Water relations, gas exchange characteristics, and the level of some metabolites in two cultivars of spring wheat under different N regimes

Twenty eight-day old plants of two spring wheat cultivars differing in salinity tolerance were subjected to varying levels of nitrogen (56, 112, and 224 mg N(.)kg(-1) soil) for 42 days. Both cultivars performed differently under varying soil N levels in terms of growth, and grain yield and yield components. Nitrogen levels, 112 and 224 mg(.)kg(-1) soil, caused maximal growth in Sarsabz and Barani-83, respectively. Cv Sarsabz maintained higher leaf water and turgor potentials, but lower leaf osmotic potential than those of Barani-83 at all external N regimes. Sarsabz had higher Ch1 a, Ch1 b and carotenoids contents in leaves than those in Barani-83 at 56 and 112 mg N(.)kg(-1) soil. Sarsabz had higher contents of leaf soluble proteins, soluble sugars, and free amino acids than those in Barani-83 at all external N levels. In Barani-83 net CO2 assimilation rate remained almost unchanged, whereas in Sarsabz it decreased consistently with increase in external N level. The better growth performance of Sarsabaz as compared I to Barani-83 under varying soil N levels except 224 mg N(.)kg(-1) soil was associated with maintenance of high leaf turgor potential but not with net CO2 assimilation rate.