Background Nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) play a very important role in growth and development of wheat as well as major constituents of biological membrane. To meet the plant nutritional demand these nutrients applied in the form of fertilizers. But plant can utilize only half of the applied fertilizer whereas rest is lost thorough surface run off, leaching and volatilization. Thus, to overcome the N/P loss we need to elucidate the molecular mechanism behind the N/P uptake.
Methods In our study, we used DBW16 (low NUE), and WH147 (high NUE) wheat genotypes under different doses of N, whereas HD2967 (low PUE) and WH1100 (high PUE) genotypes were studied under different doses of P. To check the effect of different doses of N/P, the physiological parameters like Total chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate, N/P content, and N/PUE of these genotypes were calculated. In addition, gene expression of various genes involved in N/P uptake, utilization, and acquisition were studied by quantitative real time- PCR.
Results Statistical analysis revealed a lower percent reduction in TCC, NPR, N/P content in N/P efficient wheat genotypes (WH147 & WH1100). A significant increase in relative fold expression of genes under low N/P concentration was observed in N/P efficient genotypes as compared to N/P deficient genotypes.
Conclusion Significant differences in physiological data and gene expression among N/ P efficient and deficient wheat genotypes could be useful for future improvement of N/P use efficiency.