Contributing traits for nitrogen use efficiency in selected wheat genotypes and corollary between screening methodologies

Nitrogen uptake being part of nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is largely decided by root traits. Root traits variability has hardly been explored by breeders mainly because of difficulties in scoring. The hydroponic system requiring lesser space for precise phenotyping of large numbers of genotypes independently of the growing season can be a suitable alternative. However, the effectiveness of hydroponic screening methods needs to be verified under the soil condition of the field or pot. In the present study, root traits and NUE were investigated in 19 genotypes under two conditions (hydroponic and pipe filled with soil). Both environments revealed large variability for root traits and NUE under high and low N conditions establishing the absence of any direct selection for these traits in the past. Under both sets of experimentation, NUpE was largely responsible for improved nitrogen efficiency mainly because of higher root biomass. The significant association between the two screening methods i.e. hydroponic and pot filled with soil under both low and high N condition support large scale screening for root traits under hydroponic condition.