1Division of Plant Physiology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India
2Nuclear Research Laboratory, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India
*Corresponding author: E-mail: renu_iari@rediffmail.com
Low phosphorus (P) availability in soils and diminishing P reserves emphasize the need to create plants that are more efficient P users. A pot experiment was conducted to examine differences in P uptake and utilization efficiency of three cereals, viz. Triticale (Triticale octoploide cv DT-46) and its parents wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv PBW-34) and rye (Secale cereale L. cv. R-308), under two levels of P fertilization, i.e. 0 (P0) and 60 (P60) kg P2O5 ha−1. The number of tillers per plant was lesser at P0 compared to P60 in all the three species. The reductions were 13%, 37% and 50% for rye, wheat and triticale, respectively. The reduction in shoot and root dry matter was in order of 40 and 36% at P0 compared to P60 irrespective of the species. Root-to-shoot ratio at P0 was higher for wheat and rye than triticale. Root, shoot and total plant P uptake under P0 were 2.5, 1.5 and 1.6 fold lower, respectively compared to P60. The amount of dry matter produced per unit P uptake was higher in rye, though the P levels had no significant effect. Thus, it was observed that wheat was responsive to P application but rye was more efficient in utilization of P.
Dry matter, phosphorus utilization efficiency, rye, triticale, wheat
