Influence of Sulfur Nutrition on Quantitative and Qualitative Changes in Seeds of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

The present investigation explores the essentiality of sulfur in improving the yield and quality of wheat grains. Wheat plants were raised in sand culture under glass house conditions till maturity. Optimum growth was observed in plants supplied with 4.0 meq S L⁻¹. Reduction in biomass was observed in plants supplied with 1.0, 2.0, 6.0 and 8.0 meq S L⁻¹. Concentration of S was decreased in S deficient and increased in S excess plants in all plant parts. Deficient (1.0 and 2.0 meq S L⁻¹) and excess (6.0 and 8.0 meq S L⁻¹) supply of sulfur decreased the number and weight of spikes and seeds formed per plant. Number of seeds formed per spike was also reduced in S deficient and excess plants. Cysteine concentration was increased with increasing S supply in post harvested seeds. Carbohydrates and storage proteins (albumins, globulins, glutelins and prolamins) were found to be low in seeds of S deficient and excess plants in comparison to 4.0 meq S L⁻¹. This study indicated that the adequate level of S improved the yield and nutritive quality of wheat which is widely consumed as a cereal.