Phosphorus Use Efficiency of Selected Wheat Genotypes Based on Morphological and Physiological Traits

ONE of the important limiting nutrients in Wheat production is Phosphorus (P) which is depleting rapidly and may be exhausted till 2050. So, it is important to screen crop genotypes which have ability to efficiently use applied P. Therefore, P-use efficiency (PUE) in farming systems is needed to improve. Thus, morphological and physiological traits evaluation of selected wheat landraces in enhancing phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) under adequate and limited phosphorus (P) application was studied. Thirty wheat landraces were acquired from Plant Genetic Resource Institute (PGRI), National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) Islamabad. Landraces were evaluated in a greenhouse experiment against two levels of P (20 and 100 mg kg-1 of soil). Plants were sampled after 50 days of sowing to evaluate agronomic and physiological parameters. Landraces 11635 and 11636 significantly improved agronomic and physiological parameters at both levels of P. Phosphorus uptake ability, dry matter, P concentration, and alkaline phosphatase activity in rhizospheric soil was enhanced. Wheat landraces 11634, 11635, 11008, 11636, 11353, 11356, 11358, 11360, 11362, 11645, 11364, 11640 and 11412 were recognized as P efficient due to improved PUE. Data analysis revealed significant variations (p <= 0.05) among wheat landraces for plant fresh h and dry weight, root and shoot length, P concentration, P uptake, PUE, and alkaline phosphatase activity. Evaluation of existing germplasm is a prerequisite to develop P efficient crop cultivars. There is a dire need to evaluate landraces under field conditions to develop low P input assessment criteria for development of P efficient wheat varieties.