Evaluation the effect of senescence on the mineral remobilization in two bread wheat cultivars

The main source of protein and micronutrients in wheat grains is the flag leaf and to a lesser extent the lower leaves. As healthy leaves reach the final stage of growth, senescence, they remobilize the nutrients necessary before tissue destruction and death. This experiment was carried out in Golestan province, and the Wheat cultivars studied were included Euclide and Antonius. Sampling was carried out from flag leaf, other leaves, stem, and grain at 7 stages, Anthesis, 7, 11, 15, 19, 23, and 27 Day After Anthesis (DAA). The total chlorophyll content in the Antonius cultivar was higher in both flag leaf and other leaves than Euclide cultivar. The expression of TaNAM-B1 and TaSAG12 genes, which have been identified as signaling genes for senescence in wheat, showed results consistent with the results of chlorophyll content in leaves. Increased expression of both genes after anthesis was observed earlier in Euclide cultivar than the Antonius cultivar and had higher expression in most stages. In light of the results, the change in concentrations of Cu, Zn, and Fe in the Euclid cultivar was more in all organs than in Antonius one. Also, given the importance of minerals in the food basket, it can be noted that Euclid cultivar, in which leaf senescence begins earlier and more minerals are stored, can produce grains with higher nutritional value than Antonius cultivar.