The AMT1 family genes from Malus robusta display differential transcription features and ammonium transport abilities

Ammonium Uptake, Mediated by Ammonium Transporters, Mitigates Manganese Toxicity in Duckweed, Spirodela polyrhiza

Nitrogen is an essential nutrient that affects all aspects of the growth, development and metabolic responses of plants. Here we investigated the influence of the two major sources of inorganic nitrogen, nitrate and ammonium, on the toxicity caused by excess of Mn in great duckweed, Spirodela polyrhiza. The revealed alleviating effect of ammonium on Mn-mediated toxicity, was complemented by detailed molecular, biochemical and evolutionary characterization of the species ammonium transporters (AMTs). Four genes encoding AMTs in S. polyrhiza, were classified as SpAMT1;1, SpAMT1;2, SpAMT1;3 and SpAMT2. Functional testing of the expressed proteins in yeast and Xenopus oocytes clearly demonstrated activity of SpAMT1;1 and SpAMT1;3 in transporting ammonium. Transcripts of all SpAMT genes were detected in duckweed fronds grown in cultivation medium, containing a physiological or 50-fold elevated concentration of Mn at the background of nitrogen or a mixture of nitrate and ammonium. Each gene demonstrated an individual expression pattern, revealed by RT-qPCR. Revealing the mitigating effect of ammonium uptake on manganese toxicity in aquatic duckweed S. polyrhiza, the study presents a comprehensive analysis of the transporters involved in the uptake of ammonium, shedding a new light on the interactions between the mechanisms of heavy metal toxicity and the regulation of the plant nitrogen metabolism.

Root Breeding in the Post-Genomics Era: From Concept to Practice in Apple

The development of rootstocks with a high-quality dwarf-type root system is a popular research topic in the apple industry. However, the precise breeding of rootstocks is still challenging, mainly because the root system is buried deep underground, roots have a complex life cycle, and research on root architecture has progressed slowly. This paper describes ideas for the precise breeding and domestication of wild apple resources and the application of key genes. The primary goal of this research is to combine the existing rootstock resources with molecular breeding and summarize the methods of precision breeding. Here, we reviewed the existing rootstock germplasm, high-quality genome, and genetic resources available to explain how wild resources might be used in modern breeding. In particular, we proposed the 'from genotype to phenotype' theory and summarized the difficulties in future breeding processes. Lastly, the genetics governing root diversity and associated regulatory mechanisms were elaborated on to optimize the precise breeding of rootstocks.

Advances in Mineral Nutrition Transport and Signal Transduction in Rosaceae Fruit Quality and Postharvest Storage

Mineral nutrition, taken up from the soil or foliar sprayed, plays fundamental roles in plant growth and development. Among of at least 14 mineral elements, the macronutrients nitrogen (N), potassium (K), phosphorus (P), and calcium (Ca) and the micronutrient iron (Fe) are essential to Rosaceae fruit yield and quality. Deficiencies in minerals strongly affect metabolism with subsequent impacts on the growth and development of fruit trees. This ultimately affects the yield, nutritional value, and quality of fruit. Especially, the main reason of the postharvest storage loss caused by physiological disorders is the improper proportion of mineral nutrient elements. In recent years, many important mineral transport proteins and their regulatory components are increasingly revealed, which make drastic progress in understanding the molecular mechanisms for mineral nutrition (N, P, K, Ca, and Fe) in various aspects including plant growth, fruit development, quality, nutrition, and postharvest storage. Importantly, many studies have found that mineral nutrition, such as N, P, and Fe, not only affects fruit quality directly but also influences the absorption and the content of other nutrient elements. In this review, we provide insights of the mineral nutrients into their function, transport, signal transduction associated with Rosaceae fruit quality, and postharvest storage at physiological and molecular levels. These studies will contribute to provide theoretical basis to improve fertilizer efficient utilization and fruit industry sustainable development.