and nitrogen accumulation. Crop S c i . 25:430-435« Cox, M .C . , C.O. Qua I s e t , and D.W. Rains. 1985b. Genetic v a r i a t i o n for nitrogen as s im ila ti on and t ra nsl oca tio n in wheat. I I . Nitrogen a ss im ila t io n in r e l a t i o n to grain y i e l d and p ro te in . Crop S c i . 25:435-440. Desai, R.M., and C.R. Bhatia. 1978. Nitrogen uptake and nitrogen harvest index in durum wheat c u l t i v a r s varying in t h e i r gram protein concentration. Euphytica 27:561-566. Dubois, J . B . , and A. F o s s a t i . 1981. Influence of nitrogen uptake and nitrogen p a r t i t i o n i n g e f f i c i e n c y on grain y i e l d and grain protein concentration of twelve win te r wheat genotypes { T r i t i c u m a e s t i v u m L.). Z . P f lanzenzucht. 86:41-49. Edwards, I . B . , J.A. Mey, and M. van der Mey. 1978. Use of a physio­ logic model f o r g e n e t i c a l l y improving grain protein in wheat. Cereal Foods World 23=596-600. H a l l , N . P . , A.J. Keys, and M.J. M e r re tt . 1978. Ribulose 1,5 diphos­ phate carboxylase protein during f l a g l e a f senescence. J. Exp. Bot. 29:31-37H a l l o r a n , G.M. 198I . C u l t i v a r d if f er en c es in nitrogen t ra nsl oca tio n in wheat. Aust. J. A g r i c . Res. 32:535-544. Ha ll o r a n , G.M., and J.W. Lee. 1979. Plant nitrogen d i s t r i b u t i o n wheat c u l t i v a r s . Aust. J. Agric. Res. 30:779-789« in 32 Haunold, A . , V. A. Johnson, and J.W. Schmidt. 1962. V a ri a t io n in protein content of the grain of four v a r i e t i e s of T f i t i c u m a e s t i v u L. Agron. J. 5^:121-125. m Johnson, V . A . , P.J. Mattern, and J.W. Schmidt. 1967Nitrogen r e l a ­ tions during spring growth in v a r i e t i e s of T r i t i c u m a e s t i v u m L. d i f f e r i n g in grain protein content. Crop S c i . 7:664-66?. Johnson, V . A . , J.W. Schmidt, and P.J. Mattern. 1968. f o r b e t t e r protein impact. Econ. Bot. 22:16-25. Cereal breeding L o f f l e r , C.M., and R.H. Busch. 1982. Selection fo r grain p ro te in , grain y i e l d , and nitrogen p a r t i t i o n i n g e f f i c i e n c y in hard red spring wheat. Crop S c i . 22:591~595« L o f f I e r , C.M., T.L. Rauch, and R.H. Busch. 1985. Grain and plant protein rela tio ns hi ps in hard red spring wheat. Crop S c i . 25:521-524. Lupton, F.G.H. 1969. Estimation of y i e l d in wheat from measurement of photosynthesis and tran sl oca tio n in the f i e l d . Ann. Appl. Biol. 64:363-374. McIntosh, M.S. 1983. 75:153-155. Analysis of combined experiments. Agron. J. McNeal, F . H . , G.O. Boatwright, M.A. Berg, and C.A. Watson. 1968. Nitrogen in plant parts of seven spring wheat v a r i e t i e s at successive stages of development. Crop S c i . 8:535-537. McNeal, F . H . , C.F. McGuire, and D.L. Klindworth. 1982. Agronomic and q u a l i t y c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of spring wheat lines selected f o r protein content and protein y i e l d . Euphytica 31=377-381. Mikesel I , M.E., and G.M. Paulson. 1971. Nitrogen t ra nsl oca tio n and the role of individual leaves in protein accumulation in wheat grain. Crop S c i . 11:919-922. Neales, T . F . , M.J. Anderson, and I . F . Wordlaw. 1963. The ro le of the leaves in the accumulation of nitrogen by wheat during ear develop­ ment. Aust. J. Agric. Res. 14:725-736. N e t e r , J . , and W. Wasserman. 1974. Applied l i n e a r s t a t i s t i c a l models. Regression, analysis of variance, and experimental designs. Richard D. Ir w i n , Inc. Homewood, I l l i n o i s . Noaman, M.M., G.A. T ay lo r , and C.F. McGuire. 1984. The use of NIR f o r estimation of N/ protein at various growth stages in wheat. American Soc. Agronomy Ab s tr . November 25-30, Las Vegas, NV. 33 Penning de V r i e s , F . W . T . , A.H.M. Brunsting, and H.M. van Laar. 1974. Products requirements and e f f i c i e n c y of biosynthesis: A q u a n ti t a ­ t i v e approach. J . Theor. B i o l . 45:339~377Peoples, M.B., V.C. B e il h a r z , S.P. Waters, R.J. Simpson,and M.J. _ B a ll in g . I960. Nitrogen r e d i s t r i b u t i o n during grain growth in wheat { T r i t i c u m a e s t i v u m L . ) . I I . Chloroplast senescence and the degradation of ribulose-1,5~bisphosphate carboxylase. Planta 149:241-251 . Purvis, A . C., and C.R. Barmore. 1981. Involvement of ethylene in chlorophyll degradation in peel of c i t r u s f r u i t s . Plant Physiol. 68:854-856. Rahman, M.S. 1983. Relationship between visual colour r at in g and chlorophyll content, photosynthetic r a t e , and some growth c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s in couchgrass ( c y n o d o n s p p . L . ) . J. Agric. S c i . 100:221-225. Rao, K . P . , D.W. Rains, C.O. Qualset, and R.C. Huffaker. 1977- Nitrogen n u t r i t i o n and grain protein in two spring wheat genotypes d i f f e r i n g in n i t r a t e reductase a c t i v i t y . Crop S c i . 17:283-286. S p i e r t z , J . H . J . , B.A. ten Hag, and L . J . P . Kupers. 1971. Relation between green area duration and grain y i e l d in some v a r i e t i e s of spring wheat. Neth. J . Agric. S c i . 19:211-222. Stuber, C.W., V.A. Johnson, and J.W. Schmidt. 1962. Grain protein content and i t s re la tio ns hi ps to other plant and seed characters in the parents and progeny of cross of T r i t i c u m a e s t i v u m L. Crop S c i . 2 : 506- 508. Terman, G . L . , R.E. Ramig, A . F. D r e i e r , and R.A. Olson. 1969- Y i e l d protein rela tio ns hi ps in wheat grain as af fe cte d by nitrogen and water. Agron. J. 61:755-759. Thimann, K.V. 1985. The senescence of detached leaves o f tropaeolum. Plant Physiol. 79:1107-1110. Wallihan, E.F. 1973. Portable r e f le c ta n ce meter f o r estimating chlorophyll concentrations in leaves. Agron. J. 65:659"o62. W ill ia m s, P.C. 1979. Screening wheat f o r protein and hardness by near IR r ef le c ta nc e spectroscopy. Cereal Chem. 56:169-172. APPENDIX 35 Table 7. Mean squares of grain y i e l d and percent grain protein of three height groups of c u l t i v a r s combined over years and soil n i t r o ­ gen le v e l s . Percent Grain Protein Grain Yield d .f. Source I Year(Y) Nitrogen (N) 2 YxN 2 \ Short Tal I Medi urn 178200 131.6 48.61 140.5 AA AA AA AA 63.4 68.8 115.8 AA AA AA . 37.4 21.6 41.7 . AA AA AA 0.53 0.52 Tal I Medi urn Short 193300 ** 187300 ** 284.9 ns 294.3 ns 56.2 ns 134.3 ns 41.0 ns 130.9 ns 0.564 BLK/N/Y 30 118.7 142.3 111.0 Cult ivqr (C ) ' 21 1124 ** 2694 2202 54.0 36.8 29.6 A* AA AA AA AA YxC 21 42 NxC Y x N x C Pooled Error ns 42 630 390.6 ** 1294 780.6 6.8 7-4 6.4 AA AA AA AA AA 72.4 ns 99.9 ns 129.8 ns 0.89 I .76 1.9 AA AA AA 106.3 ns 89.1 ns 133.0 ns 0.99 1.3 1.21 AA AA AA 96.06 88.21 88.26 0.369 0.273 0.238 S i g n i f i c a n t a t P<0.01 Not s i g n i f i c a n t 36 Table 8. Mean squares of bio lo gic al y i e l d and t o ta l plant protein of three height groups of c u l t i v a r s combined over years and soil nitrogen le ve ls ., Biological Yield d .f. Source T al l Percent Grain Protein Medi urn Short Tal l Medi urn Short I 1373000 ftft 114000 ft* 998800 ft* 5936 ft* 5333 ** 4505 ft* Nitrogen (N) 2 233.4 ns 4343 ftft 488.1 ns 2.46 ns 30.3 ftft 11.9 ft YxN 2 4203 ftft 1335 ns 846.9 ns 17.9 ft 2.7 ns 6.7 ns Year(Y) ■ BLK/N/Y 30 696.4 657-5 859.8 5.0 3.9 3.5 Cult i v a r ( C ) 21 4809 ft* 12910 ft*. 110600 ftft 36.8 ft* 68.1 Aft 66.4 ft* YxC 21 1879 ft* 5542 ftft 3851 ** 17.4 ft* 26.8 ft* 25.2 Aft NxC 42 392.1 ns 568.4 ns 544.6 ns 2.4 ns 3.1 ns 3.9 ftft Y x N x C 42 441.8 ns 505.3 ns 552.1 ns 3.2 ns 3. 0 ns 4.3 ft* 630 476.7 428.0 416.8 2.65 2.47 2.38 Pooled Error Af ns ft f t = = S i g n i f i c a n t at P<0.05 and P<0.01, res pe ct iv e ly . Not s i g n i f i c a n t 37 Table 9. Mean squares of chlorophyll concentration (mg/g FW) at anthesis and e a r l y dough of three height groups of c u l t i v a r s combined over years and soil nitrogen le ve ls . Chlorophyll Concentration Anthesis Source Year (Y) Nitrogen (N) d .f. I 2 2 YxN Tal I Medi urn ____ Short. ________ E. Dough Medi urn Short 1.42 ns 0.052 ns 0.103 ns Tal I 11.93 17.79 18.42 A* AA AA 0.582 ** 0.18 0.475 17-9 25.4 37-7 AA AA AA AA AA 0.635 0.439 0.301 6.84 9.29 6.16 AA AA AA AA AA AA BLK/N/Y 30 0.0534 0.029 0.031 0.27 0.497 0.337 C u l t i v a r s (C) 21 0.2273 0.274 0.347 2.25 2.85 3-75 AA AA AA AA AA AA 0.019 ns 0.068 0.90 0.792 0.727 1.13 AA AA AA AA AA 0.0196 ns 0.0185 ns 0.0265 ns . 0.318 0.326 0.364 AA AA AA 0.0221 ns 0.0313 ns . 0.0236 ns 0.137 0.238 0.274 AA AA AA 0.0224 0.0239 0.0233 0.0626 0.10 0.07 21 YxC NxC 42 Y x N x C 42 Pooled Error ** ns 630 S i g n i f i c a n t at P<0.01 Not s i g n i f i c a n t 38 Table 10. Mean squares of chlorophyll concentration at hard dough and chlorophyll duration of three height groups of c u l t i v a r s combined over years and soil nitrogen le v e l s . Chlorophyll d .f. Source I Year (Y) Nitrogen (N) YxN 2 2 Medi urn Short 2190 AA 4558 AA 5208 AA 1.74 554.7 243-5 548.5 AA AA AA AA 9.34 112.3 241.9 AA AA AA 4.58 6.45 4.66 Medium Short 4.21 3-57 AVe AA 1. 6 8 * 2.78 4.60 AA AA 8.88 AA 8.81 AVe Tall Chlorophyll Duration (mg/g FW) T al l . . 113.6 AA BLK/N/Y 30 0 .2 58 0.229 0.225 Cu lti v ar s( C ) 21 4.01 4.86 6.77 145.2 64.2 97.6 AA AA AA AA AA AA 0.877 1.13 0.814 40.1 AA AA AA 81.2 AA 75.2 AA 0.183 0.273 22.6 AA 37.2 AA 0 .2 18 AA 26.5 AA AA AA 0.311 0.265 0.384 24.7 29.7 32.5 AA AVe AA AA AA AA 0.0843 0.0739 0.0714 4.61 4.69 4.7 YxC 21 42 NxC 42 Y x N x C Pooled Error *. AVc 630 S i g n i f i c a n t at P<0.05 and P<0.01, re sp e ct iv e ly . AA 39 Table 11. Eight t r a i t means of 22 win te r wheat c u l t i v a r s grown at 3 soi l N levels in 1984. ( t a l l group) Chlorophyll Concent. E. Dough M. Dough H. Dough ChL.D. TPP NHI 8.1 11.6 9.0 10.4 10.0 5.1 10.4 . 7-3 9. 8 6.9 ?.l 7-8 7-3 7. 9 7-1 9. 0 10.8 8. 6 10.3 10.7 0.74 0.76 0.78 0.77 0.78 0.79 0.77 0.77 0.81 0.78 0.75 0.74 0.80 0.78 0.76 0.77 0.76 0.74 0.75 0.77 0.73 0.75 1.92 2.30 1.91 2.24 2.22 1.48 I .94 1.72 2.18 0.74 2.00 I .82 1.92 2.01 2.30 2.15 1.54 2.10 1.95 I .41 2.17 1.95 1.38 1.30 0.77 1.18 1.10 0.32 0.81 0.69 1.10 0.16 0.85 0.65 0.83 0.89 1.34 1.12 0.50 1.00 1.04 0.46 1.26 0.96 0.145 0.561 0.178 0.324 0.299 0.035 0.068 0.067 0.218 0.051 0.110 0.011 0.262 0.257 0.710 0.388 0.305 0.280 0.196 0.255 0.419 0.253 44.5 41.8 41.8 42.2 40.7 42.3 41.6 40.2 40.6 44.4 42.3 43.2 42.3 41.7 41.1 40.0 37.4 41.3 42.8 42.8 44.8 46.2 13-9 9-0 0.77 1.90 0.89 0.245 42.1 19.0 3.2 17^6 5. 0 LSD.05 5.2 0.2 0. 9 0.02 0.12 0.12 0.076 1.0 LSD.Ol 7.3 0.3 1.2 0.30 0.16 0.17 0.107 1.3 GY GPP Brule (USA,NE) Grana (Poland) Bezost. I (USSR) AW12399 (E.Germ.) Arena ( S w i t z e r l . ) NE7060 (USA,NE) Odi ssa-4 (USSR) Atl as- 66 (USA,IN) Lavrin24 (Romania) Lethb.32 (Canada) Martonv.5 (Hungary) Purdue (USA,IN) Blueboy (USA,NC) Houser (USA,NY) Jana (Poland) Alcedo (E.Germ.) Aura (Finland) MV-6 (Hungary) Mar tonv. (Hungary) NS2699 (Yugoslav.) Redwin (USA,MT) Lancota (USA,NE) 50.2 59.2 55.3 62.4 47-5 49.4 49.9 25.4 60.0 38.2 50.7 37.8 56.6 54.5 47-2 48.2 41.5 49.0 59.0 49.2 49.4 51.4 12.7 12,5 14.0 14.4 14.9 16.7 15.4 15.3 14.1 14.9 14.5 13.5 12.8 11.1 11.7 12.1 13.0 13-7 13.8 13.5 15.2 15.7 Means 49-6 C.V. C u lti v ar s 9.7 9.9 11.1 7-5 18.7 GY = Grain Y i e l d ; GPP = Grain Protein Percentage; TPP = Total Plant Protein; NHI = Nitrogen Harvest Index; ChL.D. = Chlorophyll Duration 4.1 Table 12. Eight t r a i t means of 22 w in te r wheat c u l t i v a r s (medium height group) grown at 3 soil N levels in 1984. Chlorophyll Concent. GY GPP Sutj esk a(Yugos.) Lavrin^32(Romania) Orov.(Yugoslavia) F29~75(Romani a) MV-7(Romania) Horosh(Japan) CA8055(China) NS-15-89A(Yugosl.) K a t i a - I (Bulgaria) Feng-Kang(China) Saiente(Ita ly ) F29-76(Romania) GK-Prot. (Hungary) Clement(NetherId.) Doina(Romania) WWP.4394(Austria) Bastion(Nether I d .) TX71A562-6(USA,TX) WW330(Australia) Chokwang(Korea) Centurk(USA,NE) MT 7811(USA,MT) 51.7 45.3 21.7 64.2 49.5 62.0 47.3 39.1 41.1 33.1 38.7 51.8 39.4 55.5 45.7 41.3 23.4 69.1 27.0 13.8 1-3.3 14.2 13.1 13.1 13.4 13.8 14.0 Cu lti va rs TPP NHI E. Dough M. Dough H. Dough ChL.D, 66.0 17.2 13.1 12.9 16.2 11.2 13.0 14.7 12.5 11.9 13.1 15.6 13.8 13.3 9.4 7.5 4.1 10.9 8.3 10.6 . 8.4 7.2 7-3 7.6 6.5 . 8.5 8. 0 8.1 7-5 7-7 3.9 10.2 4.9 6.1 12.0 11.1 0.76 0.80 0.76 0.76 0.78 0.79 0.78 0.75 0.76 0.74 0.78 0.78 0.80 0.77 0.79 0.79 0.75 0.80 0.73 0.74 0.79 0.79 2.07 I .90 1.55 2.15 1.96 2.15 1.82 1.95 1.88 1.15 1.63 2.20 1.53 2.35 1.82 1.89 1.99 1.74 1.93 0.88 1.97 2.28 0.292 1.02 0.69 0.103 0.058 0.34 1.12 0.236 0.75 0.045 1.04 0.275 0.61 0.045 0.83 ■ 0.099 0.134 0.79 0.26 0.058 0.045 0.49 1.00 0.281 0.080 0.32 1.010 1.43 0.75 0.171 0.265 0.79 0.316 1.00 0.149 0.55 0.149 0.77 0.20 0.087 0.380 0.90 1.26 0.477 41.5 43.5 43.6 42.2 42.9 43.3 44.8 43.0 45.3 46.8 42.2 43.1 44.5 42.4 45.7 45.7 44.0 43.9 44.6 46.3 42.2 44.4 Means 45-9 13-7 8. 0 0.77 1.85 0.77 0.216 43.9 C.V. 20.0 2.9 19.1 5.6 LSD.05 5. 0 0.2 0. 8 0.02 0.12 0.11 0.062 1.0 LSD.Ol 7-1 0.3 I .2 0.03 0.17 0.15 0.088 1.3 29.0 66.9 13.6 11.6 8.8 1,6.7 GY = Grain Y i e l d ; GPP = Grain Protein Percentage; TPP = Total Plant P r o t e i n ; NHI = Nitrogen Harvest Index; ChL.D. = Chlorophyll Duration 4.0 Table 13. Eight t r a i t means of 22 w in te r wheat c u l t i v a r s grown at 3 soil N levels in 1984. (short group) Chlorophyll Concent. Cult i v a r s TPP M. Dough H. Dough 0.22 1.16 0.65 0.94 1.02 1.04 0.87 0.20 0.73 I .00 1.10 1.20 0.20 0.56 0.13 0.55 1.20 0.011 0.329 0.156 0.251 0.238 0.293 0.144 0.79 0.79 0.81 1.34 2.25 1.78 2.08 2.14 2.14 1.97 1.31 1.95 2.09 2.24 2.24 1.05 1.57 0.68 1.71 2.06 1.81 I .92 2.46 1.20 2.19 0.79 1.83 NHI GY GPP 33.6 59.2 5.2 8.4 8. 8 8.4 7-2 9.2 7-3 6.1 10.2 8.2 13-6 6. 8 7-3 8.9 6.4 5.7 7. 6 3.1 7.4 5.7 8.5 9. 9 0.82 0.80 0.76 0.79 0.82 0.79 0.81 0.80 0.79 0.79 0.75 0.80 0.79 0.78 0.83 0.77 0.82 0.76 E. Dough ChL.D. 0.77 1.36 0.36 1.16 0.011 0.278 0.054 0.084 0.369 0.226 0.443 42.7 42.5 42.1 42.4 40.9 44.6 41.9 43-9 42.8 43.6 44.3 40.3 46.3 42.6 43.7 44.8 42.9 44.0 44.0 41.5 45.6 42.2 0.77 0.196 43.2 Vratza (Bulgaria) Daws (USA1WA) MV-22-27 (Hungary) Vala (Czechslov.) Stephens (USA1OR) Ogosta (Bulgaria) WWP.4258 (Austria) Vega (Bulgaria) NS2630-1 (Yugosl.) Sudova S. (Bulgar.) Loudog. (Bulgaria) Bounty (England) Pai Yu P. (China) NS2699 (Yugoslav.) NE79Y90576 (USA1NE) NSR-I (Yugoslavia) Adams (Austria) Inernio ( I t a l y ) Trakia (Bulgaria) Marisml. (England) PL V (USA1KA) MT 7877 (USA1MT) 53.1 48.9 55.1 49.4 34.3 58.6 50.2 71.9 43.7 37.7 51.7 40.0 31.0 48.2 18.3 44.9 35.5 38.6 61.1 13-4 11.4 13.2 12.5 12.1 13.2 12.0 14.1 13-7 12.7 14.0 12.5 15.2 13.4 13-2 14.2 13-0 12.9 13-3 12.8 17.3 13.1 Means 41.2 13.3 7.7 C.V. 22.2 3.0 19.5 LSD.05 5.0 0.2 0.8 0.02 0.12 0.11 0.056 1.0 LSD.01 7-1 0.3 1.2 0.03 0.18 0.15 0.079 1.4 50.6 0.80 4.0 12.4 0.71 9-3 0.050 0.120 0.192 0.466 0.363 0.033 0.186 0.030 16.4 GY = Grain Y i e l d ; GPP = Grain Protein Percentage; TPP = Total Plant Protein; NHI = Nitrogen Harvest Index; ChL.D. = Chlorophyll Duration 4.1 42 Table 14. Eight t r a i t means o f 22 w int er wheat c u l t i v a r s grown at 3 soil N levels in 1985. ( t a l l group) Chlorophyll Concent. E. Dough M. Dough H. Dough 0.77 0.78 0.78 0.77 0.75 0.80 0.77 0.80 0.81 0.78 0.79 0.76 0.78 0.78 0.72 0.74 0.75 0.81 0.76 0.78 0.77 0.75 I .99 2.09 1.90 2.04 2.17 1.89 2.04 1.95 2.03 1.58 2.02 1.76 I .98 I .98 2.11 2.09 2.10 1.97 0.677 1.050 0.463 1.043 0.910 2.00 1.32 1.61 0.96 1.58 1.73 1.15 1.47 1.48 1.48 0.77 1.41 0.92 1,23 1.43 1.84 1.70 1.74 1.36 1.37 1.24 1.69 1.3,0 3.5 0.77 1.99 1.40 0.827 2.8 10.6 5-4 6.7 1.5 0.2 ; 0.2 0.02 0.07 0.10 0.096 0.7 2.1 0.3 0.3 0.03 0.10 0.14 0.135 1.0 GY GPP TPP NHI Brule (USA,NE) Grana (Poland) Bezost.l (USSR) AWl2399 (E.Germ.) Arena ( S w i t z e r l . ) NE7060 (USA,NE) Odissa-4 (USSR) At las-66 (USA,IN) Lavrin24 (Romania) Lethb.32 (Canada) Martonv.5 (Hungary) Purdue (USA,IN) Blueboy (USA,NC) Houser (USA,NY) Jana (Poland) Alcedo (E.Germ.) Aura (Finland) MV-6 (Hungary) Martonv. (Hungary) NS2699 (Yugoslav.) Redwin (USA,MT) Lancota (USA,NE) 17.5 25.8 20.2 22.7 16.3 18.4 17,6 13.8 19.3 11.8 19.2 13.2 15.7 22.6 20.8 19.0 16.0 20.6 13.6 21.0 16.3 13.3 13.7 14.1 15.6 15.2 16.1 15.6 18.3 14.1 14.7 14.8 14.2 14.4 13.5 13.0 13.7 14.9 14.5 13.8 14.1 16.1 15.6 3-0 4.5 3.7 4. 5 3-3 3.7 3-6 3.2 3.4 2.2 3-6 2. 5 2.9 4.0 3.7 3.6 3.2 4.2 3.8 2. 4 4.4 3.4 Means 18.4 14.7 C.V. 14.4 LSD.05 LDS.01 Cu lti va rs 23.2 1.99 1.93 2.13 12.8 ChL.D. 0.663 0.753 1.050 0.803 0.190 0.583 0.523 0.817 0.767 1.383 1.223 1.233 O.683 0.713 0.650 1.280 0.743 21.0 GY = Grain Y i e l d ; GPP = Grain Protein Percentage; TPP = Total Plant Protein; NHI = Nitrogen Harvest Index; ChL.D. = Chlorophyll Duration 40. I 39.3 37.6 37-6 37.1 43.2 39-3 38.9 40.7 38.0 37.6 42.5 40.7 40.9 34.0 35.4 32.6 36.8 40.7 38.7 40.4 40.8 38.8 3.3 43 Table 15. Eight t r a i t means of 22 w in te r wheat c u l t i v a r s (medium height group) grown at 3 soil N levels in 1985. Chlorophyll Concent. TPP NHI E. Dough M. Dough H. Dough 0.847 0.860 0.897 0.697 0.963 0.650 0.307 0.990 0.747 0.050 0.473 0.877 0.533 1.260 0.373 0.357 0.187 0.580 1.070 39.9 42.3 38.7 41.5 34.8 39.6 39.8 41.6 41.9 33.2 39.0, 38.7 38.3 37.1 41.5 41.3 34.5 38.3 40.2 38.4 40.0 40.0 0.693 39.1 ChL.D. GY GPP 13.2 13.2 18.5 14.2 21 .4 11.4 18.5 10.9 9-9 13.1 15.5 16.0 16.8 13.6 14.8 9.5 17.8 10.5 12.1 18.3 22.0 2. 6 13.3 4.0 13.5 14.0 2.3 3.5 14.5 2.5 13.7 13.5 3.9 2. 0 14.0 3.3 13-9 13.4 1.9 15.0 1.9 2.4 13-7 13.8 2.9 15,8 3.1 2.9 12.9 14.1 2.5 2.9 15.7 13.2 . 1.7 3.2 13.8 13.6 1.9 2.4 15.7 3.4 13.7 4. 6 15.1 0.75 0.78 0.81 0.76 0.77 0.75 0.78 0.78 0.76 O.78 0.76 0.74 0.83 0.76 0.77 0.82 0.75 0.77 0.78 0.78 0.74 0.72 2.13 1.89 2.01 1.95 1.89 1.31 2.02 2.04 1.19 1.81 2.05 1.98 2.08 1.95 1.95 1.82 1.75 1.80 1.51 1.84 2.03 1.46 1.42 1.29 1.29 1.02 1.25 0.67 1.53 1.48 0.38 1.19 1.44 I .22 1.69 1.33 1.48 1.64 1.03 0.78 0.51 1.03 1.50 15.2 14.2 2. 8 0.77 1.87 I .21 12.8 2.4 13.3 LSD.05 1.1 0.2 0.2 0.02 0.13 0.09 0.085 0.7’ LSD.Ol 1.5 0.3 0.3 0.03 0.18 0.13 0.120 1.0 Cult i v a r s Sutjeska (Yugos.) Lavrin-32 (Romania) Orov. (Yugoslavia) F29-75 (Romania) MV-7 (Romania) Horosh (Japan) CA8055 (China) NS-15-89A (Yugosl.) K a t i a - I (Bulgaria) Feng-Kang (China) Saiente ( I t a l y ) F29-76 (Romania) GK-Prot. (Hungary) Clement ( N et he r ld .) Doina (Romania) WWP.4394 ( Austria) Bastion ( N et h er ld .) TX71A562-6 (USA1TX) WW330 ( A u s t r a l ia ) Chokwang (Korea) Centurk (USA1NE) MT 7811 (USA1MT) Means C.V. . 23.0 4.4 2.08 12.4 14.0 1.320 0.613 0.700 22.4 GY = Grain Y i e l d ; GPP = Grain Protein Percentage; TPP = Total Plant Protein; NHI - Nitrogen Harvest Index; ChL.D. = Chlorophyll Duration 3.3 Table 16. Eight t r a i t means of 22 w in te r wheat c u l t i v a r s grown at 3 soil N levels in 1985. (short group) Chlorophyll Concent. E. Dough M. Dough H. Dough 1.07 0.327 0.820 0.547 0.787 0.640 0.883 0.193 0.357 0.527 0.890 1.377 O.O83 0.680 0.170 0.400 ChL.D. GY GPP TPP NHI Vratza (Bulgaria) Daws (USA,WA) MV-22-27 (Hungary) Vala (Czechslov.) Stephens (USA,OR) Ogosta (Bulgaria) WWP.4258 ( Austria) Vega (Bulgaria) NS2630-1 ( Yugosl.) Sudova S. (Bulgar.) Loudog. (Bulgaria) Bounty (England) Pai Yu P. (China) NS2699 (Yugoslav.) NE79Y90576 (USA,NE) Adams (Au stria ) Inernio ( I t a l y ) Trakia (Bulgaria) Marisml. (England) PL V (USA,KA) MT 7877 (USA,MT) 15.5 21.0 19.4 20.0 20.5 13-9 12.0 16. 6 13.5 21.9 13-9 11.1 16.6 11.0 12.6 25.3 12.1 12.7 9.5 11.2 21.8 14.0 13.3 13.4 13-2 13-7 14.4 14.2 14.5 13-7 14.3 13.9 15.8 13.6 14.6 14.0 14.7 13.6 13-6 14.2 16.1 14.3 2.8 3.6 3-5 3.6 3-5 2.6 2 .1 3.1 2.4 4.2 2.5 2-3 2.9 2.1 2.3 4. 6 2.1 2.2 1.9 2.3 4.4 0.79 0.77 0.74 0.73 0.79 0.80 0.80 0.78 0.80 0.75 0.77 0.78 0.79 0.78 0.77 0.81 0.81 0.79 0.69 0.77 0.71 1.91 1.99 1.93 1.82 2.05 I .96 1.61 1.88 1.90 1.79 1.95 1.22 I .99 1.53 1.81 2.00 1.96 1.99 1.54 1.97 0.37 1.32 0.78 1.22 1.62 1.06 1.17 1.71 0.71 1.43 Means 16.2 14.2 3-0 0.77 1.85 1.20 C.V. 12.6 1.9 11.5 3.4 7.4 LSD.05 1.1 0.2 0.2 0.01 0.08 0.07 0.078 0.7 LSD.Ol 1.6 0.2 0.3 0.02 0.11 0.12 0.111 1.0 Cu lti va rs 1.83 1.42 I .05 1.52 I .42 1.35 0.88 0.97 1.23 1.39 1.63 13.2 1.117 0.297 0.500 1.363 0.370 0.927 0.637 22.5 GY = Grain Y i e l d ; GPP = Grain Protein Percentage; TPP = Total Plant Protein; NHI = Nitrogen Harvest Index; ChL.D. = Chlorophyll Duration 39.1 39.3 37.6 38.7 38.2 37.9 36.2 37-7 41.3 41.7 33.6 35.2 38.6 37.9 38.8 39-8 31.5 40.7 32.6 39.7 40.8 38.0 3.3 45 Table 17. Soil N Levels T r a i t means of 22 t a l l c u l t i v a r s grown in 1984 and 1985 at 6 soil N le v e l s . Chlorophyl I Concent. Anth. E.D. M.D. H.D. ChL.D. 2.45 2.36 1.15 0.27 44.2 0.779 2.50 1.78 I .04 0.22 42.1 8.8 0.763 2.52 1.57 1.57 0.20 40.0 0.2 0.9 0.028 0.05 0.15 0.14 0.08 0. 8 0.05 0.5 2.0 0.058 0.11 0.30 0.28 0.16 1.7 17-9 0.45 13.8 3.1 0.784 2.23 2.08 1.42 0.80 39.4 NI-(ISZ) 19-9 0.43 14.9 3.8 0.774 2.35 2.02 1.46 0.84 39.2 N2-(242) 17.3 0.43 15.5 3.5 0.756 2.17 1.86 1.31 0.77 37-8 LSD.05 0.7 0.05 0.2 0.1 0.014 0.06 0.06 0,05 0.06 0.3 LSD.01 1.5 0.10 0.3 0.2 0.029 0.12 0.12 0.10 O'. 1.3 0. 7 GY HI GPP TPP NHI NO-(IlO)+ 50.7 0.39 13.8 9.2 0.756 N I - ( 1 95) 49.8 0.41 13.9 8.9 N2-(280) 48.4 0.38 14.0 LSD.05 4.7 0.02 LSD.01 9-7 NO-(22) 1984 1985 GY = Grain Y i e l d ; HI = Harvest Index; GPP = Grain Protein Percentage; TPP = Total Plant Protein; NHI = Nitrogen Harvest Index; E.D. = Early Dough; M.D. = Medium Dough; HvD. = Hard Dough; ChL.D. = Chlorophyll Duration + = Kg/ha Soil Nitrogen ( a v a i l a b l e + added) Table 18. Soil N Levels T r a i t means of 22 medium height cult!vans grown in 1984 and 1985 a t 6 soil N le v e l s . Chlorophyl I Concent. Anth. E.D. M.D. H.D. ChL.D. 2.49 2.38 0.99 0.25 45.5 0.787 2.51 1.74 0.86 0.18 44.3 8.3 0.753 2.54 1.43 1.44 0.14 41.9 0.2 0.6 0.022 0.05 0.17 0.16 0.06 0. 8 0.05 0.5 1.3 0.045 0.10 0.36 0.33 0.13 1.6 13.6 0.44 13.3 2,3 0.774 2.22 2.00 1.33 0.58 39.4 NI - ( 132) 15.8 0.44 14.4 3.0 0.764 2.29 1.83 1.21 0.57 38.6 N2-(242) 16.1 0.44 14.8 3.1 0.766 2.16 1.77 1.15 0.61 39-3 LSD.05 0.3 0.01 0,1 0.1 0.01 I 0.04 0.13 0.05 0.07 0.3 LSD.01 0.5 0.02 0.2 0.2 0.023 0.08 0.27 0.11 0.14 0. 7 GY HI GPP TPP NHI NO- (IlO)+ 45.1 0.42 13-4 7-7 0.776 N I -(1 9 5) 46.7 0.43 13.7 8.0 N 2 -(280) 46.0 0.39 13.9 LSD.05 3.9 0.02 LSD.01 8.0 NO-(22) 1984 ; 1985 GY = Grain Y i e l d ; HI = Harvest Index; GPP = Grain Protein Percentage; TPP = Total Plant Protein; NHI = Nitrogen Harvest Index; E.D. = Early Dough; M.D. = Medium Dough; H.D. = Hard Dough; ChL.D. = Chlorophyll Duration + = Kg/ha Soil Nitrogen ( a v a i l a b l e + added) Table 19. Soil N Levels T r a i t means of 22 short c u l t i v a r s grown in 1984 and 1985 at 6 soil N le v e l s . Chlorophyll Concent. Anth. E.D. M.D. H.D. ChL.D. 2.50 2.38 I .01 0.22 45.2 0.800 2.58 1.71 0.93 0.17 42.9 7.8 0.779 2.55 1.39 1.38 0.14 41.4 0.2 0.8 0.025 0.04 0.08 0.09 0.04 0. 7 0.05 0.4 1.7 0.051 0.08 0.16 0.19 0.08 1.4 15.5 0.45 13.3 2.5 0.788 2.25 2.06 I .36 0.63 39.3 NI -(1 3 2 ) 16.8 0.43 14.4 3.1 0.773 2.31 1.91 1.19 0.53 37-0 N2-(242) 16.2 0.44 15.1 3.2 0.756 2.18 1.57 1.04 0.38 37.8 LSD.05 0.6 0.01 0.1 0.1 0.013 0.04 0.06 0.05 0.03 0.3 LSD.01 1 .2 0.02 0,3 0.2 0.026 0.08 0.13 0.10 0.07 0. 7 GY HI GPP TPP NHI NO- (IIO)+ 47-1 0.44 13.1 7.7 0.800 NI -(1 9 5) 46.2 0.44 13.3 7.7 N 2 - (280) 45.7 0.41 13.6 LSD.05 4.6 0.03 LSD.01 9-6 NO-(22) 1984 1985 GY = Grain Y i e l d ; HI = Harvest Index; GPP = Grain Protein Percentage; TPP = Total Plant Prot ein ; NHI = Nitrogen Harvest Index; E.D. = Early Dough; M.D. = Medium Dough; H.D. = Hard Dough; ChL.D. = Chlorophyll Duration + = Kg/ha Soil Nitrogen ( a v a i l a b l e + added) MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES stks N378.AI49 Grain protein and grain yield as functio 3 1762 00512055 3 "'"In N37R Afbg cot ) . 2