Low nitrogen priming enhances Rubisco activation and allocation of nitrogen to the photosynthetic apparatus as an adaptation to nitrogen-deficit stress in wheat seedling.

Reducing nitrogen (N) application is crucial in addressing the low N utilization efficiency (NUE) and the risks of environmental pollution in wheat production. Improving low N (LN) tolerance in wheat can help balance the conflict between wheat growth and reduced N fertilization. Hydroponic experiments were conducted using Yangmai158 (LN-tolerant) and Zaoyangmai (LN-sensitive) cultivars to study whether LN priming (LNP) in the 3-leaf stage can improve the photosynthetic capacity of wheat seedlings under N-deficit stress at the 5-leaf stage.

Rubisco and sucrose synthesis and translocation are involved in the regulation of photosynthesis in wheat with different source-sink relationships.

Source-sink relationships influence photosynthesis. So far, the limiting factors for photosynthesis of wheat cultivars with different source-sink relationships have not been determined. We aimed to determine the variation patterns of photosynthetic characteristics of wheat cultivars with different source-sink relationships.