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He Z, Shang X, Wang X, Xing Y, Zhang T, Yun J. The contribution of Ca and Mg to the accumulation of amino acids in maize: from the response of physiological and biochemical processes. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 24:579. [PMID: 38890571 PMCID: PMC11186291 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-05287-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The quality of maize kernels is significantly enhanced by amino acids, which are the fundamental building blocks of proteins. Meanwhile, calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg), as important nutrients for maize growth, are vital in regulating the metabolic pathways and enzyme activities of amino acid synthesis. Therefore, our study analyzed the response process and changes of amino acid content, endogenous hormone content, and antioxidant enzyme activity in kernels to the coupling addition of sugar alcohol-chelated Ca and Mg fertilizers with spraying on maize. RESULT (1) The coupled addition of Ca and Mg fertilizers increased the Ca and Mg content, endogenous hormone components (indole-3-acetic acid, IAA; gibberellin, GA; zeatin riboside, ZR) content, antioxidant enzyme activity, and amino acid content of maize kernels. The content of Ca and Mg in kernels increased with the increasing levels of Ca and Mg fertilizers within a certain range from the filling to the wax ripening stage, and significantly positively correlated with antioxidant enzyme activities. (2) The contents of IAA, GA, and ZR continued to rise, and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were elevated, which effectively enhanced the ability of cells to resist oxidative damage, promoted cell elongation and division, and facilitated the growth and development of maize. However, the malondialdehyde (MDA) content increased consistently, which would attack the defense system of the cell membrane plasma to some extent. (3) Leucine (LEU) exhibited the highest percentage of essential amino acid components and a gradual decline from the filling to the wax ripening stage, with the most substantial beneficial effect on essential amino acids. (4) CAT and SOD favorably governed essential amino acids, while IAA and MDA negatively regulated them. The dominant physiological driving pathway for the synthesis of essential amino acids was "IAA-CAT-LEU", in which IAA first negatively drove CAT activity, and CAT then advantageously controlled LEU synthesis. CONCLUSION These findings provide a potential approach to the physiological and biochemical metabolism of amino acid synthesis, and the nutritional quality enhancement of maize kernel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoquan He
- School of Life Sciences, Yan'an University, Yan'an, 716000, China.
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Chinese Jujube, Yan'an University, Yan'an, 716000, China.
- Key Laboratory of Applied Ecology of Universities in Shaanxi Province on the Loess Plateau, Yan'an University, Yan'an, 716000, China.
| | - Xue Shang
- School of Life Sciences, Yan'an University, Yan'an, 716000, China
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Chinese Jujube, Yan'an University, Yan'an, 716000, China
- College of Land Resource and Environment, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China
| | - Xiukang Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Yan'an University, Yan'an, 716000, China
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Chinese Jujube, Yan'an University, Yan'an, 716000, China
- Key Laboratory of Applied Ecology of Universities in Shaanxi Province on the Loess Plateau, Yan'an University, Yan'an, 716000, China
| | - Yingying Xing
- School of Life Sciences, Yan'an University, Yan'an, 716000, China
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Chinese Jujube, Yan'an University, Yan'an, 716000, China
- Key Laboratory of Applied Ecology of Universities in Shaanxi Province on the Loess Plateau, Yan'an University, Yan'an, 716000, China
| | - Tonghui Zhang
- Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Jianying Yun
- Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
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Li H, Zhang Y, Li H, V. P. Reddy G, Li Z, Chen F, Sun Y, Zhao Z. The nitrogen-dependent GABA pathway of tomato provides resistance to a globally invasive fruit fly. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1252455. [PMID: 38148864 PMCID: PMC10751092 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1252455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
Introduction The primary metabolism of plants, which is mediated by nitrogen, is closely related to the defense response to insect herbivores. Methods An experimental system was established to examine how nitrogen mediated tomato resistance to an insect herbivore, the oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis). All tomatoes were randomly assigned to the suitable nitrogen (control, CK) treatment, nitrogen excess (NE) treatment and nitrogen deficiency (ND) treatment. Results We found that nitrogen excess significantly increased the aboveground biomass of tomato and increased the pupal biomass of B. dorsalis. Metabolome analysis showed that nitrogen excess promoted the biosynthesis of amino acids in healthy fruits, including γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), arginine and asparagine. GABA was not a differential metabolite induced by injury by B. dorsalis under nitrogen excess, but it was significantly induced in infested fruits at appropriate nitrogen levels. GABA supplementation not only increased the aboveground biomass of plants but also improved the defensive response of tomato. Discussion The biosynthesis of GABA in tomato is a resistance response to feeding by B. dorsalis in appropriate nitrogen, whereas nitrogen excess facilitates the pupal weight of B. dorsalis by inhibiting synthesis of the GABA pathway. This study concluded that excess nitrogen inhibits tomato defenses in plant-insect interactions by inhibiting GABA synthesis, answering some unresolved questions about the nitrogen-dependent GABA resistance pathway to herbivores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Li
- Department of Plant Biosecurity & Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Management for Plant Quarantine Pests, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Sanya, China
| | - Yuan Zhang
- Department of Plant Biosecurity & Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Management for Plant Quarantine Pests, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Sanya, China
| | - Hu Li
- Department of Plant Biosecurity & Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Management for Plant Quarantine Pests, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Gadi V. P. Reddy
- Department of Entomology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Zhihong Li
- Department of Plant Biosecurity & Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Management for Plant Quarantine Pests, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Sanya, China
| | - Fajun Chen
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yucheng Sun
- National Key Lab Integrated Management Pest Insects, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy Science, Beijing, China
| | - Zihua Zhao
- Department of Plant Biosecurity & Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Management for Plant Quarantine Pests, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Sanya, China
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Li B, Song D, Guo T, Xu X, Ai C, Zhou W. Combined physiological and metabolomic analysis reveals the effects of different biostimulants on maize production and reproduction. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:1062603. [PMID: 36507449 PMCID: PMC9727306 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1062603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Plant biostimulants (PBs) are a potential strategy to improve crop growth and grain quality. In the present study, 100 mg/L trehalose, chitosan, humic acid and gamma-aminobutyric acid treatments were applied to analyze the effects of maize production and reproductive characteristics. The contents of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium and grain quality were significantly affected by the PBs, but not yield. The seed germination rate of all PB treatments was significantly reduced, but the drought resistance of progeny seedlings was significantly improved, with humic acid having the strongest effect. Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry analysis indicated that the disruption of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, probably due to the blockage of intermediate anabolism, reduced the supply of energy and nutrients in the early stages of germination, thus inhibiting seed germination, while the increased resistance of the offspring seedlings may be due to the up-regulation of the synthesis of unsaturated fatty acids and alkaloids by humic acid treatment. This study revealed the similarity and heterogeneity of the effects of different PBs on nutrient accumulation, yield characteristics and grain quality of maize, providing guidance for the application of PBs in intensive and sustainable agricultural production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingyan Li
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Dali Song
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Tengfei Guo
- Institution of Plant Nutrition and Environmental Resources, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xinpeng Xu
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chao Ai
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Zhou
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
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