Plasma membrane intrinsic proteins PIP1;1 and PIP1;3 contribute to the tolerance to nitrogen deficiency in potato

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) deficiency is one of the major constraints for potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) production, due to its shallow root system and poor capabilities of N mobilization from the deeper layers of the soil. The aim of this study was to elucidate plasma membrane (PM) proteins potentially involved in the tolerance towards N deficiency. We compared the PM proteome of the two potato cultivars 'Lambada' and 'Topas', contrasting in their N deficiency response under in vitro conditions. Using mass spectrometry we identified 65 proteins, which were differentially abundant in the two cultivars when submitted to N deficiency. Amongst those, candidate proteins were selected based on their potential to be involved in N transport under deficient conditions. Two members of the aquaporin family, StPIP1;1 and StPIP1;3, were studied in more detail. By means of a yeast growth assay we showed that these proteins do not facilitate transport of ammonia. The Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) knockout mutants AtPIP1;1 and AtPIP1;3 showed a reduced N content and accumulation of anthocyanins under N deficiency. We conclude that PIP1;1 and PIP1;3 are indirectly involved in the N uptake under N deficient conditions and contribute to an increased N deficiency tolerance. Summary statement Root plasma membrane proteome profiling of two potato cultivars reveals the participation of the two members of the aquaporin family PIP1;1 and PIP1;3 in the cultivar specific response to nitrogen deficiency.

Untargeted metabotyping to study phenylpropanoid diversity in crop plants

“…The application of this workflow to the model Arabidopsis was exemplified by comparing the leaf metabotypes of plants treated under N‐sufficient and N‐deficient conditions (Józefowicz et al, 2020). The well‐known induction of phenylpropanoid accumulation upon N deficiency was evident when comparing the LC‐PDA chromatograms (Figure 6C).…”

“…Leaves were harvested from five‐week‐old Arabidopsis Col‐0 plants grown under in vitro nitrogen (N) sufficiency and deficiency conditions (Józefowicz et al, 2020). Six plant replicates per condition were collected and immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen for further analysis.…”