Phenotyping photosynthetic nitrogen turnover in wheat leaves from repeated optical measurements and a protein turnover model

Data from a greenhouse experiment with six winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars, three released in the 1970s and three in the 2010s, grown in spring 2025. On 72 plants, four leaf ranks (3rd, 5th, 9th and flag leaf) were measured every three to four days with SPAD and leaf reflectance. The readings were converted into three photosynthetic nitrogen pools: light harvesting, electron transport and carboxylation. The dataset contains: the nitrogen pools and SPAD readings of every leaf and date; the photosynthetic capacities (Vcmax25, J1300) predicted from reflectance; greenhouse and within-canopy climate and light; the date each leaf tip appeared; the daily light of each leaf, simulated with a functional–structural plant model; the fitted parameters of a protein turnover model. Reflectance spectra and harvest data belong to separate studies and are not included. File contents are listed in README_files.csv