Plants with improved nutrient use efficiency are needed to maintain and enhance future crop plant production. The aim of this study was to explore candidate traits for pre-breeding to improve nutrient accumulation and early vigor of spring wheat grown at high latitudes. We quantified shoot and root traits together with nutrient accumulation in nine contrasting spring wheat genotypes grown in rhizoboxes for 20 days in a greenhouse. Whole-plant relative growth rate was here correlated with leaf area productivity and plant nitrogen productivity, but not leaf area ratio. Furthermore, the total leaf area was correlated with the accumulation of six macronutrients, and could be suggested as a candidate trait for the pre-breeding towards improved nutrient accumulation and early vigor in wheat to be grown in high-latitude environments. Depending on the nutrient of interest, different root system traits were identified as relevant for their accumulation. Accumulation of nitrogen, potassium, sulfur and calcium was correlated with lateral root length, whilst accumulation of phosphorus and magnesium was correlated with main root length. Therefore, special attention needs to be paid to specific root system traits in the breeding of wheat towards improved nutrient accumulation to counteract the suboptimal uptake of some nutrient elements.

中文翻译：

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高纬度光照条件下春小麦早期活力和养分积累基因型变异的芽和根性状

需要具有提高的养分利用效率的植物来维持和提高未来农作物的产量。本研究的目的是探索预育种的候选性状，以提高高纬度春小麦的养分积累和早期活力。我们对在温室根际盒中生长 20 天的九种对比春小麦基因型的芽和根性状以及养分积累进行了量化。全株相对生长率与叶面积生产力和植物氮生产力相关，但与叶面积比无关。此外，总叶面积与六种常量营养素的积累相关，并且可以建议作为预育种的候选性状，以提高在高纬度环境中生长的小麦的养分积累和早期活力。根据感兴趣的养分，不同的根系特征被确定为与其积累相关。氮、钾、硫、钙的积累量与侧根长度相关，磷、镁的积累量与主根长度相关。因此，在小麦育种中需要特别注意特定的根系性状，以改善养分积累，以抵消某些营养元素的次优吸收。