Genotype-environment interaction and correlation between vegetative and grain production measures of potassium use-efficiency in wheat (T. aestivum L.) grown under potassium stress

Nutrient use-efficiency (NUE) is commonly measured in relation to vegetative growth without regard for economic productivity of crops whose valued product is reproductive. Although vegetative measures can be useful, particularly in forage crops, their validity in the quantification of NUE in grain crops is questionable. This study was undertaken primarily to examine the relationship between vegetative and economic potassium use-efficiency (KUE) in several wheat (T. aestivum) genotypes under conditions of potassium stress. Genotype environment interaction for vegetative KUE was also examined. Vegetative KUE was assessed as shoot fresh weight, efficiency ratio (VKER) and utilization index (VKUI) whereas economic KUE was evaluated as grain weight, total weight and economic efficiency ratio (EKER). Significant genotype-environment interactions for shoot weight, VKER and VKUI were observed. In some instances interaction was associated with crossovers between genotypes indicating that it can affect selection. Correlations between vegetative and economic measures of KUE were generally nonsignificant, but negative and significant for shoot weight of three-week-old plants and grain weight. It appears that if genotypes differ considerably for harvest index and it is not positively correlated with total biomass, vegetative measures of KUE are unreliable as indicators of economic KUE. Therefore, economic rather than vegetative measures should be used to evaluate KUE in crops whose valued product is reproductive. ei]{gnH}{fnMarschner} ei]{gnH.}{fnLambers}