EFFECT OF NITRATE APPLICATION ON SHOOT AND ROOT DEVELOPMENT OF WHEAT SEEDLINGS (TRITICUM-AESTIVUM L)

The experiment was conducted to describe the effect of a varying nitrate level on shoot and root development of young wheat plants. The plants grew up under controlled condition of a growth chamber for a period of 15 days after germination. Nitrogen was applicated as nitrate in three levels of 0.5; 2.5 and 12.0 mM N. Seedlings were harvested in a three day interval beginning 72 d after germination. The plants were dissected into shoot and root. Root morphology is described by number, length and area of main and lateral root system. The shoot development is characterized by leaf area and chlorophyll concentration. Especially the shoot growth was effected by varying nitrate application. The reaction of the root system on the nitrogen nutrition showed an indifferent situation. With higher N level the N uptake of all genotypes increased. Genotypic differences exists between the efficiency of nitrate uptake determined as N absorption per unit root parameter. The shoot is an important factor for the utilization and conversion of nitrate into dry matter.