Effect of nitrogen and water stress on photosynthesis and nitrogen content in wheat

Abstract

The relationships between photosynthesis, leaf nitrogen content and water stress were studied in ten genotypes of wheat differing in the presence of dwarfing genes. Net photosynthetic rate (PN) was mostly higher at ear emergence stage than at anthesis stage. PN decreased with water stress (leaf water potential from -2.0 to -2.5 MPa), and with reduced leaf N content in all genotypes studied. Among the various genotypes, single dwarf and wild types showed higher PN rate and maintained higher leaf N content under different N doses and water supply as compared to the other types studied.