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Ding G, Shen L, Dai J, Jackson R, Liu S, Ali M, Sun L, Wen M, Xiao J, Deakin G, Jiang D, Wang XE, Zhou J. The Dissection of Nitrogen Response Traits Using Drone Phenotyping and Dynamic Phenotypic Analysis to Explore N Responsiveness and Associated Genetic Loci in Wheat. PLANT PHENOMICS (WASHINGTON, D.C.) 2023; 5:0128. [PMID: 38148766 PMCID: PMC10750832 DOI: 10.34133/plantphenomics.0128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
Inefficient nitrogen (N) utilization in agricultural production has led to many negative impacts such as excessive use of N fertilizers, redundant plant growth, greenhouse gases, long-lasting toxicity in ecosystem, and even effect on human health, indicating the importance to optimize N applications in cropping systems. Here, we present a multiseasonal study that focused on measuring phenotypic changes in wheat plants when they were responding to different N treatments under field conditions. Powered by drone-based aerial phenotyping and the AirMeasurer platform, we first quantified 6 N response-related traits as targets using plot-based morphological, spectral, and textural signals collected from 54 winter wheat varieties. Then, we developed dynamic phenotypic analysis using curve fitting to establish profile curves of the traits during the season, which enabled us to compute static phenotypes at key growth stages and dynamic phenotypes (i.e., phenotypic changes) during N response. After that, we combine 12 yield production and N-utilization indices manually measured to produce N efficiency comprehensive scores (NECS), based on which we classified the varieties into 4 N responsiveness (i.e., N-dependent yield increase) groups. The NECS ranking facilitated us to establish a tailored machine learning model for N responsiveness-related varietal classification just using N-response phenotypes with high accuracies. Finally, we employed the Wheat55K SNP Array to map single-nucleotide polymorphisms using N response-related static and dynamic phenotypes, helping us explore genetic components underlying N responsiveness in wheat. In summary, we believe that our work demonstrates valuable advances in N response-related plant research, which could have major implications for improving N sustainability in wheat breeding and production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guohui Ding
- College of Agriculture, Plant Phenomics Research Centre, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies,
Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Liyan Shen
- College of Agriculture, Plant Phenomics Research Centre, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies,
Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Jie Dai
- College of Agriculture, Plant Phenomics Research Centre, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies,
Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Robert Jackson
- Cambridge Crop Research,
National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB), Cambridge CB3 0LE, UK
| | - Shuchen Liu
- College of Agriculture, Plant Phenomics Research Centre, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies,
Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Mujahid Ali
- College of Agriculture, Plant Phenomics Research Centre, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies,
Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Li Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Cytogenetics Institute,
Nanjing Agricultural University/JCIC-MCP, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China
| | - Mingxing Wen
- Zhenjiang Institute of Agricultural Science, Jurong, Jiangsu 212400, China
| | - Jin Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Cytogenetics Institute,
Nanjing Agricultural University/JCIC-MCP, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China
| | - Greg Deakin
- Cambridge Crop Research,
National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB), Cambridge CB3 0LE, UK
| | - Dong Jiang
- Regional Technique Innovation Center for Wheat Production, Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Ecology in Southern China, Ministry of Agriculture,
Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China
| | - Xiu-e Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Cytogenetics Institute,
Nanjing Agricultural University/JCIC-MCP, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China
| | - Ji Zhou
- College of Agriculture, Plant Phenomics Research Centre, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies,
Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- Cambridge Crop Research,
National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB), Cambridge CB3 0LE, UK
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2
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Carlier A, Dandrifosse S, Dumont B, Mercatoris B. Comparing CNNs and PLSr for estimating wheat organs biophysical variables using proximal sensing. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1204791. [PMID: 38053768 PMCID: PMC10694231 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1204791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Estimation of biophysical vegetation variables is of interest for diverse applications, such as monitoring of crop growth and health or yield prediction. However, remote estimation of these variables remains challenging due to the inherent complexity of plant architecture, biology and surrounding environment, and the need for features engineering. Recent advancements in deep learning, particularly convolutional neural networks (CNN), offer promising solutions to address this challenge. Unfortunately, the limited availability of labeled data has hindered the exploration of CNNs for regression tasks, especially in the frame of crop phenotyping. In this study, the effectiveness of various CNN models in predicting wheat dry matter, nitrogen uptake, and nitrogen concentration from RGB and multispectral images taken from tillering to maturity was examined. To overcome the scarcity of labeled data, a training pipeline was devised. This pipeline involves transfer learning, pseudo-labeling of unlabeled data and temporal relationship correction. The results demonstrated that CNN models significantly benefit from the pseudolabeling method, while the machine learning approach employing a PLSr did not show comparable performance. Among the models evaluated, EfficientNetB4 achieved the highest accuracy for predicting above-ground biomass, with an R² value of 0.92. In contrast, Resnet50 demonstrated superior performance in predicting LAI, nitrogen uptake, and nitrogen concentration, with R² values of 0.82, 0.73, and 0.80, respectively. Moreover, the study explored multi-output models to predict the distribution of dry matter and nitrogen uptake between stem, inferior leaves, flag leaf, and ear. The findings indicate that CNNs hold promise as accessible and promising tools for phenotyping quantitative biophysical variables of crops. However, further research is required to harness their full potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis Carlier
- Biosystems Dynamics and Exchanges, TERRA Teaching and Research Center, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Gembloux, Belgium
| | - Sébastien Dandrifosse
- Biosystems Dynamics and Exchanges, TERRA Teaching and Research Center, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Gembloux, Belgium
| | - Benjamin Dumont
- Plant Sciences, TERRA Teaching and Research Center, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Gembloux, Belgium
| | - Benoit Mercatoris
- Biosystems Dynamics and Exchanges, TERRA Teaching and Research Center, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Gembloux, Belgium
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3
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Sun Y, Gao L, Meng X, Huang J, Guo J, Zhou X, Fu G, Xu Y, Firbank LG, Wang M, Ling N, Feng X, Shen Q, Guo S. Large-scale exploration of nitrogen utilization efficiency in Asia region for rice crop: Variation patterns and determinants. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:5367-5378. [PMID: 37431724 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16873] [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: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
Improving rice nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUtE) is imperative to maximizing future food productivity while minimizing environmental threats, yet knowledge of its variation and the underlying regulatory factors is still lacking. Here, we integrated a dataset with 21,571 data compiled by available data from peer-reviewed literature and a large-scale field survey to address this knowledge gap. The overall results revealed great variations in rice NUtE, which were mainly associated with human activities, climate conditions, and rice variety. Specifically, N supply rate, temperature, and precipitation were the foremost determinants of rice NUtE, and NUtE responses to climatic change differed among rice varieties. Further prediction highlighted the improved rice NUtE with the increasing latitude or longitude. The indica and hybrid rice exhibited higher NUtE in low latitude regions compared to japonica and inbred rice, respectively. Collectively, our results evaluated the primary drivers of rice NUtE variations and predicted the geographic responses of NUtE in different varieties. Linking the global variations in rice NUtE with environmental factors and geographic adaptability provides valuable agronomic and ecological insights into the regulation of rice NUtE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuming Sun
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab of Solid Organic Waste Utilization, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-Saving Fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for the Research and Utilization of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences (Nanjing Botanical Garden Mem. Sun Yat-Sen), Nanjing, China
| | - Limin Gao
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab of Solid Organic Waste Utilization, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-Saving Fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- Nanjing Institute of Agricultural Sciences in Jiangsu Hilly Area, Nanjing, China
| | - Xusheng Meng
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab of Solid Organic Waste Utilization, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-Saving Fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jian Huang
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab of Solid Organic Waste Utilization, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-Saving Fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Junjie Guo
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab of Solid Organic Waste Utilization, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-Saving Fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xuan Zhou
- National Agro-Tech Extension and Service Center, Beijing, China
| | - Guohai Fu
- National Agro-Tech Extension and Service Center, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Xu
- National Agro-Tech Extension and Service Center, Beijing, China
| | | | - Min Wang
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab of Solid Organic Waste Utilization, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-Saving Fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ning Ling
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab of Solid Organic Waste Utilization, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-Saving Fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xumeng Feng
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab of Solid Organic Waste Utilization, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-Saving Fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qirong Shen
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab of Solid Organic Waste Utilization, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-Saving Fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shiwei Guo
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab of Solid Organic Waste Utilization, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-Saving Fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
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Fragalà F, Puglisi I, Padoan E, Montoneri E, Stevanato P, Gomez JM, Herrero N, La Bella E, Salvagno E, Baglieri A. Effect of municipal biowaste derived biostimulant on nitrogen fate in the plant-soil system during lettuce cultivation. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7944. [PMID: 37193716 PMCID: PMC10188431 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-35090-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023] Open
Abstract
A main concern of agriculture is to improve plant nutrient efficiency to enhance crop yield and quality, and at the same time to decrease the environmental impact caused by the lixiviation of excess N fertilizer application. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential use of biopolymers (BPs), obtained by alkaline hydrolysis of the solid anaerobic digestate of municipal biowastes, in order to face up these main concerns of agriculture. The experimental trials involved the application of BPs (at 50 and 150 kg/ha) alone or mixed with different amounts (100%, 60% and 0%) of mineral fertilizer (MF). Three different controls were routinely included in the experimental trials (MF 100%, 60% and 0%). The effect of BPs on lettuce was evaluated by monitoring growth parameters (fresh and dry weights of shoot and root, nitrogen use efficiency), and the N-flux in plant-soil system, taking into account the nitrate leached due to over irrigation events. The activities of enzymes involved in the nitrogen uptake (nitrate reductase, glutamate synthase and glutamine synthase), and the nitrogen form accumulated in the plant tissues (total N, protein and NO3-) were evaluated. The results show that the application to the soil of 150 kg/ha BPs allows to increase lettuce growth and nitrogen use efficiency, trough stimulation of N-metabolism and accumulation of proteins, and hence to reduce the use of MF by 40%, thus decreasing the nitrate leaching. These findings suggest that the use of BPs as biostimulant greatly contributes to reduce the consumption of mineral fertilizers, and to mitigate the environmental impact caused by nutrients leaching, according to European common agricultural policy, that encourages R&D of new bioproducts for sustainable eco-friendly agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferdinando Fragalà
- Dipartimento di Agricoltura, Alimentazione e Ambiente, Università di Catania, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Ivana Puglisi
- Dipartimento di Agricoltura, Alimentazione e Ambiente, Università di Catania, 95123, Catania, Italy.
| | - Elio Padoan
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Forestali e Alimentari, Università di Torino, 10095, Grugliasco, TO, Italy
| | - Enzo Montoneri
- Dipartimento di Agricoltura, Alimentazione e Ambiente, Università di Catania, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Piergiorgio Stevanato
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Josè Maria Gomez
- Biomasa Peninsular S.A., Constancia, 38 Bajo, 28002, Madrid, Spain
| | - Natalia Herrero
- Biomasa Peninsular S.A., Constancia, 38 Bajo, 28002, Madrid, Spain
| | - Emanuele La Bella
- Dipartimento di Agricoltura, Alimentazione e Ambiente, Università di Catania, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Erika Salvagno
- Dipartimento di Agricoltura, Alimentazione e Ambiente, Università di Catania, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Andrea Baglieri
- Dipartimento di Agricoltura, Alimentazione e Ambiente, Università di Catania, 95123, Catania, Italy
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Navarro‐León E, López‐Moreno FJ, Borda E, Marín C, Sierras N, Blasco B, Ruiz JM. Effect of l-amino acid-based biostimulants on nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in lettuce plants. JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE 2022; 102:7098-7106. [PMID: 35778944 PMCID: PMC9796150 DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.12071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Biostimulants are increasingly integrated into production systems with the goal of modifying physiological processes in plants to optimize productivity. Specifically, l-α-amino acid-based biostimulants enhance plant productivity through improved photosynthesis and increased assimilation of essential nutrients such as nitrogen (N). This element is a major component of fertilizers, which usually are applied in excess. Thus, the inefficient use of N fertilizers has generated a serious environmental pollution issue. The use of biostimulants has the potential to address problems related to N fertilization. Therefore, the objective of this study is to analyze whether two biostimulants based on l-α-amino acid (Terra Sorb® radicular and Terramin® Pro) designed by Bioiberica, S.A.U company can compensate deficient N fertilization and test its effect on lettuce plants. Growth, photosynthetic, N accumulation, and N use efficiency (NUE) parameters were analyzed on lettuce leaves. RESULTS Results showed that regardless of N fertilization, the use of both biostimulants, especially Terramin® Pro, increased biomass production. Moreover, both biostimulants enhanced photosynthetic, NO3 - and total N accumulations as well as NUE parameters. CONCLUSION Therefore, Terra Sorb® radicular and Terramin® Pro constitute a useful tool for crops development in N-limiting areas, and in intensive agricultural areas without N deficiency allowing the reduction of N inputs without impairing crop yields and reducing environmental impact. © 2022 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eloy Navarro‐León
- Department of Plant Physiology, Faculty of SciencesUniversity of GranadaGranadaSpain
| | | | | | | | | | - Begoña Blasco
- Department of Plant Physiology, Faculty of SciencesUniversity of GranadaGranadaSpain
| | - Juan Manuel Ruiz
- Department of Plant Physiology, Faculty of SciencesUniversity of GranadaGranadaSpain
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6
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Chen Y, Wang K, Chen H, Yang H, Zheng T, Huang X, Fan G. Simultaneously genetic selection of wheat yield and grain protein quality in rice-wheat and soybean-wheat cropping systems through critical nitrogen efficiency-related traits. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:899387. [PMID: 36247613 PMCID: PMC9558111 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.899387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Analyzing the contribution of nitrogen (N) uptake and its utilization in grain yield and protein quality-related traits in rice-wheat (RW) and soybean-wheat (SW) cropping systems is essential for simultaneous improvements in the two target traits. A field experiment with nine wheat genotypes was conducted in 2018-19 and 2019-20 cropping years to investigate N uptake and utilization-related traits associated with high wheat yield and good protein quality. Results showed that N uptake efficiency (NUpE) in the RW cropping system and N utilization efficiency (NUtE) in the SW cropping system explained 77.6 and 65.2% of yield variation, respectively, due to the contribution of fertile spikes and grain number per spike to grain yield varied depending on soil water and N availability in the two rotation systems. Lower grain protein content in the RW cropping system in comparison to the SW cropping system was mainly related to lower individual N accumulation at maturity, resulting from higher fertile spikes, rather than N harvest index (NHI). However, NHI in the SW cropping system accounted for greater variation in grain protein content. Both gluten index and post-anthesis N uptake were mainly affected by genotype, and low gluten index caused by high post-anthesis N uptake may be related to the simultaneous increase in kernel weight. N remobilization process associated with gluten quality was driven by increased sink N demand resulting from high grain number per unit area in the RW cropping system; confinement of low sink N demand and source capability resulted in low grain number per spike and water deficit limiting photosynthesis of flag leaf in the SW cropping system. CY-25 obtained high yield and wet gluten content at the expense of gluten index in the two wheat cropping systems, due to low plant height and high post-anthesis N uptake and kernel weight. From these results, we concluded that plant height, kernel weight, and post-anthesis N uptake were the critically agronomic and NUE-related traits for simultaneous selection of grain yield and protein quality. Our research results provided useful guidelines for improving both grain yield and protein quality by identifying desirable N-efficient genotypes in the two rotation systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufeng Chen
- Crop Ecophysiology and Cultivation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Kun Wang
- Crop Ecophysiology and Cultivation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Haolan Chen
- Crop Ecophysiology and Cultivation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Hongkun Yang
- Crop Ecophysiology and Cultivation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Ministry of Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Crop Eco-Physiology and Farming System in Southwest China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ting Zheng
- Crop Ecophysiology and Cultivation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Ministry of Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Crop Eco-Physiology and Farming System in Southwest China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiulan Huang
- Crop Ecophysiology and Cultivation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Ministry of Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Crop Eco-Physiology and Farming System in Southwest China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Gaoqiong Fan
- Crop Ecophysiology and Cultivation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Ministry of Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Crop Eco-Physiology and Farming System in Southwest China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
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Stratton CA, Ray S, Bradley BA, Kaye JP, Ali JG, Murrell EG. Nutrition vs association: plant defenses are altered by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi association not by nutritional provisioning alone. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2022; 22:400. [PMID: 35974331 PMCID: PMC9380362 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-022-03795-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While it is known that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can improve nutrient acquisition and herbivore resistance in crops, the mechanisms by which AMF influence plant defense remain unknown. Plants respond to herbivory with a cascade of gene expression and phytochemical biosynthesis. Given that the production of defensive phytochemicals requires nutrients, a commonly invoked hypothesis is that the improvement to plant defense when grown with AMF is simply due to an increased availability of nutrients. An alternative hypothesis is that the AMF effect on herbivory is due to changes in plant defense gene expression that are not simply due to nutrient availability. In this study, we tested whether changes in plant defenses are regulated by nutritional provisioning alone or the response of plant to AMF associations. Maize plants grown with or without AMF and with one of three fertilizer treatments (standard, 2 × nitrogen, or 2 × phosphorous) were infested with fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda; FAW) for 72 h. We measured general plant characteristics (e.g. height, number of leaves), relative gene expression (rtPCR) of three defensive genes (lox3, mpi, and pr5), total plant N and P nutrient content, and change in FAW mass per plant. RESULTS We found that AMF drove the defense response of maize by increasing the expression of mpi and pr5. Furthermore, while AMF increased the total phosphorous content of maize it had no impact on maize nitrogen. Fertilization alone did not alter upregulation of any of the 3 induced defense genes tested, suggesting the mechanism through which AMF upregulate defenses is not solely via increased N or P plant nutrition. CONCLUSION This work supports that maize defense may be optimized by AMF associations alone, reducing the need for artificial inputs when managing FAW.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chase A Stratton
- The Land Institute, 2440 E Water Well Rd, Salina, KS, 67401, USA.
| | - Swayamjit Ray
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Brosi A Bradley
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Jason P Kaye
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Jared G Ali
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Ebony G Murrell
- The Land Institute, 2440 E Water Well Rd, Salina, KS, 67401, USA
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8
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Ciampitti IA, Briat JF, Gastal F, Lemaire G. Redefining crop breeding strategy for effective use of nitrogen in cropping systems. Commun Biol 2022; 5:823. [PMID: 35974088 PMCID: PMC9381724 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03782-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
In this Comment, Ciampitti et al. introduces a more relevant conceptual framework bridging soil and plant processes to untangle true gains of N for field crops rather than indirect progress merely based on yield.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Francois Gastal
- INRA, UE FERLUS, Les Verrines CS80006, 86600, Lusignan, France
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9
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Hu P, Chapman SC, Sukumaran S, Reynolds M, Zheng B. Phenological optimization of late reproductive phase for raising wheat yield potential in irrigated mega-environments. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2022; 73:4236-4249. [PMID: 35383843 PMCID: PMC9232205 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erac144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Increasing grain number through fine-tuning duration of the late reproductive phase (LRP; terminal spikelet to anthesis) without altering anthesis time has been proposed as a genetic strategy to increase yield potential (YP) of wheat. Here we conducted a modelling analysis to evaluate the potential of fine-tuning LRP in raising YP in irrigated mega-environments. Using the known optimal anthesis and sowing date of current elite benchmark genotypes, we applied a gene-based phenology model for long-term simulations of phenological stages and yield-related variables of all potential germplasm with the same duration to anthesis as the benchmark genotypes. These diverse genotypes had the same duration to anthesis but varying LRP duration. Lengthening LRP increased YP and harvest index by increasing grain number to some extent and an excessively long LRP reduced YP due to reduced time for canopy construction for high biomass production of pre-anthesis phase. The current elite genotypes could have their LRP extended for higher YP in most sites. Genotypes with a ratio of the duration of LRP to pre-anthesis phase of about 0.42 ensured high yields (≥95% of YP) with their optimal sowing and anthesis dates. Optimization of intermediate growth stages could be further evaluated in breeding programmes to improve YP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengcheng Hu
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Queensland Biosciences Precinct, 306 Carmody Rd, St Lucia, Queensland 4067, Australia
- The University of Queensland, School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Scott C Chapman
- The University of Queensland, School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Sivakumar Sukumaran
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Carretera México-Veracruz Km 45, El Batán, Texcoco, México, CP 56237, Mexico
| | - Matthew Reynolds
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Carretera México-Veracruz Km 45, El Batán, Texcoco, México, CP 56237, Mexico
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10
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Lacasa J, Ciampitti IA, Amas JI, Curín F, Luque SF, Otegui ME. Breeding effects on canopy light attenuation in maize: a retrospective and prospective analysis. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2022; 73:1301-1311. [PMID: 34939088 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erab503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The light attenuation process within a plant canopy defines energy capture and vertical distribution of light and nitrogen (N). The vertical light distribution can be quantitatively described with the extinction coefficient (k), which associates the fraction of intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (fPARi) with the leaf area index (LAI). Lower values of k correspond to upright leaves and homogeneous vertical light distribution, increasing radiation use efficiency (RUE). Yield gains in maize (Zea mays L.) were accompanied by increases in optimum plant density and leaf erectness. Thus, the yield-driven breeding programs and management changes, such as reduced row spacing, selected a more erect leaf habit under different maize production systems (e.g., China and the USA). In this study, data from Argentina revealed that k decreased at a rate of 1.1% year-1 since 1989, regardless of plant density and in agreement with Chinese reports (1.0% year-1 since 1981). A reliable assessment of changes in k over time is critical for predicting (i) modifications in resource use efficiency (e.g. radiation, water, and N), improving estimations derived from crop simulation models; (ii) differences in productivity caused by management practices; and (iii) limitations to further exploit this trait with breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josefina Lacasa
- Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University, 2004 Throckmorton Plant Science Center, Manhattan, KS, USA
- Dpto. de Producción Vegetal, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. San Martín 4453 (C1417DSE), Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ignacio A Ciampitti
- Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University, 2004 Throckmorton Plant Science Center, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Juan I Amas
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) en INTA, Centro Regional Buenos Aires Norte, Estación Experimental Agropecuaria, Ruta 32 km 4.5, Pergamino (C2700), Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Facundo Curín
- Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia del noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (CIT-NOBA-CONICET), Argentina
| | - Sergio F Luque
- Cátedra de Cereales y Oleaginosas, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - María E Otegui
- Dpto. de Producción Vegetal, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. San Martín 4453 (C1417DSE), Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) en INTA, Centro Regional Buenos Aires Norte, Estación Experimental Agropecuaria, Ruta 32 km 4.5, Pergamino (C2700), Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Ostmeyer TJ, Bahuguna RN, Kirkham MB, Bean S, Jagadish SVK. Enhancing Sorghum Yield Through Efficient Use of Nitrogen - Challenges and Opportunities. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:845443. [PMID: 35295626 PMCID: PMC8919068 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.845443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Sorghum is an important crop, which is widely used as food, forage, fodder and biofuel. Despite its natural adaption to resource-poor and stressful environments, increasing yield potential of sorghum under more favorable conditions holds promise. Nitrogen is the most important nutrient for crops, having a dynamic impact on all growth, yield, and grain-quality-determining processes. Thus, increasing nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in sorghum would provide opportunities to achieve higher yield and better-quality grain. NUE is a complex trait, which is regulated by several genes. Hence, exploring genetic diversity for NUE can help to develop molecular markers associated with NUE, which can be utilized to develop high NUE sorghum genotypes with greater yield potential. Research on improving NUE in sorghum suggests that, under water-deficit conditions, traits such as stay-green and altered canopy architecture, and under favorable conditions, traits such as an optimized stay-green and senescence ratio and efficient N translocation to grain, are potential breeding targets to develop high NUE sorghum genotypes. Hence, under a wide range of environments, sorghum breeding programs will need to reconsider strategies and develop breeding programs based on environment-specific trait(s) for better adaptation and improvement in productivity and grain quality. Unprecedented progress in sensor-based technology and artificial intelligence in high-throughput phenotyping has provided new horizons to explore complex traits in situ, such as NUE. A better understanding of the genetics and molecular pathways involving NUE, accompanied by targeted high-throughput sensor-based indices, is critical for identifying lines or developing management practices to enhance NUE in sorghum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Troy J. Ostmeyer
- Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States
| | - Rajeev Nayan Bahuguna
- Center for Advanced Studies on Climate Change, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Samastipur, India
| | - M. B. Kirkham
- Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States
| | - Scott Bean
- Grain Quality and Structure Research Unit, CGAHR, USDA-ARS, Manhattan, KS, United States
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Mălinaş A, Vidican R, Rotar I, Mălinaş C, Moldovan CM, Proorocu M. Current Status and Future Prospective for Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.). PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 11:plants11020217. [PMID: 35050105 PMCID: PMC8777959 DOI: 10.3390/plants11020217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Although essential for achieving high crop yields required for the growing population worldwide, nitrogen, (N) in large amounts, along with its inefficient use, results in environmental pollution and increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Therefore, improved nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) has a significant role to play in the development of more sustainable crop production systems. Considering that wheat is one of the major crops cultivated in the world and contributes in high amounts to the large N footprint, designing sustainable wheat crop patterns, briefly defined by us in this review as the 3 Qs (high quantity, good quality and the quintessence of natural environment health) is urgently required. There are numerous indices used to benchmark N management for a specific crop, including wheat, but the misunderstanding of their specific functions could result in an under/overestimation of crop NUE. Thus, a better understanding of N dynamics in relation to wheat N cycling can enhance a higher efficiency of N use. In this sense, the aim of our review is to provide a critical analysis on the current knowledge with respect to wheat NUE. Further, considering the key traits involved in N uptake, assimilation, distribution and utilization efficiency, as well as genetics (G), environment (E) and management (M) interactions, we suggest a series of future perspectives that can enhance a better efficiency of N in wheat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anamaria Mălinaş
- Department of Plant Culture, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (A.M.); (R.V.); (I.R.)
| | - Roxana Vidican
- Department of Plant Culture, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (A.M.); (R.V.); (I.R.)
| | - Ioan Rotar
- Department of Plant Culture, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (A.M.); (R.V.); (I.R.)
| | - Cristian Mălinaş
- Department of Environmental Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
- Correspondence: (C.M.); (C.M.M.)
| | - Cristina Maria Moldovan
- Department of Plant Culture, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (A.M.); (R.V.); (I.R.)
- Correspondence: (C.M.); (C.M.M.)
| | - Marian Proorocu
- Department of Environmental Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
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The SV, Snyder R, Tegeder M. Targeting Nitrogen Metabolism and Transport Processes to Improve Plant Nitrogen Use Efficiency. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 11:628366. [PMID: 33732269 PMCID: PMC7957077 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.628366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
In agricultural cropping systems, relatively large amounts of nitrogen (N) are applied for plant growth and development, and to achieve high yields. However, with increasing N application, plant N use efficiency generally decreases, which results in losses of N into the environment and subsequently detrimental consequences for both ecosystems and human health. A strategy for reducing N input and environmental losses while maintaining or increasing plant performance is the development of crops that effectively obtain, distribute, and utilize the available N. Generally, N is acquired from the soil in the inorganic forms of nitrate or ammonium and assimilated in roots or leaves as amino acids. The amino acids may be used within the source organs, but they are also the principal N compounds transported from source to sink in support of metabolism and growth. N uptake, synthesis of amino acids, and their partitioning within sources and toward sinks, as well as N utilization within sinks represent potential bottlenecks in the effective use of N for vegetative and reproductive growth. This review addresses recent discoveries in N metabolism and transport and their relevance for improving N use efficiency under high and low N conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mechthild Tegeder
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
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