Variations in Efficiency of Nitrogen Utilization in Tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) Grown Under Nitrogen Stress1

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Abstract
The concept of genetic control of efficiency of nutrient utilization in tomatoes was investigated within naturally occurring variation among 146 strains. Under severe N stress (35 mg of N per plant) in nutrient culture solutions efficient strains produced as much as 45% more dry weight than inefficient strains. Efficiency in N utilization (NER) was defined as the mg of dry weight produced for each mg of N absorbed by a plant. Differences in N uptake and translocation by the root systems did not explain variations in efficiency. At equal total N concentrations in leaves, efficient plants produced larger lower leaves and maintained more normal tissues. High NER values for efficient strains also were associated with greater stem weights and lower total N concentrations. Inheritance studies showed that dominance and additive X additive gene effects made the major contributions to variation in both plant dry weight and N efficiency.

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