Effects of the substituted A and B chromosomes of Triticum dicoccoides on the nitrogen, phosphorus and water use efficiencies in the 'Langdon' durum wheat -: (T-turgidum L. var. durum)

The set of durum wheat-T. dicoccoides substitution lines and their parents were investigated under high and low NPK nutrition to identify effects of the wild A and B chromosomes on the efficiency of nitrogen and phosphorus utilization (NUE, PUE), water use efficiency (WUE) and tolerance (T) of durum wheat to reduced nutrition during its vegetative growth. The dicoccoides chromosomes of the 1st, 4th and 5th homeologous groups were found to show the strongest influence on the nutrient efficiency and response to NPK shortage. Chromosomes 1A, 1B and 5B of I: dicoccoides might carry genes that exhibited the most positive effects on NLTE and PUE of the durum wheat, while 4A, 4B and 5A - genes that decreased the efficiency. Except of some positive (5B, 1A) and negative (2A, 4A, 6B) effects on WUE under optimal nutrition, dicoccoides chromosomes did not significantly alter WUE under stress. Results suggest that factors located on the chromosomes DIC-5A and DIC-7A might increase the tolerance of durum wheat to low NPY while chromosome DIC-1A might carry factors that suppress the tolerance.