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Ying S, Webster B, Gomez-Cano L, Shivaiah KK, Wang Q, Newton L, Grotewold E, Thompson A, Lundquist PK. Multiscale physiological responses to nitrogen supplementation of maize hybrids. Plant Physiol 2024; 195:879-899. [PMID: 37925649 PMCID: PMC11060684 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiad583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Maize (Zea mays) production systems are heavily reliant on the provision of managed inputs such as fertilizers to maximize growth and yield. Hence, the effective use of nitrogen (N) fertilizer is crucial to minimize the associated financial and environmental costs, as well as maximize yield. However, how to effectively utilize N inputs for increased grain yields remains a substantial challenge for maize growers that requires a deeper understanding of the underlying physiological responses to N fertilizer application. We report a multiscale investigation of five field-grown maize hybrids under low or high N supplementation regimes that includes the quantification of phenolic and prenyl-lipid compounds, cellular ultrastructural features, and gene expression traits at three developmental stages of growth. Our results reveal that maize perceives the lack of supplemented N as a stress and, when provided with additional N, will prolong vegetative growth. However, the manifestation of the stress and responses to N supplementation are highly hybrid-specific. Eight genes were differentially expressed in leaves in response to N supplementation in all tested hybrids and at all developmental stages. These genes represent potential biomarkers of N status and include two isoforms of Thiamine Thiazole Synthase involved in vitamin B1 biosynthesis. Our results uncover a detailed view of the physiological responses of maize hybrids to N supplementation in field conditions that provides insight into the interactions between management practices and the genetic diversity within maize.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Ying
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Plant Resilience Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Brandon Webster
- Plant Resilience Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Department of Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Lina Gomez-Cano
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Kiran-Kumar Shivaiah
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Plant Resilience Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Qianjie Wang
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Plant Resilience Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Linsey Newton
- Plant Resilience Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Department of Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Erich Grotewold
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Addie Thompson
- Plant Resilience Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Department of Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Peter K Lundquist
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Plant Resilience Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
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2
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Cao H, Liu Z, Guo J, Jia Z, Shi Y, Kang K, Peng W, Wang Z, Chen L, Neuhaeuser B, Wang Y, Liu X, Hao D, Yuan L. ZmNRT1.1B (ZmNPF6.6) determines nitrogen use efficiency via regulation of nitrate transport and signalling in maize. Plant Biotechnol J 2024; 22:316-329. [PMID: 37786281 PMCID: PMC10826987 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.14185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Nitrate (NO3 - ) is crucial for optimal plant growth and development and often limits crop productivity under low availability. In comparison with model plant Arabidopsis, the molecular mechanisms underlying NO3 - acquisition and utilization remain largely unclear in maize. In particular, only a few genes have been exploited to improve nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). Here, we demonstrated that NO3 - -inducible ZmNRT1.1B (ZmNPF6.6) positively regulated NO3 - -dependent growth and NUE in maize. We showed that the tandem duplicated proteoform ZmNRT1.1C is irrelevant to maize seedling growth under NO3 - supply; however, the loss of function of ZmNRT1.1B significantly weakened plant growth under adequate NO3 - supply under both hydroponic and field conditions. The 15 N-labelled NO3 - absorption assay indicated that ZmNRT1.1B mediated the high-affinity NO3 - -transport and root-to-shoot NO3 - translocation. Transcriptome analysis further showed, upon NO3 - supply, ZmNRT1.1B promotes cytoplasmic-to-nuclear shuttling of ZmNLP3.1 (ZmNLP8), which co-regulates the expression of genes involved in NO3 - response, cytokinin biosynthesis and carbon metabolism. Remarkably, overexpression of ZmNRT1.1B in modern maize hybrids improved grain yield under N-limiting fields. Taken together, our study revealed a crucial role of ZmNRT1.1B in high-affinity NO3 - transport and signalling and offers valuable genetic resource for breeding N use efficient high-yield cultivars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huairong Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green DevelopmentChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Zhi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green DevelopmentChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Jia Guo
- Key Laboratory for Agricultural Biotechnology of Jilin ProvincialInstitute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences (JAAS)JilinChina
| | - Zhongtao Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green DevelopmentChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Yandong Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green DevelopmentChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Kai Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green DevelopmentChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Wushuang Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green DevelopmentChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Zhangkui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green DevelopmentChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Limei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, College of Biological Sciences, Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular BreedingChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Benjamin Neuhaeuser
- Department of Nutritional Crop Physiology, Institute of Crop ScienceUniversity of HohenheimStuttgartGermany
| | - Yong Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, College of Life SciencesShandong Agricultural UniversityTai'anShandongChina
| | - Xiangguo Liu
- Key Laboratory for Agricultural Biotechnology of Jilin ProvincialInstitute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences (JAAS)JilinChina
| | - Dongyun Hao
- Key Laboratory for Agricultural Biotechnology of Jilin ProvincialInstitute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences (JAAS)JilinChina
| | - Lixing Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green DevelopmentChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
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3
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Qian F, Jing J, Zhang Z, Chen S, Sang Z, Li W. GWAS and Meta-QTL Analysis of Yield-Related Ear Traits in Maize. Plants (Basel) 2023; 12:3806. [PMID: 38005703 PMCID: PMC10674677 DOI: 10.3390/plants12223806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
Maize ear traits are an important component of yield, and the genetic basis of ear traits facilitates further yield improvement. In this study, a panel of 580 maize inbred lines were used as the study material, eight ear-related traits were measured through three years of planting, and whole genome sequencing was performed using the maize 40 K breeding chip based on genotyping by targeted sequencing (GBTS) technology. Five models were used to conduct a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on best linear unbiased estimate (BLUE) of ear traits to find the best model. The FarmCPU (Fixed and random model Circulating Probability Unification) model was the best model for this study; a total of 104 significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected, and 10 co-location SNPs were detected simultaneously in more than two environments. Through gene function annotation and prediction, a total of nine genes were identified as potentially associated with ear traits. Moreover, a total of 760 quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with yield-related traits reported in 37 different articles were collected. Using the collected 760 QTL for meta-QTL analysis, a total of 41 MQTL (meta-QTL) associated with yield-related traits were identified, and 19 MQTL detected yield-related ear trait functional genes and candidate genes that have been reported in maize. Five significant SNPs detected by GWAS were located within these MQTL intervals, and another three significant SNPs were close to MQTL (less than 1 Mb). The results provide a theoretical reference for the analysis of the genetic basis of ear-related traits and the improvement of maize yield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fu Qian
- Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Science, Shihezi 832000, China; (F.Q.); (Z.Z.); (S.C.)
- The Key Laboratory of Oasis Eco-Agriculture, College of Agriculture, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China;
| | - Jianguo Jing
- The Key Laboratory of Oasis Eco-Agriculture, College of Agriculture, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China;
| | - Zhanqin Zhang
- Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Science, Shihezi 832000, China; (F.Q.); (Z.Z.); (S.C.)
| | - Shubin Chen
- Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Science, Shihezi 832000, China; (F.Q.); (Z.Z.); (S.C.)
| | - Zhiqin Sang
- Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Science, Shihezi 832000, China; (F.Q.); (Z.Z.); (S.C.)
| | - Weihua Li
- The Key Laboratory of Oasis Eco-Agriculture, College of Agriculture, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China;
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4
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Sanchez DL, Santana AS, Morais PIC, Peterlini E, De La Fuente G, Castellano MJ, Blanco M, Lübberstedt T. Phenotypic and genome-wide association analyses for nitrogen use efficiency related traits in maize ( Zea mays L.) exotic introgression lines. Front Plant Sci 2023; 14:1270166. [PMID: 37877090 PMCID: PMC10590880 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1270166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) limits crop production, yet more than half of N fertilizer inputs are lost to the environment. Developing maize hybrids with improved N use efficiency can help minimize N losses and in turn reduce adverse ecological, economical, and health consequences. This study aimed to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with agronomic traits (plant height, grain yield, and anthesis to silking interval) under high and low N conditions. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted using 181 doubled haploid (DH) lines derived from crosses between landraces from the Germplasm Enhancement of Maize (BGEM lines) project and two inbreds, PHB47 and PHZ51. These DH lines were genotyped using 62,077 SNP markers. The same lines from the per se trials were used as parental lines for the testcross field trials. Plant height, anthesis to silking interval, and grain yield were collected from high and low N conditions in three environments for both per se and testcross trials. We used three GWAS models, namely, general linear model (GLM), mixed linear model (MLM), and Fixed and Random model Circulating Probability Unification (FarmCPU) model. We observed significant genetic variation among the DH lines and their derived testcrosses. Interestingly, some testcrosses of exotic introgression lines were superior under high and low N conditions compared to the check hybrid, PHB47/PHZ51. We detected multiple SNPs associated with agronomic traits under high and low N, some of which co-localized with gene models associated with stress response and N metabolism. The BGEM panel is, thus, a promising source of allelic diversity for genes controlling agronomic traits under different N conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Michael Blanco
- Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
- Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), Ames, IA, United States
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5
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Afrouz M, Sayyed RZ, Fazeli-Nasab B, Piri R, Almalki W, Fitriatin BN. Seed bio-priming with beneficial Trichoderma harzianum alleviates cold stress in maize. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15644. [PMID: 37645014 PMCID: PMC10461543 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Maize is one of the major crops in the world and the most productive member of the Gramineae family. Since cold stress affects the germination, growth, and productivity of corn seeds, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of seed biopriming with Trichoderma harzianum on the tolerance of two genotypes of maize seedlings to cold stress. This study was conducted in triplicates in factorial experiment with a complete randomized block design (CRBD). The study was conducted in the greenhouse and laboratory of the University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran. Experimental factors include two cultivars (AR68 cold-resistant and KSC703 cold-sensitive maize cultivars), four pretreatment levels (control, biopriming with T. harzianum, exogenous T. harzianum, and hydropriming), and two levels of cold stress (control and cold at 5 °C) in a hydroponic culture medium. The present study showed that maize leaves' establishment rate and maximum fluorescence (Fm) are affected by triple effects (C*, P*, S). The highest establishment (99.66%) and Fm (994 units) rates were observed in the KP3 control treatment. Moreover, among the pretreatments, the highest (0.476 days) and the lowest (0.182 days) establishment rates were related to P0 and P3 treatments, respectively. Cultivar A showed higher chlorophyll a and b, carotenoid content, and establishment rate compared to cultivar K in both optimal and cold conditions. The highest root dry weight (11.84 units) was obtained in cultivar A with P3 pretreatment. The pretreatments with T. harzianum increased physiological parameters and seedling emergence of maize under cold and optimal stress conditions. Pretreatment and cultivar improved catalase activity in roots and leaves. Higher leaf and root catalase activity was observed in the roots and leaves of cultivar K compared to cultivar A. The cold treatment significantly differed in peroxidase activity from the control treatment. Cultivar K showed higher catalase activity than cultivar A. The main effects of pretreatment and cold on polyphenol oxidase activity and proline content showed the highest polyphenol oxidase activity and proline content in hydropriming (H) treatment. Cold treatment also showed higher polyphenol oxidase activity and proline content than cold-free conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Afrouz
- Department of Plant Production and Genetic Engineering, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Ardabil, Iran
| | - R Z Sayyed
- Department of Microbiology, PSGVP Mandal's S I Patil Arts, G B Patel Science and STKV Sangh Commerce College, Shahada, India
| | - Bahman Fazeli-Nasab
- Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Agriculture Institute, Research Institute of Zabol, Zabol, Iran
| | - Ramin Piri
- Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - WaleedHassan Almalki
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
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6
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Zhang Y, Liu B, Kong F, Chen L. Nutrient-mediated modulation of flowering time. Front Plant Sci 2023; 14:1101611. [PMID: 36743493 PMCID: PMC9894683 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1101611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Nutrition affects plant growth and development, including flowering. Flowering represents the transition from the vegetative period to the reproduction period and requires the consumption of nutrients. Moreover, nutrients (e.g., nitrate) act as signals that affect flowering. Regulation of flowering time is therefore intimately associated with both nutrient-use efficiency and crop yield. Here, we review current knowledge of the relationships between nutrients (primarily nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) and flowering, with the goal of deepening our understanding of how plant nutrition affects flowering.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Liyu Chen
- *Correspondence: Liyu Chen, ; Fanjiang Kong,
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7
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Govindasamy P, Muthusamy SK, Bagavathiannan M, Mowrer J, Jagannadham PTK, Maity A, Halli HM, G. K. S, Vadivel R, T. K. D, Raj R, Pooniya V, Babu S, Rathore SS, L. M, Tiwari G. Nitrogen use efficiency-a key to enhance crop productivity under a changing climate. Front Plant Sci 2023; 14:1121073. [PMID: 37143873 PMCID: PMC10151540 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1121073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) is an essential element required for the growth and development of all plants. On a global scale, N is agriculture's most widely used fertilizer nutrient. Studies have shown that crops use only 50% of the applied N effectively, while the rest is lost through various pathways to the surrounding environment. Furthermore, lost N negatively impacts the farmer's return on investment and pollutes the water, soil, and air. Therefore, enhancing nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is critical in crop improvement programs and agronomic management systems. The major processes responsible for low N use are the volatilization, surface runoff, leaching, and denitrification of N. Improving NUE through agronomic management practices and high-throughput technologies would reduce the need for intensive N application and minimize the negative impact of N on the environment. The harmonization of agronomic, genetic, and biotechnological tools will improve the efficiency of N assimilation in crops and align agricultural systems with global needs to protect environmental functions and resources. Therefore, this review summarizes the literature on nitrogen loss, factors affecting NUE, and agronomic and genetic approaches for improving NUE in various crops and proposes a pathway to bring together agronomic and environmental needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prabhu Govindasamy
- Division of Agronomy, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
- *Correspondence: Muthukumar Bagavathiannan, ; Prabhu Govindasamy,
| | - Senthilkumar K. Muthusamy
- Division of Crop Improvement, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram, India
| | - Muthukumar Bagavathiannan
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
- *Correspondence: Muthukumar Bagavathiannan, ; Prabhu Govindasamy,
| | - Jake Mowrer
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | | | - Aniruddha Maity
- Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States
| | - Hanamant M. Halli
- School of Soil Stress Management, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management, Pune, India
| | - Sujayananad G. K.
- Crop Protection, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Indian Institute of Pulse Research, Kanpur, India
| | - Rajagopal Vadivel
- School of Soil Stress Management, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management, Pune, India
| | - Das T. K.
- Division of Agronomy, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Rishi Raj
- Division of Agronomy, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Vijay Pooniya
- Division of Agronomy, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Subhash Babu
- Division of Agronomy, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Sanjay Singh Rathore
- Division of Agronomy, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Muralikrishnan L.
- Division of Agricultural Extension, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Gopal Tiwari
- Division of Agronomy, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
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8
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Huang Y, Wang H, Zhu Y, Huang X, Li S, Wu X, Zhao Y, Bao Z, Qin L, Jin Y, Cui Y, Ma G, Xiao Q, Wang Q, Wang J, Yang X, Liu H, Lu X, Larkins BA, Wang W, Wu Y. THP9 enhances seed protein content and nitrogen-use efficiency in maize. Nature 2022; 612:292-300. [PMID: 36385527 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05441-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Teosinte, the wild ancestor of maize (Zea mays subsp. mays), has three times the seed protein content of most modern inbreds and hybrids, but the mechanisms that are responsible for this trait are unknown1,2. Here we use trio binning to create a contiguous haplotype DNA sequence of a teosinte (Zea mays subsp. parviglumis) and, through map-based cloning, identify a major high-protein quantitative trait locus, TEOSINTE HIGH PROTEIN 9 (THP9), on chromosome 9. THP9 encodes an asparagine synthetase 4 enzyme that is highly expressed in teosinte, but not in the B73 inbred, in which a deletion in the tenth intron of THP9-B73 causes incorrect splicing of THP9-B73 transcripts. Transgenic expression of THP9-teosinte in B73 significantly increased the seed protein content. Introgression of THP9-teosinte into modern maize inbreds and hybrids greatly enhanced the accumulation of free amino acids, especially asparagine, throughout the plant, and increased seed protein content without affecting yield. THP9-teosinte seems to increase nitrogen-use efficiency, which is important for promoting a high yield under low-nitrogen conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongcai Huang
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Haihai Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yidong Zhu
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xing Huang
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shuai Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xingguo Wu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yao Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, China
| | - Zhigui Bao
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Li Qin
- Institute of Molecular Breeding for Maize, Qilu Normal University, Jinan, China
| | - Yongbo Jin
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yahui Cui
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guangjin Ma
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qiao Xiao
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qiong Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiechen Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuerong Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, China
| | - Hongjun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, China
| | - Xiaoduo Lu
- Institute of Molecular Breeding for Maize, Qilu Normal University, Jinan, China
| | - Brian A Larkins
- School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Wenqin Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Yongrui Wu
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
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9
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Wang Y, Zhu T, Yang J, Wang H, Ji W, Xu Y, Yang Z, Xu C, Li P. GWAS and Transcriptome Analysis Reveal Key Genes Affecting Root Growth under Low Nitrogen Supply in Maize. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:1632. [PMID: 36140800 DOI: 10.3390/genes13091632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) is one of the most important factors affecting crop production. Root morphology exhibits a high degree of plasticity to nitrogen deficiency. However, the mechanisms underlying the root foraging response under low-N conditions remain poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed 213 maize inbred lines using hydroponic systems and regarding their natural variations in 22 root traits and 6 shoot traits under normal (2 mM nitrate) and low-N (0 mM nitrate) conditions. Substantial phenotypic variations were detected for all traits. N deficiency increased the root length and decreased the root diameter and shoot related traits. A total of 297 significant marker-trait associations were identified by a genome-wide association study involving different N levels and the N response value. A total of 51 candidate genes with amino acid variations in coding regions or differentially expressed under low nitrogen conditions were identified. Furthermore, a candidate gene ZmNAC36 was resequenced in all tested lines. A total of 38 single nucleotide polymorphisms and 12 insertions and deletions were significantly associated with lateral root length of primary root, primary root length between 0 and 0.5 mm in diameter, primary root surface area, and total length of primary root under a low-N condition. These findings help us to improve our understanding of the genetic mechanism of root plasticity to N deficiency, and the identified loci and candidate genes will be useful for the genetic improvement of maize tolerance cultivars to N deficiency.
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Ge Z, Ma Y, Xing W, Wu Y, Peng S, Mao L, Miao Z. Inorganic Nitrogen-Containing Aerosol Deposition Caused “Excessive Photosynthesis” of Herbs, Resulting in Increased Nitrogen Demand. Plants 2022; 11:2225. [PMID: 36079607 PMCID: PMC9460276 DOI: 10.3390/plants11172225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The amount of atmospheric nitrogen-containing aerosols has increased dramatically due to the globally rising levels of nitrogen from fertilization and atmospheric deposition. Although the balance of carbon and nitrogen in plants is a crucial component of physiological and biochemical indexes and plays a key role in adaptive regulation, our understanding of how nitrogen-containing aerosols affect this remains limited; in particular, regarding the associated mechanisms. Using a fumigation particle generator, we generated ammonium nitrate solution (in four concentrations of 0, 15, 30, 60 kg N hm−2 year−1) into droplets, in 90% of which the diameters were less than 2.5 μm, in the range of 0.35–4 μm, and fumigated Iris germanica L. and Portulaca grandiflora Hook. for 30 days in April and August. We found that the weight percentage of nitrogen in the upper epidermis, mesophyll tissue, and bulk of leaves decreased significantly with the N addition rate, which caused a decrease of carbon:nitrogen ratio, due to the enhanced net photosynthetic rate. Compared with Portulaca grandiflora Hook., Iris germanica L. responded more significantly to the disturbance of N addition, resulting in a decrease in the weight percentage of nitrogen in the roots, due to a lower nitrogen use efficiency. In addition, the superoxide dismutase activity of the two plants was inhibited with a higher concentration of nitrogen sol; a reduction of superoxide dismutase activity in plants means that the resistance of plants to various environmental stresses is reduced, and this decrease in superoxide dismutase activity may be related to ROS signaling. The results suggest that inorganic nitrogen-containing aerosols caused excessive stress to plants, especially for Iris germanica L.
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