Natural variation and morpho-physiological traits associated with water-soluble carbohydrate concentration in wheat under different nitrogen levels

Stem water-soluble carbohydrates (WSCs) are important plant traits influencing grain yields in wheat. However, the traits regulating WSCs storage, particularly under different nitrogen (N) levels are poorly addressed. This study investigated 35 morpho-physiological traits associated with the variation in WSC concentration (WSCc) in the main stem of eight wheat genotypes including two primitive genotypes under three N levels (0, 100, and 200 kg N ha−1). 28 traits were significantly, positively or negatively, correlated with the WSCc in all N levels, and 22 of them were consistent across N levels. Majority of the traits were positively correlated with WSCc suggesting that multiple traits regulate WSCc in wheat plants. However, few traits such as root:shoot ratio (RSR), stem nitrogen (SN), leaf nitrogen (LN), nitrogen per unit leaf area (NLA), total vegetative mass (VMASS), cellulose (CL), and hemicellulose (HC), were negatively correlated with WSCc. This suggests that plant N concentration was an important selective force driving WSCc in wheat. Indeed, a percent increase in leaf N concentration resulted in 28% lower WSCc. Direct selection estimated that higher VMASS, flag-leaf width (FLW), but lower RSR was adaptive and resulted in higher WSCc in low N level. In contrast, lower VMASS and FLW were adaptive and resulted in higher WSCc in high N level. Higher cellulose and hemicellulose were associated with lower WSCc suggesting that a reduced carbon flux to stem structural compounds may improve WSCc in wheat plants. Together, these results demonstrate that a specific suit of trait changes that evolve under N-specific selection increase main stem WSCc but the adaptive value of these changes varies among traits and N levels.

• We identified traits regulating WSCc under different nitrogen levels in wheat.
• Majority of traits were positively associated with WSCc except N-related traits.
• A percent increase in leaf N concentration resulted in 28% lower WSCc.
• Vegetative biomass, flag leaf, and root:shoot ratio predominantly regulate WSCc.
• A reduced carbon flux to stem structural compounds may improve WSCc.