1
|
Mendes NAC, Cunha MLO, Bosse MA, Silva VM, Moro AL, Agathokleous E, Vicente EF, Reis ARD. Physiological and biochemical role of nickel in nodulation and biological nitrogen fixation in Vigna unguiculata L. Walp. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2023; 201:107869. [PMID: 37421847 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2023.107869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023]
Abstract
Studies on the role of nickel (Ni) in photosynthetic and antioxidant metabolism, as well as in flavonoid synthesis and biological fixation nitrogen in cowpea crop are scarce. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of Ni in metabolism, photosynthesis and nodulation of cowpea plants. A completely randomized experiment was performed in greenhouse, with cowpea plants cultivated under 0, 0.5, 1, 2, or 3 mg kg-1 Ni, as Ni sulfate. In the study the following parameters were evaluated: activity of urease, nitrate reductase, superoxide dismutase, catalase and ascorbate peroxidase; concentration of urea, n-compounds, photosynthetic pigments, flavonoids, H2O2 and MDA; estimative of gas exchange, and biomass as plants, yield and weight of 100 seeds. At whole-plant level, Ni affected root biomass, number of seeds per pot, and yield, increasing it at 0.5 mg kg-1 and leading to inhibition at 2-3 mg kg-1 (e.g. number of seeds per pot and nodulation). The whole-plant level enhancement by 0.5 mg Ni kg-1 occurred along with increased photosynthetic pigments, photosynthesis, ureides, and catalase, and decreased hydrogen peroxide concentration. This study presents fundamental new insights regarding Ni effect on N metabolism, and nodulation that can be helpful to increase cowpea yield. Considering the increasing population and its demand for staple food, these results contribute to the enhancement of agricultural techniques that increase crop productivity and help to maintain human food security.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Matheus Luís Oliveira Cunha
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane S/n, Jaboticabal, SP, Postal Code 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Marco Antonio Bosse
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane S/n, Jaboticabal, SP, Postal Code 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Vinícius Martins Silva
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane S/n, Jaboticabal, SP, Postal Code 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Adriana Lima Moro
- Department of Crop Production, University of Western São Paulo (UNOESTE), Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil
| | - Evgenios Agathokleous
- Department of Ecology, School of Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology (NUIST), Nanjing 210044, Jiangsu, China
| | - Eduardo Festozo Vicente
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rua Domingos da Costa Lopes 780, Jd. Itaipu, Postal Code 17602-496, Tupã, SP, Brazil
| | - André Rodrigues Dos Reis
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rua Domingos da Costa Lopes 780, Jd. Itaipu, Postal Code 17602-496, Tupã, SP, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Bauer B, von Wirén N. Modulating tiller formation in cereal crops by the signalling function of fertilizer nitrogen forms. Sci Rep 2020; 10:20504. [PMID: 33239682 PMCID: PMC7689482 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-77467-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Cereal crop yield comprises interrelated components, among which the number of tillers is highly responsive to nitrogen fertilization. We addressed the hypothesis of whether the supply of different nitrogen forms can be employed to manipulate the tiller number in cereal crops. Relative to urea or ammonium, exclusive supply of nitrate increased tiller number in hydroponically-grown barley plants. Thereby, tiller number correlated positively with the root-to-shoot translocation rate of endogenous cytokinins. External supply of a synthetic cytokinin analog further stimulated tillering in nitrate-containing but not in urea-containing nutrient solution. When the cytokinin analog 6-benzylaminopurine riboside was externally supplied to roots, its translocation to shoots was 2.5 times higher in presence of nitrate than in presence of urea or ammonium, suggesting that cytokinin loading into the xylem is affected by different nitrogen forms. We then translated this finding to field scale, cultivated winter wheat in four environments, and confirmed that nitrate fertilization significantly increased tiller number in a dose-dependent manner. As assessed in 22 winter wheat cultivars, nitrogen form-dependent tiller formation was subject to substantial genotypic variation. We conclude that cytokinin-mediated signaling effects of fertilizer nitrogen forms can be employed as a management tool to regulate the tiller number in cereal crops.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bernhard Bauer
- Molecular Plant Nutrition, Leibniz-Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, 06466, Gatersleben, Germany.,Crop Production and Crop Protection, Institute of Biomass Research, University of Applied Sciences Weihenstephan-Triesdorf, Markgrafenstrasse 16, 91746, Weidenbach, Germany
| | - Nicolaus von Wirén
- Molecular Plant Nutrition, Leibniz-Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, 06466, Gatersleben, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Garg N, Saroy K. Interactive effects of polyamines and arbuscular mycorrhiza in modulating plant biomass, N 2 fixation, ureide, and trehalose metabolism in Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. genotypes under nickel stress. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 27:3043-3064. [PMID: 31838702 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-07300-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Nickel (Ni) is an essential micronutrient but considered toxic for plant growth when present in excess in the soil. Polyamines (PAs) and arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) play key roles in alleviating metal toxicity in plants. Present study compared the roles of AM and PAs in improving rhizobial symbiosis, ureide, and trehalose (Tre) metabolism under Ni stress in Cajanus cajan (pigeon pea) genotypes (Pusa 2001, AL 201). The results documented significant negative impacts of Ni on plant biomass, especially roots, more in AL 201 than Pusa 2001. Symbiotic efficiency with Rhizobium and AM declined under Ni stress, resulting in reduced AM colonization, N2 fixation, and ureide biosynthesis. This decline was proportionate to increased Ni uptake in roots and nodules. Put-reduced Ni uptake improved plant growth and functional efficiency of nodules and ureides synthesis, with higher positive effects than other PAs. However, AM inoculations were most effective in enhancing nodulation, nitrogen fixing potential, and Tre synthesis under Ni toxicity. Combined applications of AM with respective PAs, especially +Put+AM, were highly beneficial in alleviating Ni-induced nodule senescence by arresting leghemoglobin degradation and improving functional efficiency of nodules by boosting Tre metabolism, especially in Pusa 2001. The study suggested use of Put along with AM as a promising approach in imparting Ni tolerance to pigeon pea plants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Neera Garg
- Department of Botany, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India.
| | - Kiran Saroy
- Department of Botany, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Siqueira Freitas D, Wurr Rodak B, Rodrigues dos Reis A, de Barros Reis F, Soares de Carvalho T, Schulze J, Carbone Carneiro MA, Guimarães Guilherme LR. Hidden Nickel Deficiency? Nickel Fertilization via Soil Improves Nitrogen Metabolism and Grain Yield in Soybean Genotypes. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2018; 9:614. [PMID: 29868070 PMCID: PMC5952315 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2018.00614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2017] [Accepted: 04/18/2018] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Nickel (Ni)-a component of urease and hydrogenase-was the latest nutrient to be recognized as an essential element for plants. However, to date there are no records of Ni deficiency for annual species cultivated under field conditions, possibly because of the non-appearance of obvious and distinctive symptoms, i.e., a hidden (or latent) deficiency. Soybean, a crop cultivated on soils poor in extractable Ni, has a high dependence on biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), in which Ni plays a key role. Thus, we hypothesized that Ni fertilization in soybean genotypes results in a better nitrogen physiological function and in higher grain production due to the hidden deficiency of this micronutrient. To verify this hypothesis, two simultaneous experiments were carried out, under greenhouse and field conditions, with Ni supply of 0.0 or 0.5 mg of Ni kg-1 of soil. For this, we used 15 soybean genotypes and two soybean isogenic lines (urease positive, Eu3; urease activity-null, eu3-a, formerly eu3-e1). Plants were evaluated for yield, Ni and N concentration, photosynthesis, and N metabolism. Nickel fertilization resulted in greater grain yield in some genotypes, indicating the hidden deficiency of Ni in both conditions. Yield gains of up to 2.9 g per plant in greenhouse and up to 1,502 kg ha-1 in field conditions were associated with a promoted N metabolism, namely, leaf N concentration, ammonia, ureides, urea, and urease activity, which separated the genotypes into groups of Ni responsiveness. Nickel supply also positively affected photosynthesis in the genotypes, never causing detrimental effects, except for the eu3-a mutant, which due to the absence of ureolytic activity accumulated excess urea in leaves and had reduced yield. In summary, the effect of Ni on the plants was positive and the extent of this effect was controlled by genotype-environment interaction. The application of 0.5 mg kg-1 of Ni resulted in safe levels of this element in grains for human health consumption. Including Ni applications in fertilization programs may provide significant yield benefits in soybean production on low Ni soil. This might also be the case for other annual crops, especially legumes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Douglas Siqueira Freitas
- Laboratory of Soil Microbiology and Environmental Geochemistry, Department of Soil Science, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, Brazil
| | - Bruna Wurr Rodak
- Laboratory of Soil Microbiology and Environmental Geochemistry, Department of Soil Science, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, Brazil
| | - André Rodrigues dos Reis
- Laboratory of Biology, School of Science and Engineering, São Paulo State University, Tupã, Brazil
| | | | - Teotonio Soares de Carvalho
- Laboratory of Soil Microbiology and Environmental Geochemistry, Department of Soil Science, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, Brazil
| | - Joachim Schulze
- Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and Crop Physiology, Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Marco A. Carbone Carneiro
- Laboratory of Soil Microbiology and Environmental Geochemistry, Department of Soil Science, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, Brazil
| | - Luiz R. Guimarães Guilherme
- Laboratory of Soil Microbiology and Environmental Geochemistry, Department of Soil Science, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Luiz R. Guimarães Guilherme
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
|
6
|
Zanin L, Zamboni A, Monte R, Tomasi N, Varanini Z, Cesco S, Pinton R. Transcriptomic Analysis Highlights Reciprocal Interactions of Urea and Nitrate for Nitrogen Acquisition by Maize Roots. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 56:532-48. [DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcu202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
|
7
|
Zanin L, Tomasi N, Wirdnam C, Meier S, Komarova NY, Mimmo T, Cesco S, Rentsch D, Pinton R. Isolation and functional characterization of a high affinity urea transporter from roots of Zea mays. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2014; 14:222. [PMID: 25168432 PMCID: PMC4160556 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-014-0222-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2014] [Accepted: 08/06/2014] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite its extensive use as a nitrogen fertilizer, the role of urea as a directly accessible nitrogen source for crop plants is still poorly understood. So far, the physiological and molecular aspects of urea acquisition have been investigated only in few plant species highlighting the importance of a high-affinity transport system. With respect to maize, a worldwide-cultivated crop requiring high amounts of nitrogen fertilizer, the mechanisms involved in the transport of urea have not yet been identified. The aim of the present work was to characterize the high-affinity urea transport system in maize roots and to identify the high affinity urea transporter. RESULTS Kinetic characterization of urea uptake (<300 μM) demonstrated the presence in maize roots of a high-affinity and saturable transport system; this system is inducible by urea itself showing higher Vmax and Km upon induction. At molecular level, the ORF sequence coding for the urea transporter, ZmDUR3, was isolated and functionally characterized using different heterologous systems: a dur3 yeast mutant strain, tobacco protoplasts and a dur3 Arabidopsis mutant. The expression of the isolated sequence, ZmDUR3-ORF, in dur3 yeast mutant demonstrated the ability of the encoded protein to mediate urea uptake into cells. The subcellular targeting of DUR3/GFP fusion proteins in tobacco protoplasts gave results comparable to the localization of the orthologous transporters of Arabidopsis and rice, suggesting a partial localization at the plasma membrane. Moreover, the overexpression of ZmDUR3 in the atdur3-3 Arabidopsis mutant showed to complement the phenotype, since different ZmDUR3-overexpressing lines showed either comparable or enhanced 15[N]-urea influx than wild-type plants. These data provide a clear evidence in planta for a role of ZmDUR3 in urea acquisition from an extra-radical solution. CONCLUSIONS This work highlights the capability of maize plants to take up urea via an inducible and high-affinity transport system. ZmDUR3 is a high-affinity urea transporter mediating the uptake of this molecule into roots. Data may provide a key to better understand the mechanisms involved in urea acquisition and contribute to deepen the knowledge on the overall nitrogen-use efficiency in crop plants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Zanin
- />Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali, University of Udine, via delle Scienze 208, I-33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Nicola Tomasi
- />Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali, University of Udine, via delle Scienze 208, I-33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Corina Wirdnam
- />Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Altenbergrain 21, CH-3013 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Meier
- />Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Altenbergrain 21, CH-3013 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Nataliya Y Komarova
- />Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Altenbergrain 21, CH-3013 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Tanja Mimmo
- />Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano, Piazza Università 5, I-39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Stefano Cesco
- />Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano, Piazza Università 5, I-39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Doris Rentsch
- />Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Altenbergrain 21, CH-3013 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Roberto Pinton
- />Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali, University of Udine, via delle Scienze 208, I-33100 Udine, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Planchais S, Cabassa C, Toka I, Justin AM, Renou JP, Savouré A, Carol P. BASIC AMINO ACID CARRIER 2 gene expression modulates arginine and urea content and stress recovery in Arabidopsis leaves. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2014; 5:330. [PMID: 25076951 PMCID: PMC4099941 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2014.00330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2014] [Accepted: 06/23/2014] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
In plants, basic amino acids are important for the synthesis of proteins and signaling molecules and for nitrogen recycling. The Arabidopsis nuclear gene BASIC AMINO ACID CARRIER 2 (BAC2) encodes a mitochondria-located carrier that transports basic amino acids in vitro. We present here an analysis of the physiological and genetic function of BAC2 in planta. When BAC2 is overexpressed in vivo, it triggers catabolism of arginine, a basic amino acid, leading to arginine depletion and urea accumulation in leaves. BAC2 expression was known to be strongly induced by stress. We found that compared to wild type plants, bac2 null mutants (bac2-1) recover poorly from hyperosmotic stress when restarting leaf expansion. The bac2-1 transcriptome differs from the wild-type transcriptome in control conditions and under hyperosmotic stress. The expression of genes encoding stress-related transcription factors (TF), arginine metabolism enzymes, and transporters is particularly disturbed in bac2-1, and in control conditions, the bac2-1 transcriptome has some hallmarks of a wild-type stress transcriptome. The BAC2 carrier is therefore involved in controlling the balance of arginine and arginine-derived metabolites and its associated amino acid metabolism is physiologically important in equipping plants to respond to and recover from stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Cécile Cabassa
- Laboratory APCE, URF5, Université Pierre et Marie CurieParis, France
| | - Iman Toka
- Laboratory APCE, URF5, Université Pierre et Marie CurieParis, France
| | - Anne-Marie Justin
- Laboratory APCE, URF5, Université Pierre et Marie CurieParis, France
| | | | - Arnould Savouré
- Laboratory APCE, URF5, Université Pierre et Marie CurieParis, France
| | - Pierre Carol
- Laboratory APCE, URF5, Université Pierre et Marie CurieParis, France
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Kutman BY, Kutman UB, Cakmak I. Effects of seed nickel reserves or externally supplied nickel on the growth, nitrogen metabolites and nitrogen use efficiency of urea- or nitrate-fed soybean. PLANT AND SOIL 2014; 376:261-276. [PMID: 0 DOI: 10.1007/s11104-013-1983-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
|
10
|
Barunawati N, Giehl RFH, Bauer B, von Wirén N. The influence of inorganic nitrogen fertilizer forms on micronutrient retranslocation and accumulation in grains of winter wheat. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2013; 4:320. [PMID: 23967006 PMCID: PMC3745003 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2013.00320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2013] [Accepted: 07/29/2013] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
The fortification of cereal grains with metal micronutrients is a major target to combat human malnutrition of Fe and Zn. Based on recent studies showing that N fertilization can promote Fe and Zn accumulation in cereal grains, we investigated here the influence of nitrate- or ammonium-based N fertilization on the accumulation of Fe, Zn, and Cu as well as metal chelator pools in flag leaves and grains of winter wheat. Fertilization with either N form increased the concentrations of N and of the metal chelator nicotianamine (NA) in green leaves, while 2'-deoxymugineic acid (DMA) remained unaffected. Despite the differential response to N fertilization of NA and DMA levels in flag leaves, N fertilization remained without any significant effect on the net export of these metals during flag leaf senescence, which accounted for approximately one third of the total Fe, Zn, or Cu content in leaves. The significant increase in the accumulation of Fe, Zn, and Cu found in the grains of primarily ammonium-fertilized plants was unrelated to the extent of metal retranslocation from flag leaves. These results indicate that an increased N nutritional status of flag leaves promotes the accumulation of Fe, Zn, and Cu in flag leaves, which is accompanied by an increased pool of NA but not of DMA. With regard to the far higher concentrations of DMA relative to NA in leaves and leaf exudates, DMA may be more relevant for the mobilization and retranslocation of these metals in high-yielding wheat production.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Nicolaus von Wirén
- Molecular Plant Nutrition, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant ResearchGatersleben, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
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.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Idoia Ariz
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología-IdAB, CSIC-UPNa-GN, 31192 Mutilva Baja, Navarra, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Cruchaga S, Artola E, Lasa B, Ariz I, Irigoyen I, Moran JF, Aparicio-Tejo PM. Short term physiological implications of NBPT application on the N metabolism of Pisum sativum and Spinacea oleracea. JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2011; 168:329-36. [PMID: 20932600 DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2010.07.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2010] [Revised: 07/23/2010] [Accepted: 07/23/2010] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
The application of urease inhibitors in conjunction with urea fertilizers as a means of reducing N loss due to ammonia volatilization requires an in-depth study of the physiological effects of these inhibitors on plants. The aim of this study was to determine how the urease inhibitor N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) affects N metabolism in pea and spinach. Plants were cultivated in pure hydroponic culture with urea as the sole N source. After 2 weeks of growth for pea, and 3 weeks for spinach, half of the plants received NBPT in their nutrient solution. Urease activity, urea and ammonium content, free amino acid composition and soluble protein were determined in leaves and roots at days 0, 1, 2, 4, 7 and 9, and the NBPT content in these tissues was determined 48h after inhibitor application. The results suggest that the effects of NBPT on spinach and pea urease activity differ, with pea being most affected by this treatment, and that the NBPT absorbed by the plant caused a clear inhibition of the urease activity in pea leaf and roots. The high urea concentration observed in leaves was associated with the development of necrotic leaf margins, and was further evidence of NBPT inhibition in these plants. A decrease in the ammonium content in roots, where N assimilation mainly takes place, was also observed. Consequently, total amino acid contents were drastically reduced upon NBPT treatment, indicating a strong alteration of the N metabolism. Furthermore, the amino acid profile showed that amidic amino acids were major components of the reduced pool of amino acids. In contrast, NBPT was absorbed to a much lesser degree by spinach plants than pea plants (35% less) and did not produce a clear inhibition of urease activity in this species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Saioa Cruchaga
- Dpto. Ciencias del Medio Natural, Campus Arrosadía, Public University of Navarra, Pamplona, Navarre, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Cao FQ, Werner AK, Dahncke K, Romeis T, Liu LH, Witte CP. Identification and characterization of proteins involved in rice urea and arginine catabolism. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2010; 154:98-108. [PMID: 20631318 PMCID: PMC2938139 DOI: 10.1104/pp.110.160929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2010] [Accepted: 07/12/2010] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Rice (Oryza sativa) production relies strongly on nitrogen (N) fertilization with urea, but the proteins involved in rice urea metabolism have not yet been characterized. Coding sequences for rice arginase, urease, and the urease accessory proteins D (UreD), F (UreF), and G (UreG) involved in urease activation were identified and cloned. The functionality of urease and the urease accessory proteins was demonstrated by complementing corresponding Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) mutants and by multiple transient coexpression of the rice proteins in Nicotiana benthamiana. Secondary structure models of rice (plant) UreD and UreF proteins revealed a possible functional conservation to bacterial orthologs, especially for UreF. Using amino-terminally StrepII-tagged urease accessory proteins, an interaction between rice UreD and urease could be shown. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic urease activation complexes seem conserved despite limited protein sequence conservation for UreF and UreD. In plant metabolism, urea is generated by the arginase reaction. Rice arginase was transiently expressed as a carboxyl-terminally StrepII-tagged fusion protein in N. benthamiana, purified, and biochemically characterized (K(m) = 67 mm, k(cat) = 490 s(-1)). The activity depended on the presence of manganese (K(d) = 1.3 microm). In physiological experiments, urease and arginase activities were not influenced by the external N source, but sole urea nutrition imbalanced the plant amino acid profile, leading to the accumulation of asparagine and glutamine in the roots. Our data indicate that reduced plant performance with urea as N source is not a direct result of insufficient urea metabolism but may in part be caused by an imbalance of N distribution.
Collapse
|
14
|
Mérigout P, Lelandais M, Bitton F, Renou JP, Briand X, Meyer C, Daniel-Vedele F. Physiological and transcriptomic aspects of urea uptake and assimilation in Arabidopsis plants. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2008; 147:1225-38. [PMID: 18508958 PMCID: PMC2442537 DOI: 10.1104/pp.108.119339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2008] [Accepted: 05/16/2008] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Urea is the major nitrogen (N) form supplied as fertilizer in agriculture, but it is also an important N metabolite in plants. Urea transport and assimilation were investigated in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Uptake studies using (15)N-labeled urea demonstrated the capacity of Arabidopsis to absorb urea and that the urea uptake was regulated by the initial N status of the plants. Urea uptake was stimulated by urea but was reduced by the presence of ammonium nitrate in the growth medium. N deficiency in plants did not affect urea uptake. Urea exerted a repressive effect on nitrate influx, whereas urea enhanced ammonium uptake. The use of [(15)N]urea and [(15)N]ammonium tracers allowed us to show that urea and ammonium assimilation pathways were similar. Finally, urea uptake was less efficient than nitrate uptake, and urea grown-plants presented signs of N starvation. We also report the first analysis, to our knowledge, of Arabidopsis gene expression profiling in response to urea. Our transcriptomic approach revealed that nitrate and ammonium transporters were transcriptionally regulated by urea as well as key enzymes of the glutamine synthetase-glutamate synthase pathway. AtDUR3, a high-affinity urea transporter in Arabidopsis, was strongly up-regulated by urea. Moreover, our transcriptomic data suggest that other genes are also involved in urea influx.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Mérigout
- INRA, Jean-Pierre Bourgin Institute, Unité de Nutrition Azotée des Plantes, F-78000 Versailles, France
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
Kojima S, Bohner A, Gassert B, Yuan L, von Wirén N. AtDUR3 represents the major transporter for high-affinity urea transport across the plasma membrane of nitrogen-deficient Arabidopsis roots. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2007; 52:30-40. [PMID: 17672841 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-313x.2007.03223.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Despite the fact that urea is a ubiquitous nitrogen source in soils and the most widespread form of nitrogen fertilizer used in agricultural plant production, membrane transporters that might contribute to the uptake of urea in plant roots have so far been characterized only in heterologous systems. Two T-DNA insertion lines, atdur3-1 and atdur3-3, that showed impaired growth on urea as a sole nitrogen source were used to investigate a role of the H+/urea co-transporter AtDUR3 in nitrogen nutrition in Arabidopsis. In transgenic lines expressing AtDUR3-promoter:GFP constructs, promoter activity was upregulated under nitrogen deficiency and localized to the rhizodermis, including root hairs, as well as to the cortex in more basal root zones. Protein gel blot analysis of two-phase partitioned root membrane fractions and whole-mount immunolocalization in root hairs revealed the plasma membrane to be enriched in AtDUR3 protein. Expression of the AtDUR3 gene in nitrogen-deficient roots was repressed by ammonium and nitrate but induced after supply of urea. Higher accumulation of urea in roots of wild-type plants relative to atdur3-1 and atdur3-3 confirmed that urea was the substrate transported by AtDUR3. Influx of 15N-labeled urea in atdur3-1 and atdur3-3 showed a linear concentration dependency up to 200 microM external urea, whereas influx in wild-type roots followed saturation kinetics with an apparent Km of 4 microM. The results indicate that AtDUR3 is the major transporter for high-affinity urea uptake in Arabidopsis roots and suggest that the high substrate affinity of AtDUR3 reflects an adaptation to the low urea levels usually found in unfertilized soils.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Soichi Kojima
- Molecular Plant Nutrition, Institute for Plant Nutrition, University of Hohenheim, D-70593 Stuttgart, Germany
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
Inselsbacher E, Cambui CA, Richter A, Stange CF, Mercier H, Wanek W. Microbial activities and foliar uptake of nitrogen in the epiphytic bromeliad Vriesea gigantea. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2007; 175:311-320. [PMID: 17587379 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2007.02098.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
In contrast to terrestrial plants, epiphytic tank bromeliads take up nutrients mainly over their tank leaf surface. The form in which nutrients are available in the tanks is determined by the source and the complex interplay between tank microbes, which transform them and the epiphytes that take them up. To elucidate the importance of different nitrogenous compounds for the nitrogen (N) nutrition of Vriesea gigantea from the Atlantic Rainforest, Brazil, N transformation processes in tank water as well as foliar uptake rates were estimated by 15N labelling techniques. Microorganisms actively transformed N compounds in the tank. Specifically, organic N compounds were rapidly mineralized to NH4+, while nitrification was negligible. Plants took up both organic and inorganic N forms, with a clear preference for NH4+. NH4+ comprised the largest and, because of fast mineralization rates, the most constant dissolved N pool in the tank water. Excretion of ureases by the plants together with an unusual uptake kinetic for urea also suggests that urea may be potentially important as an N source.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erich Inselsbacher
- Department of Chemical Ecology and Ecosystem Research, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Camila Aguetoni Cambui
- Departamento de Botânica, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, C.P. 11461, São Paulo, SP 05422-970, Brazil
| | - Andreas Richter
- Department of Chemical Ecology and Ecosystem Research, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Claus Florian Stange
- Institute of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, UFZ Centre for Environmental Research, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Weidenplan 14, 06120 Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Helenice Mercier
- Departamento de Botânica, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, C.P. 11461, São Paulo, SP 05422-970, Brazil
| | - Wolfgang Wanek
- Department of Chemical Ecology and Ecosystem Research, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Witte CP, Tiller SA, Taylor MA, Davies HV. Leaf urea metabolism in potato. Urease activity profile and patterns of recovery and distribution of (15)N after foliar urea application in wild-type and urease-antisense transgenics. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2002; 128:1129-36. [PMID: 11891267 PMCID: PMC152224 DOI: 10.1104/pp.010506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2001] [Revised: 10/10/2001] [Accepted: 11/21/2001] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The influence of urease activity on N distribution and losses after foliar urea application was investigated using wild-type and transgenic potato (Solanum tuberosum cv Désirée) plants in which urease activity was down-regulated. A good correlation between urease activity and (15)N urea metabolism (NH(3) accumulation) was found. The general accumulation of ammonium in leaves treated with urea indicated that urease activity is not rate limiting, at least initially, for the assimilation of urea N by the plant. It is surprising that there was no effect of urease activity on either N losses or (15)N distribution in the plants after foliar urea application. Experiments with wild-type plants in the field using foliar-applied (15)N urea demonstrated an initial rapid export of N from urea-treated leaves to the tubers within 48 h, followed by a more gradual redistribution during the subsequent days. Only 10% to 18% of urea N applied was lost (presumably because of NH(3) volatilization) in contrast to far greater losses reported in several other studies. The pattern of urease activity in the canopy was investigated during plant development. The activity per unit protein increased up to 10-fold with leaf and plant age, suggesting a correlation with increased N recycling in senescing tissues. Whereas several reports have claimed that plant urease is inducible by urea, no evidence for urease induction could be found in potato.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claus-Peter Witte
- Unit of Plant Biochemistry, Scottish Crop Research Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee DD2 5DA, United Kingdom.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|