Nitrogen partitioning and remobilization in relation to leaf senescence, grain yield and protein concentration in Indian wheat cultivars

•Genetic differences in 30 wheat cultivars in flag-leaf photosynthesis rate were correlated with differences in grain yield under high N conditions.•Post-anthesis flag-leaf photosynthesis rate was positively associated with pre-anthesis N uptake under high N conditions.•Genetic differences in Normalized Difference Vegetation Index during late grain filling were associated with differences in grain yield under high N and low N conditions.•Cultivar grain protein deviation was associated with post-anthesis N uptake under N limitation.