Nitrogen nutrition contributes to plant fertility by affecting meiosis initiation

Abstract

Nitrogen (N), one of the most important plant nutrients, plays crucial roles in multiple plant developmental processes. Spikelets are the primary sink tissues during reproductive growth, and N deficiency can cause floral abortion. However, the roles of N nutrition in meiosis, the crucial step in plant sexual reproduction, are poorly understood. Here, we identified an N-dependent meiotic entrance mutant with loss of function of ELECTRON TRANSFER FLAVOPROTEIN SUBUNIT β (ETFβ) in rice (Oryza sativa). etfβ displayed meiosis initiation defects, excessive accumulation of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and decrease in total N contents in spikelets under N starvation, which were rescued by applying excess exogenous inorganic N. Under N starvation, ETFβ, through its involvement in BCAA catabolism, promotes N reutilization and contributes to meeting N demands of spikelets, highlighting the impact of N nutrition on meiosis initiation. We conclude that N nutrition contributes to plant fertility by affecting meiosis initiation.

Genome-Wide Identification of MADS-Box Family Genes in Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) and Functional Analysis of CtMADS24 during Flowering

“…Previous studies on Arabidopsis, Fagopyrum esculentum , Rosa chinensis , and other plant species also suggested that AP1 overexpression results in significantly earlier flowering [ 61 , 62 , 63 ]. In addition, early reproductive development often leads to insufficient nutrition in plants, which in turn leads to a decrease in seed yield and even abortion [ 64 ]. Transgenic Arabidopsis showed significantly smaller siliques, suggesting that the ectopic expression of CtMADS24 accelerates the flowering process, inhibits vegetative development, and may lead to plant abortion as discussed by [ 45 ].…”

Ph5GT silencing alters flower color and flavonoids metabolome profile in petunia

“…The UPLC and ESI‐Q TRAP‐MS/MS condition was performed according to Yang et al (2022). The petunia flower extracts were analyzed using an UPLC‐ESI‐MS/MS system (UPLC, SHIMADZU Nexera X2; MS, Applied Biosystems 4500 Q TRAP).…”

“…The UPLC and ESI-Q TRAP-MS/MS condition was performed according to Yang et al (2022).The petunia flower extracts were analyzed using an UPLC-ESI-MS/MS system (UPLC, SHIMADZU Nexera X2; MS, Applied Biosystems 4500 Q TRAP). The analytical conditions were as follows, UPLC: column, Agilent SB-C18 (1.8 μm, 2.1 mm  100 mm); The mobile phase consisted of Solvent A, pure water with 0.1% formic acid, and Solvent B, acetonitrile with 0.1% formic acid.…”

A comparative metabolomics study of anthocyanins and taste components in Chinese bayberry (Morella rubra) with different flesh colors

“…Experimental methods and data collection as previously described ( Yang et al, 2022 ; Yuan et al, 2018 ; Zhu et al, 2020 ). The samples were freeze-dried in a vacuum freeze-dryer.…”

“…The primary metabolites were extracted, and MRMs performed as previously described ( Liang et al, 2022 ; Yang et al, 2022 ; Zou et al, 2020 ). After freeze-drying and pulverizing, 100 mg of the powdered material was added to 1.2 mL of 70% methanol solution, vortexed for 30 s every 30 min for a total of six times, and stored at 4 °C overnight.…”