To get more efficient wheat varieties in phosphorus uptake and/or utilization it is important to look for the causes of the greater efficiency of particular varieties. One experiment in nutrient solution with four concentrations of phosphorus (1.6, 4.8, 12.9 and 32.3 µmol L-1) was conducted to compare efficient (Toropi and IAC 5) and inefficient cultivars (IAS 20 and CNT 8) in phosphorus uptake in relation to the amount of phosphorus taken up, phosphorus translocation and utilization, dry matter production and root morphology (length, mean radius and surface area). The research was conducted in October and November 1993, in greenhouse of the Soil Department/UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. The amount of phosphorus taken up did not differ among the varieties. There was no relationship between the amount of phosphorus taken up and root morphology. Efficiency of phosphorus translocation to shoot differentiated the varieties, with Toropi and IAC 5 being more efficient. Toropi and IAC 5 were also more efficient in phosphorus utilization.
efficiency; uptake; translocation; utilization; phosphorus; varieties; wheat