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Capstaff NM, Domoney C, Miller AJ. Real-time monitoring of rhizosphere nitrate fluctuations under crops following defoliation. Plant Methods 2021; 17:11. [PMID: 33516255 PMCID: PMC7847023 DOI: 10.1186/s13007-021-00713-w] [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: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Management regime can hugely influence the efficiency of crop production but measuring real-time below-ground responses is difficult. The combination of fertiliser application and mowing or grazing may have a major impact on roots and on the soil nutrient profile and leaching. RESULTS A novel approach was developed using low-cost ion-selective sensors to track nitrate (NO3-) movement through soil column profiles sown with the forage crops, Lolium perenne and Medicago sativa. Applications of fertiliser, defoliation of crops and intercropping of the grass and the legume were tested. Sensor measurements were compared with conventional testing of lysimeter and leachate samples. There was little leaching of NO3- through soil profiles with current management practices, as monitored by both methods. After defoliation, the measurements detected a striking increase in soil NO3- in the middle of the column where the greatest density of roots was found. This phenomenon was not detected when no NO3- was applied, and when there was no defoliation, or during intercropping with Medicago. CONCLUSION Mowing or grazing may increase rhizodeposition of carbon that stimulates soil mineralization to release NO3- that is acquired by roots without leaching from the profile. The soil columns and sensors provided a dynamic insight into rhizosphere responses to changes in above-ground management practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola M Capstaff
- Department of Metabolic Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Claire Domoney
- Department of Metabolic Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Anthony J Miller
- Department of Metabolic Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK.
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Sadok W, Lopez JR, Zhang Y, Tamang BG, Muehlbauer GJ. Sheathing the blade: Significant contribution of sheaths to daytime and nighttime gas exchange in a grass crop. Plant Cell Environ 2020; 43:1844-1861. [PMID: 32459028 DOI: 10.1111/pce.13808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Despite representing a sizeable fraction of the canopy, very little is known about leaf sheath gas exchange in grasses. Specifically, estimates of sheath stomatal conductance, transpiration and photosynthesis along with their responses to light, CO2 and vapour pressure deficit (VPD) are unknown. Furthermore, the anatomical basis of these responses is poorly documented. Here, using barley as a model system, and combining leaf-level gas exchange, whole-plant gravimetric measurements, transpiration inhibitors, anatomical observations, and biophysical modelling, we found that sheath and blade stomatal conductance and transpiration were similar, especially at low light, in addition to being genotypically variable. Thanks to high abaxial stomata densities and surface areas nearly half those of the blades, sheaths accounted for up to 17% of the daily whole-plant water use, which -surprisingly- increased to 45% during the nighttime. Sheath photosynthesis was on average 17-25% that of the blade and was associated with lower water use efficiency. Finally, sheaths responded differently to the environment, exhibiting a lack of response to CO2 but a strong sensitivity to VPD. Overall, these results suggest a key involvement of sheaths in feedback loops between canopy architecture and gas exchange with potentially significant implications on adaptation to current and future climates in grasses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walid Sadok
- Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Jose R Lopez
- Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Yangyang Zhang
- Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
- Department of Grassland Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Bishal G Tamang
- Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Gary J Muehlbauer
- Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
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Luo Y, Tang Y, Zhang X, Li W, Chang Y, Pang D, Xu X, Li Y, Wang Z. Interactions between cytokinin and nitrogen contribute to grain mass in wheat cultivars by regulating the flag leaf senescence process. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cj.2018.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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Capstaff NM, Miller AJ. Improving the Yield and Nutritional Quality of Forage Crops. Front Plant Sci 2018; 9:535. [PMID: 29740468 PMCID: PMC5928394 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2018.00535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2017] [Accepted: 04/06/2018] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Despite being some of the most important crops globally, there has been limited research on forages when compared with cereals, fruits, and vegetables. This review summarizes the literature highlighting the significance of forage crops, the current improvements and some of future directions for improving yield and nutritional quality. We make the point that the knowledge obtained from model plant and grain crops can be applied to forage crops. The timely development of genomics and bioinformatics together with genome editing techniques offer great scope to improve forage crops. Given the social, environmental and economic importance of forage across the globe and especially in poorer countries, this opportunity has enormous potential to improve food security and political stability.
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Del-Saz NF, Romero-Munar A, Cawthray GR, Palma F, Aroca R, Baraza E, Florez-Sarasa I, Lambers H, Ribas-Carbó M. Phosphorus concentration coordinates a respiratory bypass, synthesis and exudation of citrate, and the expression of high-affinity phosphorus transporters in Solanum lycopersicum. Plant Cell Environ 2018; 41:865-875. [PMID: 29380389 DOI: 10.1111/pce.13155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2017] [Revised: 01/16/2018] [Accepted: 01/19/2018] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Plants exhibit respiratory bypasses (e.g., the alternative oxidase [AOX]) and increase the synthesis of carboxylates in their organs (leaves and roots) in response to phosphorus (P) deficiency, which increases P uptake capacity. They also show differential expression of high-affinity inorganic phosphorus (Pi) transporters, thus avoiding P toxicity at a high P availability. The association between AOX and carboxylate synthesis was tested in Solanum lycopersicum plants grown at different soil P availability, by using plants grown under P-sufficient and P-limiting conditions and by applying a short-term (24 hr) P-sufficient pulse to plants grown under P limitation. Tests were also performed with plants colonized with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, which increased plant P concentration under reduced P availability. The in vivo activities of AOX and cytochrome oxidase were measured together with the concentration of carboxylates and the P concentration in plant organs. Gene transcription of Pi transporters (LePT1 and LePT2) was also studied. A coordinated response between plant P concentration with these traits was observed, indicating that a sufficient P availability in soil led to a suppression of both AOX activity and synthesis of citrate and a downregulation of the transcription of genes encoding high-affinity Pi transporters, presumably to avoid P toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Néstor Fernández Del-Saz
- Grup de Recerca en Biologia de les Plantes en Condicions Mediterranies, Departament de Biologia, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Carretera de Valldemossa Km 7.5, Palma, 07122, Spain
| | - Antonia Romero-Munar
- Grup de Recerca en Biologia de les Plantes en Condicions Mediterranies, Departament de Biologia, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Carretera de Valldemossa Km 7.5, Palma, 07122, Spain
| | - Gregory R Cawthray
- School of Biological Sciences and Institute of Agriculture, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley (Perth), Western Australia, 6009, Australia
| | - Francisco Palma
- Department of Plant Physiology, Facultad de Ciencias, University of Granada, Fuentenueva s/n, Granada, 18071, Spain
| | - Ricardo Aroca
- Department of Soil Microbiology and Symbiotic Systems, Estación Experimental del Zaidín-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (EEZ-CSIC), Profesor Albareda 1, Granada, 18008, Spain
| | - Elena Baraza
- Grup de Recerca en Biologia de les Plantes en Condicions Mediterranies, Departament de Biologia, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Carretera de Valldemossa Km 7.5, Palma, 07122, Spain
| | - Igor Florez-Sarasa
- Max Planck Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Am Mühlenberg 1, Potsdam, 14476, Germany
| | - Hans Lambers
- School of Biological Sciences and Institute of Agriculture, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley (Perth), Western Australia, 6009, Australia
| | - Miquel Ribas-Carbó
- Grup de Recerca en Biologia de les Plantes en Condicions Mediterranies, Departament de Biologia, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Carretera de Valldemossa Km 7.5, Palma, 07122, Spain
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Guo Q, Turnbull MH, Song J, Roche J, Novak O, Späth J, Jameson PE, Love J. Depletion of carbohydrate reserves limits nitrate uptake during early regrowth in Lolium perenne L. J Exp Bot 2017; 68:1569-1583. [PMID: 28379423 PMCID: PMC5444434 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erx056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The mechanisms linking C/N balance to N uptake and assimilation are central to plant responses to changing soil nutrient levels. Defoliation and subsequent regrowth of grasses both impact C partitioning, thereby creating a significant point of interaction with soil N availability. Using defoliation as an experimental treatment, we investigated the dynamic relationships between plant carbohydrate status and NO3--responsive uptake systems, transporter gene expression, and nitrate assimilation in Lolium perenne L. High- and low-affinity NO3- uptake was reduced in an N-dependent manner in response to a rapid and large shift in carbohydrate remobilization triggered by defoliation. This reduction in NO3- uptake was rescued by an exogenous glucose supplement, confirming the carbohydrate dependence of NO3- uptake. The regulation of NO3- uptake in response to the perturbation of the plant C/N ratio was associated with changes in expression of putative high- and low-affinity NO3- transporters. Furthermore, NO3- assimilation appears to be regulated by the C-N status of the plant, implying a mechanism that signals the availability of C metabolites for NO3- uptake and assimilation at the whole-plant level. We also show that cytokinins may be involved in the regulation of N acquisition and assimilation in response to the changing plant C/N ratio.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Guo
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Matthew Hamish Turnbull
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Jiancheng Song
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand
- School of Life Sciences, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China
| | - Jessica Roche
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Ondrej Novak
- Laboratory of Growth Regulators, Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Institute of Experimental Botany CAS & Faculty of Science of Palacký University, Šlechtitelu 27, 783 71 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Späth
- Swedish Metabolomics Centre, Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences KBC, Umeå University, Linnéus väg 6, SE-90183 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Paula Elizabeth Jameson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Jonathan Love
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand
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