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Crop Research

Linking nitrate reductase activity with yield resilience of wheat genotypes under late-sown heat stress conditions


DOI: 10.31830/2454-1761.2026.CR-1102    | Article Id: CR-1102 | Page : 260-268
Citation :- Linking nitrate reductase activity with yield resilience of wheat genotypes under late-sown heat stress conditions. Crop Res. 61: 260-268
KAMLA DHYANI JAKHMOLA, SARVESH SUYAL, HITENDRA KUMAR, KIRAN BHARTI, INDIRA RAUTELA AND PRATIBHA BALUNI hitendrakumar@sgrru.ac.in
Address : Department of Horticulture, School of Agricultural Sciences, Shri Guru Ram Rai University, Dehradun-248001, Uttarakhand, India
Submitted Date : 19-03-2026
Accepted Date : 18-04-2026
Online Published:

Abstract

Terminal heat stress under late sowing significantly reduces wheat yield by impairing key metabolic processes. However, the stage-wise dynamics of nitrate reductase activity and its linkage with heat tolerance in wheat remain insufficiently explored. Therefore, the present study evaluated the response of nitrate reductase activity to heat stress and its relationship with yield performance in different wheat genotypes under contrasting sowing environments. A field experiment was conducted during the rabi season at the experimental farm of the School of Agricultural Sciences, Shri Guru Ram Rai University, Dehradun, India. Twelve bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes were grown under timely sowing (20 November) and late sowing (23 December) conditions using a split-plot design with three replications. Late sowing resulted in a significant reduction in nitrate reductase activity across all growth stages, indicating the inhibitory effect of elevated temperature on nitrate assimilation. Enzyme activity was highest at the vegetative stage and declined progressively toward grain filling. Analysis of variance identified the growth stage (F = 35.12) as the most dominant factor influencing enzyme activity, followed by sowing conditions (F = 22.34). NRA values ranged from 3.60-4.20 µmol NO2-/g FW at tillering to 0.60-0.85 µmol NO2-/g FW at 15 DAA. A significant positive correlation was found between NRA and biological yield (r = 0.48). Among the genotypes, Lok 54 demonstrated superior metabolic resilience, maintaining the highest mean NRA (3.92), the lowest HSI (0.42), and the maximum grain yield (46.2 q/ha) followed by PBW 574, and Raj 3765. It could be concluded that efficient nitrate assimilation under heat stress is crucial for wheat tolerance, with NRA serving as a reliable marker, and genotypes Lok 54, PBW 574, and Raj 3765 identified as promising donors for breeding resilient, nitrogen-efficient varieties.

Keywords

Nitrate reductase sowing environment terminal heat stress Triticum aestivum yield stability

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