FIELD EXPERIMENT TO EXAMINE THE EFFECT OF NUTRIENT SUPPLY ON THE RNA-CONTENT OF WINTER-WHEAT

Changes occuring in the tRNA and rRNA contents of the winter wheat var iety Mv 8 as a function of the nutrient supply were studied in the sho oting phenophase in field-grown samples taken from a fertilisation exp eriment. The correlations between the RNA contents and the dry matter and N, P and K accumulation in the whole aboveground plant were studie d by means of regression analysis. The results can be summarised as fo llows: The RNA contents rose as the vegetation period progressed; the effect of age could be consistently observed. Under the given conditio ns, fertilisation did not usually increase RNA contents in the early s tages of development and even in later stages the rise was not signifi cant, probably due to a more balanced nutrient supply. In winter wheat the RNA content was found to be in close significant correlation with the dry matter mass of the whole plant and with phosphorus accumulati on in the shooting phenophase.