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Han R, Ma L, Terzaghi W, Guo Y, Li J. Molecular mechanisms underlying coordinated responses of plants to shade and environmental stresses. Plant J 2024; 117:1893-1913. [PMID: 38289877 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16653] [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: 10/14/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Shade avoidance syndrome (SAS) is triggered by a low ratio of red (R) to far-red (FR) light (R/FR ratio), which is caused by neighbor detection and/or canopy shade. In order to compete for the limited light, plants elongate hypocotyls and petioles by deactivating phytochrome B (phyB), a major R light photoreceptor, thus releasing its inhibition of the growth-promoting transcription factors PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTORs. Under natural conditions, plants must cope with abiotic stresses such as drought, soil salinity, and extreme temperatures, and biotic stresses such as pathogens and pests. Plants have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to simultaneously deal with multiple environmental stresses. In this review, we will summarize recent major advances in our understanding of how plants coordinately respond to shade and environmental stresses, and will also discuss the important questions for future research. A deep understanding of how plants synergistically respond to shade together with abiotic and biotic stresses will facilitate the design and breeding of new crop varieties with enhanced tolerance to high-density planting and environmental stresses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Run Han
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, College of Biological Sciences, Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding (MOE), China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Liang Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, College of Biological Sciences, Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding (MOE), China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - William Terzaghi
- Department of Biology, Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, 18766, USA
| | - Yan Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, College of Biological Sciences, Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding (MOE), China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Jigang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, College of Biological Sciences, Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding (MOE), China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
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Shao Z, Zheng C, Postma JA, Gao Q, Zhang J. More N fertilizer, more maize, and less alfalfa: maize benefits from its higher N uptake per unit root length. Front Plant Sci 2024; 15:1338521. [PMID: 38384755 PMCID: PMC10879570 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1338521] [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] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Root plasticity is fundamental to soil nutrient acquisition and maximizing production. Different soil nitrogen (N) levels affect root development, aboveground dry matter accumulation, and N uptake. This phenotypic plasticity is well documented for single plants and specific monocultures but is much less understood in intercrops in which species compete for the available nutrients. Consequently, the study tested whether the plasticity of plant roots, biomass and N accumulation under different N levels in maize/alfalfa intercropping systems differs quantitatively. Maize and alfalfa were intercropped for two consecutive years in large soil-filled rhizoboxes and fertilized with 6 different levels of N fertilizer (0, 75, 150, 225, 270, and 300 kg ha-1). Root length, root surface area, specific root length, N uptake and yield were all increased in maize with increasing fertilizer level, whereas higher N rates were supraoptimal. Alfalfa had an optimal N rate of 75-150 kg ha-1, likely because the competition from maize became more severe at higher rates. Maize responded more strongly to the fertilizer treatment in the second year when the alfalfa biomass was much larger. N fertilization contributes more to maize than alfalfa growth via root plasticity responses. Our results suggest that farmers can maximize intercropping yield and economic return by optimizing N fertilizer management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeqiang Shao
- College of Resource and Environment Engineering, Jilin Institute of Chemical Technology, Jilin, China
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Jilin Agricultural University/Key Laboratory of Sustainable Utilization of Soil Resources in the Commodity Grain Bases in Jilin Province, Changchun, China
| | - Congcong Zheng
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences – Plant Sciences (IBG-2), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, Germany
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Johannes Auke Postma
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences – Plant Sciences (IBG-2), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, Germany
| | - Qiang Gao
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Jilin Agricultural University/Key Laboratory of Sustainable Utilization of Soil Resources in the Commodity Grain Bases in Jilin Province, Changchun, China
| | - Jinjing Zhang
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Jilin Agricultural University/Key Laboratory of Sustainable Utilization of Soil Resources in the Commodity Grain Bases in Jilin Province, Changchun, China
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Murgia I, Morandini P. Plant Iron Research in African Countries: Current "Hot Spots", Approaches, and Potentialities. Plants (Basel) 2023; 13:14. [PMID: 38202322 PMCID: PMC10780554 DOI: 10.3390/plants13010014] [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: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Plant iron (Fe) nutrition and metabolism is a fascinating and challenging research topic; understanding the role of Fe in the life cycle of plants requires knowledge of Fe chemistry and biochemistry and their impact during development. Plant Fe nutritional status is dependent on several factors, including the surrounding biotic and abiotic environments, and influences crop yield and the nutritional quality of edible parts. The relevance of plant Fe research will further increase globally, particularly for Africa, which is expected to reach 2.5 billion people by 2050. The aim of this review is to provide an updated picture of plant Fe research conducted in African countries to favor its dissemination within the scientific community. Three main research hotspots have emerged, and all of them are related to the production of plants of superior quality, i.e., development of Fe-dense crops, development of varieties resilient to Fe toxicity, and alleviation of Fe deficiency, by means of Fe nanoparticles for sustainable agriculture. An intensification of research collaborations between the African research groups and plant Fe groups worldwide would be beneficial for the progression of the identified research topics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Murgia
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy;
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Liu Y, Xu G. Nitrogen-iron interaction as an emerging factor influencing crop productivity and nutrient use efficiency. Mol Plant 2023; 16:1727-1729. [PMID: 37803824 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2023.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ying Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; MOA Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and Fertilization in Low-Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Guohua Xu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; MOA Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and Fertilization in Low-Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
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Jamali ZH, Ali S, Qasim M, Song C, Anwar M, Du J, Wang Y. Assessment of molybdenum application on soybean physiological characteristics in maize-soybean intercropping. Front Plant Sci 2023; 14:1240146. [PMID: 37841600 PMCID: PMC10570528 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1240146] [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] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Soybean is a leguminous crop known for its efficient nitrogen utilization and ease of cultivation. However, its intercropping with maize may lead to severe reduction in its growth and yield due to shading effect of maize. This issue can be resolved by the appropriate application of essential plant nutrient such as molybdenum (Mo). Aim of this study was to assess the effect of Mo application on the morphological and physiological characteristics of soybean intercropped with maize. A two-year field experiment was conducted for this purpose, and Mo was applied in the form of sodium molybdate (Na2MoO4), and four different levels were maintained i.e., 0, 60, 120 and 180 g ha-1. Soybean exhibited varying responses to different levels of molybdenum (Mo) application. Notably, in both sole and intercropped cropping systems, the application of Mo at a rate of 120 g ha-1 demonstrated the highest level of promise compared to other application levels. However, most significant outcomes were pragmatic in soybean-maize intercropping, as application of Mo @ 120 g ha-1 significantly improved soybean growth and yield attributes, including leaf area index (LAI; 434 and 441%), total plant biomass (430 and 461%), transpiration rate (15 and 18%), stomatal conductance (9 and 11%), and yield (15 and 20%) during year 2020 and 2021 respectively, as compared to control treatment. Similarly, Mo @ 120 g ha-1 application resulted in highest total grain yield (626.0 and 725.3 kg ha-1) during 2020 and 2021 respectively, which exceeded the grain yields of other Mo levels under intercropping. Moreover, under Mo application level (120 g ha-1), grain NPK and Mo contents during years 2020 and 2021 were found to be 1.15, 0.22, 0.83 and 68.94 mg kg-1, and 1.27, 0.25, 0.90 and 72.18 mg kg-1 under intercropping system increased the value as compared to control treatment. Findings of current study highlighted the significance of Mo in enhancing soybean growth, yield, and nutrient uptake efficiency in maize-soybean intercropping systems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shahzaib Ali
- Department of Agroecosystems, Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, University of South Bohemia Ceske Budejovice, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
| | - Muhammad Qasim
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Chun Song
- College of Environmental Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Muhammad Anwar
- School of Tropical Agriculture and forestry, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Junbo Du
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yu Wang
- College of Landscape Architecture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
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Jarecki W. Soybean Response to Seed Inoculation or Coating with Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Foliar Fertilization with Molybdenum. Plants (Basel) 2023; 12:2431. [PMID: 37446991 DOI: 10.3390/plants12132431] [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: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Soybean is one of the most important legumes in the world, and its advantages and disadvantages are well known. As a result of symbiosis with the bacterium Bradyrhizobium japonicum, soybean can assimilate nitrogen from the air and is therefore not fertilized with this element, or if it is, only at small doses. In soybean agriculture practice, an important treatment is the inoculation of seeds with symbiotic bacteria and optimal fertilization with selected nutrients. Therefore, a three-year (2019-2021) field experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of soybean in the field to a seed Rhizobium inoculation or coating and molybdenum foliar fertilization. There were no significant interactions between the tested treatments over the years. It was demonstrated that the best variant was seed inoculation before sowing in combination with foliar molybdenum application. As a result of this treatment, a significant increase in nodulation, soil plant analysis development (SPAD) index, leaf area index (LAI) and seed yield (by 0.61 t·ha-1) was obtained compared to the control. In addition, the content of total protein in the seeds increased, while the content of crude fat decreased, which significantly modified the yield of both components. Sowing coated seeds in the Fix Fertig technology was less effective compared to inoculation, but it was significantly better than that in the control. Coating seeds with B. japonicum, in combination with foliar fertilization with molybdenum, could be recommended for agricultural practice, which was confirmed by economic calculations. Future experiments will assess the soybean's response to seed inoculation or coating and fertilization with other micronutrients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wacław Jarecki
- Department of Crop Production, University of Rzeszów, Zelwerowicza 4 St., 35-601 Rzeszów, Poland
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Nasar J, Zhao CJ, Khan R, Gul H, Gitari H, Shao Z, Abbas G, Haider I, Iqbal Z, Ahmed W, Rehman R, Liang QP, Zhou XB, Yang J. Maize-soybean intercropping at optimal N fertilization increases the N uptake, N yield and N use efficiency of maize crop by regulating the N assimilatory enzymes. Front Plant Sci 2023; 13:1077948. [PMID: 36684768 PMCID: PMC9846272 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1077948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Surplus use of chemical nitrogen (N) fertilizers to increase agricultural Q9 production causes severe problems to the agricultural ecosystem and environment. This is contrary to N use efficiency and sustainable agricultural production. METHODS Hence, this study was designed to investigate the effect of maizesoybean intercropping on N uptake, N yield, N utilization use efficiency, and the associated nitrogen assimilatory enzymes of maize crops under different N fertilization for two consecutive years 2021-2022. RESULTS The findings of the study showed that intercropping at the optimal N rate (N1) (250 kg N ha-1) increased significantly maize grain yield by 30 and 34%, residue yield by 30 and 37%, and 100-grain weight by 33 and 39% in the year 2021 and 2022, respectively. As compared with mono-cropping, at this optimal N rate, the respective increase (of maize's crop N yield indices) for 2021 and 2022 were 53 and 64% for grain N yield, and 53 and 68% for residue N yield. Moreover, intercropping at N1 resulted in higher grain N content by 28 and 31%, residue N content by 18 and 22%, and total N uptake by 65 and 75% in 2021 and 2022, respectively. The values for the land equivalent ratio for nitrogen yield (LERN) were greater than 1 in intercropping, indicating better utilization of N under the intercropping over mono-cropping. Similarly, intercropping increased the N assimilatory enzymes of maize crops such as nitrate reductase (NR) activity by 19 and 25%, nitrite reductase (NiR) activity by 20 and 23%, and glutamate synthase activity (GOGAT) by 23 and 27% in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Consequently, such increases resulted in improved nitrogen use efficiency indices such as N use efficiency (NUE), partial factor nitrogen use efficiency (PFNUE), nitrogen uptake efficiency (NUpE), and nitrogen agronomic efficiency (NAE) under intercropping than mono-cropping. CONCLUSION Thus, this suggests that maize-soybean intercropping under optimal N fertilization can improve the nitrogen status and nitrogen use efficiency of maize crops by regulating the nitrogen assimilatory enzymes, thereby enhancing its growth and yield. Therefore, prioritizing intercropping over an intensive mono-cropping system could be a better option for sustainable agricultural production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamal Nasar
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agro-environment and Agro-products Safety, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Plant Science Education, Agricultural College of Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Chang Jiang Zhao
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agro-environment and Agro-products Safety, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Plant Science Education, Agricultural College of Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Rayyan Khan
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agro-environment and Agro-products Safety, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Plant Science Education, Agricultural College of Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Hina Gul
- National Center of Industrial Biotechnology, Pir Mehr Ali Shah (PMAS) Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Harun Gitari
- Department of Agricultural Science and Technology, School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Zeqiang Shao
- College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Jilin Institute of Chemical Technology, Jilin, China
| | - Ghulam Abbas
- National Research Center of Intercropping, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Punjab, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
| | - Imran Haider
- National Research Center of Intercropping, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Punjab, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
| | - Zafar Iqbal
- National Research Center of Intercropping, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Punjab, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
| | - Waqas Ahmed
- National Research Center of Intercropping, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Punjab, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
| | - Raheela Rehman
- Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | | | - Xun Bo Zhou
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agro-environment and Agro-products Safety, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Plant Science Education, Agricultural College of Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Juan Yang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agro-environment and Agro-products Safety, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Plant Science Education, Agricultural College of Guangxi University, Nanning, China
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