Cultivar diversity in the mineral content of wheat grain under different nitrogen regimes.

Abstract

Wheat is an important source of mineral nutrients in human diet. However, modern high-yield varieties have lost nutritional value relative to older ones. To correct this situation, we need to identify varieties with higher mineral concentrations in the grain and develop agronomic practices that favour nutrient accumulation in the grain. Here we compared nitrogen fertilization versus genetic variability as drivers of mineral content in the grain of wheat in Mediterranean semi-arid conditions, and alkaline soils. To do so, 12 winter wheat modern cultivars from different European provenance were grown on two consecutive years at three levels of top dressing N fertilization: optimal (105 Kg N ha-1); -50%; and +30%. The variety was the most important factor affecting the mineral concentration in the grain, followed by the climatology of the year. The N-regime had very little effect. The cultivar CH-Nara had both the highest Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn, N, P, S, and Zn and the lowest GY.