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Nitrate Reductase Activity, Nitrogen Distribution, Grain Yield, and Grain Protein of Tall and Semidwarf Near-Isogenic Lines of Triticum aestivum and T. turgidum¹

Standard height ‘Chris’ and six near-isogenic semidwarf selections of hard red spring wheat (T. aestivum L. em Thell) and five pairs of durum lines (T. turgidum var. durum L.) near-isogenic for plant height were grown under non-lodging conditions. The objective was to determine if the semidwarf character affected nitrate reductase activity, distribution of reduced N, grain yield, or grain protein (percent and total). There were no significant differences among the hard red spring semidwarf selections for any of the measured characters. There were significant differences among pairs of durum lines for most of the measured characters. The gene or genes for semidwarfism did not significantly affect enzyme activity, distribution of reduced N, or any of the production parameters, with the exception that the semidwarf durum lines exhibited slightly higher percent grain protein values than their standard height counterparts. Significant correlations between nitrate reductase activity and grain yield or grain protein (percent or total) were noted. These data suggest that the effectiveness of nitrate reductase assays as a selection criterion should not be reduced in populations segregating for plant height.

Key Words: Nitrogen metabolism • Selection criteria

² Associate professor and professor, Agronomy Dep., North Dakota State Univ.; research geneticist, ARS/USDA; and associate professor, Agronomy Dep., North Dakota State Univ., Fargo, ND 58102.

Received for publication May 17, 1976.