Abstract
A lysimeter study was conducted on Cajeme wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to investigate the impact of salinity on protein and free amino acid content of the grain. Cross correlations were obtained between 16 different soil-plant-water based parameters and the concentration and total accumulation of amino acids.
The results indicated that after 3 years of irrigation, the majority of protein bound and free amino acids increased in concentration in the grain. However, both free tryptophan and free proline revealed decreasing concentrations with increasing salinity. Free tryptophan showed a synergism between total accumulation, yield and concentration. Free proline concentrations decreased in association with increasing protein concentrations.
Cross correlations of the 16 soil-plant-water based parameters with free and protein bound amino acids revealed significant correlations for free aspartic acid and glycine with total accumulation but not with concentrations. Only methionine plus cystine was lower than suggested FAO levels for essential amino acids and was lower in the third year than in the first year.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aspinall D and Paleg L G 1981 The physiology and biochemistry of drought resistance in plants. Ed. L G Paleg and D Aspinall. Academic Press, New York.
Chapman H D 1966 Diagnostic criteria for plants and soils. Div. Agri. Sci. University California, Berkeley.
Devitt D, Jarrell W M and Stevens K L 1981 Sodium-potassium ratios in soil solution and plant response under saline conditions. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 45, 80–86.
Jarrell W M and Beverly R B 1981 The dilution effect in plant nutrition studies, Adv. Agron. 34, 197–234.
Jury W A, Frenkel H, Fluhler H, Devitt D and Stolzy L H 1978 Use of saline irrigation waters and minimal leaching for crop production. Hilgardia 46, 169–192.
Labanauskas C K, Bingham F T and Antonio Cerda 1978 Free and protein amino acids, and nutrient concentrations in wheat grain as affected by phosphorus nutrition at various salinity levels. Plant and Soil 49, 581–593.
Labanauskas C K, Peter Shouse, Stolzy L H and Handy M F 1981 Protein and free amino acids in field-grown cowpea seeds as affected by water stress at various growth stages. Plant and Soil 63, 355–368.
Labanauskas C K, Stolzy L H and Handy M F 1981 Protein and free amino acids in wheat grain as affected by soil types and salinity levels in irrigation water. Plant and Soil 59, 299–316.
Mitchell G A, Bingham F T, Labanauskas C K and Yermanos D M 1976 Protein and free amino acid composition of sesame meal as affected by nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium nutrition. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. Vol. 40, 64–68.
Senft D 1986 Tracking salty soil, saving fresh water. Agricultural Research, U.S.D.A. A.R.S. 34, 7–10.
Stevens K L 1979 Water and Nutrient Relations of Wheat and Sorghum irrigated with Power Plant Waste Water. MS. Thesis, University California, Riverside.
Stewart C R and Hanson A D 1980 Proline accumulations as a metabolic response to water stress.In Adaptation of Plants to Water and High Temperature Stress. Eds. N C Turner and P J Dramer. John Wiley and Sons, New York.
Stewart I 1963 The effect of minor element deficiencies on free amino acids in citrus leaves. Am. Soc. Hort. Sci. 81, 244–249.
Waines J G, Labanauskas C K, Handy M F, Gill B S and Lehman W F 1978 Protein and amino acid profiles of normal and yellow-berry bread wheat Crop Sci. 18, 590–592.
World Health Organization Technical Report Series 1973 Energy and protein requirements. FAO/WHO ad hoc expert committee No. 522-WHO and No. 52-FAO, p. 63. Geneva.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Devitt, D.A., Stolzy, L.H. & Labanauskas, C.K. Impact of potassium, sodium, and salinity on the protein-and free amino acid content of wheat grain. Plant Soil 103, 101–109 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02370674
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02370674