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Foliar Urea with N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide for Sustainable Yield and Quality of Pineapple in a Controlled Environment. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su13126880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In agricultural production, nitrogen loss leads to economic loss and is a high environmental risk affecting plant growth, yield, and quality. Use of the N fertilizer with a urease inhibitor is thus necessary to minimize N losses and increase the efficiency of N. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) on the growth, yield, and quality of pineapple. The experiment involved two foliar fertilizer treatments: 1% (w/v) urea solution with NBPT (2.25 mL kg−1 urea) was treated as NLU (NBPT Liquid Urea), and the same concentration of urea without NBPT served as the control. Both were applied 12 times, starting 1 month after planting (MAP) and continuing once a month for 12 months. The application of urea with NBPT notably increased the above-ground dry biomass per plant (20% and 10% at 8 and 12 MAP, respectively), leaf area per plant (23% and 15% at 8 and 12 MAP, respectively), N accumulation per plant (10%), PFPN (Partial Factor Productivity) (13%), and average fruit weight (15%) compared to the treatment with urea alone (control). The analysis of quality parameters indicated that urea with NBPT improves TSS (Total Soluble Solids) (19%), ascorbic acid (10%), and sucrose (14%) but reduces the total organic acid content (21%) in pineapple. When using urea with a urease inhibitor (NBPT), there was a significant improvement in growth, yield, quality, and nitrogen use efficiency, with the additional benefit of reduced nitrogen losses, in combination with easy handling. Hence, urea with a urease inhibitor can be used as a viable alternative for increasing pineapple yield by boosting growth with better fruit quality.
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Urease and Nitrification Inhibitors—As Mitigation Tools for Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Sustainable Dairy Systems: A Review. SUSTAINABILITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/su12156018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Currently, nitrogen fertilizers are utilized to meet 48% of the total global food demand. The demand for nitrogen fertilizers is expected to grow as global populations continue to rise. The use of nitrogen fertilizers is associated with many negative environmental impacts and is a key source of greenhouse and harmful gas emissions. In recent years, urease and nitrification inhibitors have emerged as mitigation tools that are presently utilized in agriculture to prevent nitrogen losses and reduce greenhouse and harmful gas emissions that are associated with the use of nitrogen-based fertilizers. Both classes of inhibitor work by different mechanisms and have different physiochemical properties. Consequently, each class must be evaluated on its own merits. Although there are many benefits associated with the use of these inhibitors, little is known about their potential to enter the food chain, an event that may pose challenges to food safety. This phenomenon was highlighted when the nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide was found as a residual contaminant in milk products in 2013. This comprehensive review aims to discuss the uses of inhibitor technologies in agriculture and their possible impacts on dairy product safety and quality, highlighting areas of concern with regards to the introduction of these inhibitor technologies into the dairy supply chain. Furthermore, this review discusses the benefits and challenges of inhibitor usage with a focus on EU regulations, as well as associated health concerns, chemical behavior, and analytical detection methods for these compounds within milk and environmental matrices.
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Iqbal S, Khan A, Nazir R, Kiran S, Perveen S, Khan KM, Choudhary MI. Synthesis of β-Ketosulfone Derivatives As New Non-Cytotoxic Urease Inhibitors In Vitro. Med Chem 2019; 16:244-255. [PMID: 30987574 DOI: 10.2174/1573406415666190415163309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2018] [Revised: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Peptic ulcer and urolithiasis are largely due to infection caused by ureaseproducing bacteria. Therefore, the discovery of urease inhibitors is an important area of medicinal chemistry research. OBJECTIVE The main aim of the work was to identify novel urease inhibitors with no cytotoxicity. METHODS During the current study, a series of β-ketosulfones 1-26 was synthesized in two steps and evaluated for their in vitro urease inhibition potential. RESULTS Out of twenty-six compounds, seventeen have shown good to significant urease inhibitory activity with IC50 values ranging between 49.93-351.46 µM, in comparison to standard thiourea (IC50 = 21 ± 0.11 µM). Moreover, all compounds found to be non-cytotoxic against normal 3T3 cell line. CONCLUSION This study has identified β-ketosulfones as novel and non-cytotoxic urease inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarosh Iqbal
- H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan.,Department of Applied Chemistry, Government College University, Faisalabad-38000, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Ajmal Khan
- H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan.,Natural and Medical Sciences Research Center, University of Nizwa, P.O. Box 33, Birkat Al Mauz, Nizwa 616, Sultanate of Oman
| | - Rashid Nazir
- H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan
| | - Shumaila Kiran
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Government College University, Faisalabad-38000, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Shahnaz Perveen
- PCSIR Laboratories Complex Karachi, Shahrah-e-Dr. Salimuzzaman Siddiqui, Karachi-75280, Pakistan
| | - Khalid M Khan
- H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan.,Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Institute for Research and Medical Consultations (IRMC), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 31441, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad I Choudhary
- H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan.,Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah-214412, Saudi Arabia
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Mazzei L, Cianci M, Contaldo U, Ciurli S. Insights into Urease Inhibition by N-( n-Butyl) Phosphoric Triamide through an Integrated Structural and Kinetic Approach. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2019; 67:2127-2138. [PMID: 30735374 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.8b04791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The nickel-dependent enzyme urease represents a negative element for the efficiency of soil nitrogen fertilization as well as a virulence factor for a large number of pathogenic and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The development of ever more efficient urease inhibitors demands knowledge of their modes of action at the molecular level. N-( n-Butyl)-phosphoric triamide (NBPTO) is the oxo-derivative of N-( n-butyl)-thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT), which is extensively employed in agriculture to increase the efficiency of urea-based fertilizers. The 1.45 Å resolution structure of the enzyme-inhibitor complex obtained upon incubation of Sporosarcina pasteurii urease (SPU) with NBPTO shows the presence of diamido phosphoric acid (DAP), generated upon enzymatic hydrolysis of NBPTO with the release of n-butyl amine. DAP is bound in a tridentate binding mode to the two Ni(II) ions in the active site of urease via two O atoms and an amide NH2 group, whereas the second amide group of DAP points away from the metal center into the active-site channel. The mobile flap modulating the size of the active-site cavity is found in a disordered closed-open conformation. A kinetic characterization of the NBPTO-based inhibition of both bacterial (SPU) and plant ( Canavalia ensiformis or jack bean, JBU) ureases, carried out by calorimetric measurements, indicates the occurrence of a reversible slow-inhibition mode of action. The latter is characterized by a very small value of the equilibrium dissociation constant of the urease-DAP complex caused, in turn, by the large rate constant for the formation of the enzyme-inhibitor complex. The much greater capability of NBPTO to inhibit urease, as compared with that of NBPT, is thus not caused by the presence of a P═O moiety versus a P═S moiety, as previously suggested, but rather by the readiness of NBPTO to react with urease without the need to convert one of the P-NH2 amide moieties to its P-OH acid derivative, as in the case of NBPT. The latter process is indeed characterized by a very small equilibrium constant that reduces drastically the concentration of the active form of the inhibitor in the case of NBPT. This indicates that high-efficiency phosphoramide-based urease inhibitors must have at least one O atom bound to the central P atom in order for the molecule to efficiently and rapidly bind to the dinickel center of the enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Mazzei
- Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology , University of Bologna , 40126 Bologna , Italy
| | - Michele Cianci
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences , Polytechnic University of Marche , 60121 Ancona , Italy
| | - Umberto Contaldo
- Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology , University of Bologna , 40126 Bologna , Italy
| | - Stefano Ciurli
- Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology , University of Bologna , 40126 Bologna , Italy
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5
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Tarsia C, Danielli A, Florini F, Cinelli P, Ciurli S, Zambelli B. Targeting Helicobacter pylori urease activity and maturation: In-cell high-throughput approach for drug discovery. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2018; 1862:2245-2253. [PMID: 30048738 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2018.07.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Revised: 07/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium strongly associated with gastric cancer. It thrives in the acidic environment of the gastric niche of large portions of the human population using a unique adaptive mechanism that involves the catalytic activity of the nickel-dependent enzyme urease. Targeting urease represents a key strategy for drug design and H. pylori eradication. METHOD Here, we describe a novel method to screen, directly in the cellular environment, urease inhibitors. A ureolytic Escherichia coli strain was engineered by cloning the entire urease operon in an expression plasmid and used to test in-cell urease inhibition with a high-throughput colorimetric assay. A two-plasmid system was further developed to evaluate the ability of small peptides to block the protein interactions that lead to urease maturation. RESULTS The developed assay is a robust cellular model to test, directly in the cell environment, urease inhibitors. The efficacy of a co-expressed peptide to affect the interaction between UreF and UreD, two accessory proteins necessary for urease activation, was observed. This event involves a process that occurs through folding upon binding, pointing to the importance of intrinsically disordered hot spots in protein interfaces. CONCLUSIONS The developed system allows the concomitant screening of a large number of drug candidates that interfere with the urease activity both at the level of the enzyme catalysis and maturation. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE As inhibition of urease has the potential of being a global antibacterial strategy for a large number of infections, this work paves the way for the development of new candidates for antibacterial drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cinzia Tarsia
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Viale G. Fanin 40, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Alberto Danielli
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Viale G. Fanin 40, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesca Florini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Viale G. Fanin 40, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Paolo Cinelli
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Viale G. Fanin 40, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Stefano Ciurli
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Viale G. Fanin 40, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Barbara Zambelli
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Viale G. Fanin 40, 40127 Bologna, Italy.
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Mazzei L, Cianci M, Contaldo U, Musiani F, Ciurli S. Urease Inhibition in the Presence of N-(n-Butyl)thiophosphoric Triamide, a Suicide Substrate: Structure and Kinetics. Biochemistry 2017; 56:5391-5404. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.7b00750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Luca Mazzei
- Laboratory
of Bioinorganic Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Michele Cianci
- Department
of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Umberto Contaldo
- Laboratory
of Bioinorganic Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesco Musiani
- Laboratory
of Bioinorganic Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Stefano Ciurli
- Laboratory
of Bioinorganic Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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Gou W, Zheng P, Tian L, Gao M, Zhang L, Akram NA, Ashraf M. Exogenous application of urea and a urease inhibitor improves drought stress tolerance in maize (Zea mays L.). JOURNAL OF PLANT RESEARCH 2017; 130:599-609. [PMID: 28324190 DOI: 10.1007/s10265-017-0933-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2016] [Accepted: 12/14/2016] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Drought is believed to cause many metabolic changes which affect plant growth and development. However, it might be mitigated by various inorganic substances, such as nitrogen. Thus, the study was carried out to investigate the effect of foliar-applied urea with or without urease inhibitor N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) on a maize cultivar under drought stress simulated by 15% (w/v) polyethylene glycol 6000. Foliar-applied urea resulted in a significant increase in plant dry weight, relative water content, and photosynthetic pigments under water stress condition. Furthermore, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and hydrogen peroxidase (CAT), were enhanced with all spraying treatments under drought stress, which led to decreases in accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide anion ([Formula: see text]) and malondialdehyde (MDA). The contents of soluble protein and soluble sugar accumulated remarkably with urea-applied under drought stress condition. Moreover, a further enhancement in above metabolites was observed by spraying a mixture of urea and urease inhibitor as compared to urea sprayed only. Taken together, our findings show that foliar application of urea and a urease inhibitor could significantly enhance drought tolerance of maize through protecting photosynthetic apparatus, activating antioxidant defense system and improving osmoregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Gou
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, People's Republic of China
| | - Pufan Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, People's Republic of China
| | - Mei Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, People's Republic of China
| | - Lixin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, People's Republic of China.
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Rootstock effect on serotonin and nutritional quality of tomatoes produced under low temperature and light conditions. J Food Compost Anal 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jfca.2015.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
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9
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Zanin L, Venuti S, Tomasi N, Zamboni A, De Brito Francisco RM, Varanini Z, Pinton R. Short-Term Treatment with the Urease Inhibitor N-(n-Butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Alters Urea Assimilation and Modulates Transcriptional Profiles of Genes Involved in Primary and Secondary Metabolism in Maize Seedlings. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2016; 7:845. [PMID: 27446099 PMCID: PMC4916206 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2016.00845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2016] [Accepted: 05/30/2016] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
To limit nitrogen (N) losses from the soil, it has been suggested to provide urea to crops in conjunction with the urease inhibitor N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT). However, recent studies reported that NBPT affects urea uptake and urease activity in plants. To shed light on these latter aspects, the effects of NBPT were studied analysing transcriptomic and metabolic changes occurring in urea-fed maize seedlings after a short-term exposure to the inhibitor. We provide evidence that NBPT treatment led to a wide reprogramming of plant metabolism. NBPT inhibited the activity of endogenous urease limiting the release and assimilation of ureic-ammonium, with a simultaneous accumulation of urea in plant tissues. Furthermore, NBPT determined changes in the glutamine, glutamate, and asparagine contents. Microarray data indicate that NBPT affects ureic-N assimilation and primary metabolism, such as glycolysis, TCA cycle, and electron transport chain, while activates the phenylalanine/tyrosine-derivative pathway. Moreover, the expression of genes relating to the transport and complexation of divalent metals was strongly modulated by NBPT. Data here presented suggest that when NBPT is provided in conjunction with urea an imbalance between C and N compounds might occur in plant cells. Under this condition, root cells also seem to activate a response to maintain the homeostasis of some micronutrients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Zanin
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agroalimentari, Ambientali e Animali, University of UdineUdine, Italy
| | - Silvia Venuti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agroalimentari, Ambientali e Animali, University of UdineUdine, Italy
| | - Nicola Tomasi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agroalimentari, Ambientali e Animali, University of UdineUdine, Italy
| | - Anita Zamboni
- Department of Biotechnology, University of VeronaVerona, Italy
| | | | - Zeno Varanini
- Department of Biotechnology, University of VeronaVerona, Italy
| | - Roberto Pinton
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agroalimentari, Ambientali e Animali, University of UdineUdine, Italy
- *Correspondence: Roberto Pinton
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Zanin L, Tomasi N, Zamboni A, Varanini Z, Pinton R. The Urease Inhibitor NBPT Negatively Affects DUR3-mediated Uptake and Assimilation of Urea in Maize Roots. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2015; 6:1007. [PMID: 26635834 PMCID: PMC4652015 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2015.01007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2015] [Accepted: 10/30/2015] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Despite the widespread use of urease inhibitors in agriculture, little information is available on their effect on nitrogen (N) uptake and assimilation. Aim of this work was to study, at physiological and transcriptional level, the effects of N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) on urea nutrition in hydroponically grown maize plants. Presence of NBPT in the nutrient solution limited the capacity of plants to utilize urea as a N-source; this was shown by a decrease in urea uptake rate and (15)N accumulation. Noteworthy, these negative effects were evident only when plants were fed with urea, as NBPT did not alter (15)N accumulation in nitrate-fed plants. NBPT also impaired the growth of Arabidopsis plants when urea was used as N-source, while having no effect on plants grown with nitrate or ammonium. This response was related, at least in part, to a direct effect of NBPT on the high affinity urea transport system. Impact of NBPT on urea uptake was further evaluated using lines of Arabidopsis overexpressing ZmDUR3 and dur3-knockout; results suggest that not only transport but also urea assimilation could be compromised by the inhibitor. This hypothesis was reinforced by an over-accumulation of urea and a decrease in ammonium concentration in NBPT-treated plants. Furthermore, transcriptional analyses showed that in maize roots NBPT treatment severely impaired the expression of genes involved in the cytosolic pathway of ureic-N assimilation and ammonium transport. NBPT also limited the expression of a gene coding for a transcription factor highly induced by urea and possibly playing a crucial role in the regulation of its acquisition. This work provides evidence that NBPT can heavily interfere with urea nutrition in maize plants, limiting influx as well as the following assimilation pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Zanin
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of UdineUdine, Italy
- *Correspondence: Laura Zanin,
| | - Nicola Tomasi
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of UdineUdine, Italy
| | - Anita Zamboni
- Department of Biotechnology, University of VeronaVerona, Italy
| | - Zeno Varanini
- Department of Biotechnology, University of VeronaVerona, Italy
| | - Roberto Pinton
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of UdineUdine, Italy
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Arkoun M, Sarda X, Jannin L, Laîné P, Etienne P, Garcia-Mina JM, Yvin JC, Ourry A. Hydroponics versus field lysimeter studies of urea, ammonium and nitrate uptake by oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.). JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2012; 63:5245-58. [PMID: 22844096 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/ers183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
N-fertilizer use efficiencies are affected by their chemical composition and suffer from potential N-losses by volatilization. In a field lysimeter experiment, (15)N-labelled fertilizers were used to follow N uptake by Brassica napus L. and assess N-losses by volatilization. Use of urea with NBPT (urease inhibitor) showed the best efficiency with the lowest N losses (8% of N applied compared with 25% with urea alone). Plants receiving ammonium sulphate, had similar yield achieved through a better N mobilization from vegetative tissues to the seeds, despite a lower N uptake resulting from a higher volatilization (43% of applied N). Amounts of (15)N in the plant were also higher when plants were fertilized with ammonium nitrate but N-losses reached 23% of applied N. In parallel, hydroponic experiments showed a deleterious effect of ammonium and urea on the growth of oilseed rape. This was alleviated by the nitrate supply, which was preferentially taken up. B. napus was also characterized by a very low potential for urea uptake. BnDUR3 and BnAMT1, encoding urea and ammonium transporters, were up-regulated by urea, suggesting that urea-grown plants suffered from nitrogen deficiency. The results also suggested a role for nitrate as a signal for the expression of BnDUR3, in addition to its role as a major nutrient. Overall, the results of the hydroponic study showed that urea itself does not contribute significantly to the N nutrition of oilseed rape. Moreover, it may contribute indirectly since a better use efficiency for urea fertilizer, which was further increased by the application of a urease inhibitor, was observed in the lysimeter study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustapha Arkoun
- Université de Caen Basse-Normandie, UMR 950 Ecophysiologie Végétale, Agronomie et nutritions N, C, S, Esplanade de la Paix, F-14032 Caen Cedex, France.
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Ariz I, Cruchaga S, Lasa B, Moran JF, Jauregui I, Aparicio-Tejo PM. The physiological implications of urease inhibitors on N metabolism during germination of Pisum sativum and Spinacea oleracea seeds. JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2012; 169:673-81. [PMID: 22405591 DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2012.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2011] [Revised: 12/15/2011] [Accepted: 01/02/2012] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The development of new nitrogen fertilizers is necessary to optimize crop production whilst improving the environmental aspects arising from the use of nitrogenous fertilization as a cultural practice. The use of urease inhibitors aims to improve the efficiency of urea as a nitrogen fertilizer by preventing its loss from the soil as ammonia. However, although the action of urease inhibitors is aimed at the urease activity in soil, their availability for the plant may affect its urease activity. The aim of this work was therefore to evaluate the effect of two urease inhibitors, namely acetohydroxamic acid (AHA) and N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT), on the germination of pea and spinach seeds. The results obtained show that urease inhibitors do not affect the germination process to any significant degree, with the only process affected being imbibition in spinach, thus also suggesting different urease activities for both plants. Our findings therefore suggest an activity other than the previously reported urolytic activity for urease in spinach. Furthermore, of the two inhibitors tested, NBPT was found to be the most effective at inhibiting urease activity, especially in pea seedlings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Idoia Ariz
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología-IdAB, CSIC-UPNa-GN, 31192 Mutilva Baja, Navarra, Spain
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Ariz I, Cruz C, Moran JF, González-Moro MB, García-Olaverri C, González-Murua C, Martins-Loução MA, Aparicio-Tejo PM. Depletion of the heaviest stable N isotope is associated with NH4+/NH3 toxicity in NH4+-fed plants. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2011; 11:83. [PMID: 21575190 PMCID: PMC3224212 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2229-11-83] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2010] [Accepted: 05/16/2011] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In plants, nitrate (NO3-) nutrition gives rise to a natural N isotopic signature (δ15N), which correlates with the δ15N of the N source. However, little is known about the relationship between the δ15N of the N source and the 14N/15N fractionation in plants under ammonium (NH4+) nutrition. When NH4+ is the major N source, the two forms, NH4+ and NH3, are present in the nutrient solution. There is a 1.025 thermodynamic isotope effect between NH3 (g) and NH4+ (aq) which drives to a different δ15N. Nine plant species with different NH4+-sensitivities were cultured hydroponically with NO3- or NH4+ as the sole N sources, and plant growth and δ15N were determined. Short-term NH4+/NH3 uptake experiments at pH 6.0 and 9.0 (which favours NH3 form) were carried out in order to support and substantiate our hypothesis. N source fractionation throughout the whole plant was interpreted on the basis of the relative transport of NH4+ and NH3. RESULTS Several NO3--fed plants were consistently enriched in 15N, whereas plants under NH4+ nutrition were depleted of 15N. It was shown that more sensitive plants to NH4+ toxicity were the most depleted in 15N. In parallel, N-deficient pea and spinach plants fed with 15NH4+ showed an increased level of NH3 uptake at alkaline pH that was related to the 15N depletion of the plant. Tolerant to NH4+ pea plants or sensitive spinach plants showed similar trend on 15N depletion while slight differences in the time kinetics were observed during the initial stages. The use of RbNO3 as control discarded that the differences observed arise from pH detrimental effects. CONCLUSIONS This article proposes that the negative values of δ15N in NH4+-fed plants are originated from NH3 uptake by plants. Moreover, this depletion of the heavier N isotope is proportional to the NH4+/NH3 toxicity in plants species. Therefore, we hypothesise that the low affinity transport system for NH4+ may have two components: one that transports N in the molecular form and is associated with fractionation and another that transports N in the ionic form and is not associated with fractionation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Idoia Ariz
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología, IdAB – CSIC - Universidad Pública de Navarra - Gobierno de Navarra, Campus de Arrosadía s/n, E-31006 Pamplona, Navarra, Spain
| | - Cristina Cruz
- Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências, Centro de Biologia Ambiental - CBA, Campo Grande, Bloco C-4, Piso 1, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Jose F Moran
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología, IdAB – CSIC - Universidad Pública de Navarra - Gobierno de Navarra, Campus de Arrosadía s/n, E-31006 Pamplona, Navarra, Spain
| | - María B González-Moro
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Basque Country (UPV-EHU), Apdo. 644; E-48080 Bilbao, Vizcaya, Spain
| | - Carmen García-Olaverri
- Department of Statistics and Operations Research, Public University of Navarre, Campus de Arrosadía s/n, E-31006 Pamplona, Navarra, Spain
| | - Carmen González-Murua
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Basque Country (UPV-EHU), Apdo. 644; E-48080 Bilbao, Vizcaya, Spain
| | - Maria A Martins-Loução
- Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências, Centro de Biologia Ambiental - CBA, Campo Grande, Bloco C-4, Piso 1, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Pedro M Aparicio-Tejo
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología, IdAB – CSIC - Universidad Pública de Navarra - Gobierno de Navarra, Campus de Arrosadía s/n, E-31006 Pamplona, Navarra, Spain
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