M. Safar-Noori - Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, ۷۳۹-۸۵۲۸, Japan.
Q. Dong - Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, ۷۳۹-۸۵۲۸, Japan.
H. Saneoka - Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, ۷۳۹-۸۵۲۸, Japan.

The present research was conducted to study the effect of NPK fertilization on wheat grain yield, minerals concentration, grain quality, gluten, pentosan, and phytate phosphorous (phy-P) content, and the influence of maternal plant NPK fertilization on the seed physiological attributes during the germination period. NPK treatments comprised a control, where no fertilizer was applied (T۰), and two levels of NPK fertilizer: T۱ (۱۱۰ kg N+۶۰ kg P۲O۵+۵۵ kg K۲O ha-۱), and T۲ (۲۰۰ kg N+۱۲۰ kg P۲O۵+۱۰۰ kg K۲O ha-۱). Winter wheat was grown in a greenhouse during the growing season of ۲۰۱۵-۱۶, following randomized complete block design with ۴ replicates. The results indicated that a high level of NPK (T۲) fertilization increased the grain yield, crude protein, water-soluble pentosan, and dry gluten, up to ۱۵۱.۶, ۶۵.۳, ۴۰.۵, and ۴۰۸.۹% compared to the control, respectively. It also enhanced the grain mineral concentration, but did not affect the grain starch significantly. Grain phy-P was increased with a high NPK fertilization and, interestingly, the level of phytase enzyme was also increased up to ۴۶% in T۲ compared to the control. Moreover, maternal plant NPK fertilization enhanced seed germination percentage, seedling fresh weight, phytase activity, inorganic phosphorus, and phy-P metabolism during the germination period. From the results of this study, it was concluded that grain nutritional quality was improved with increasing NPK rates, but antinutritional compound phy-P was also increased, while it may enhance seed viability, germination, and seedling vigor.

Germination, NPK, pentosan, phytate, wheat, Germination, Pentosan, Phytate, Wheat