Transcriptional modulation of genes encoding nitrate reductase in maize (Zea mays) grown under aluminum toxicity

A field experiment was carried out in the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences - University of Baghdad, during the fall season of 2021 to find out which cultivated cultivars of maize are efficient under nitrogen fertilization. The experiment was applied according to an RCBD (split-plot design with three replications). The cultivars of the experiment (Baghdad, 5018, Sarah) supply three levels of nitrogen fertilizer, which are N1 (100 kg.N/ha), N2 (200 kg.N/ha) and N3 (300 kg.N/ha). The statistical analysis results showed the superiority of the Sarah genotype, which gave the highest value of SOD and CAT enzymes, reaching 11.59 units mg-1 and 10.76 units mg-1 . Protein sequentially, while cultivar5018 outperformed as it gave the highest value of POD enzyme, which was 5.43 units mg-1.protein, and there were no significant differences between genotypes in NR enzyme. The increase in nitrogen fertilizer caused an increase in the values of oxidation and reduction enzymes, as the nitrogen level N3 gave the highest value for SOD, POD, CAT and nitrate reduction enzymes NR, reaching 11.59 mg-1 and 6.94 mg-1 units. Protein and 16.40 mg-1 units. Protein and 6.30 mg-1 units. Protein sequentially. The results of the molecular analysis using the Real-Time PCR technique showed the expression of the ZmNR1 gene. The analysis showed that the cultivated genotypes contained the gene in varying proportions as the gene expression increased in the compositions to which the nitrogen fertilizer was added. The value ranged from (0.16) to (49.46) times (a copy of the gene), where the highest expression of the gene was (49.46) for the Sarah cultivar when The nitrogen level N2 also gave the same gene expression ZmNR1 (15.01) folds. The cultivars of maize varied among them in their tolerance to excess or deficiency of nitrogen and in their ability to express the ZmNR1 gene, one of the most important nitrogen-carrying genes for maize crops. Keywords: maize, gene expression, nitrate reductase, antioxidant enzymes

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Aluminum–Nitrogen Interactions in the Soil–Plant System

Zhao

Shen

2018

Front. Plant Sci.

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Aluminum (Al) is the most abundant metal in the Earth’s crust and is not an essential element for plant growth. In contrast, nitrogen (N) is the most important mineral element for plant growth, but this non-metal is often present at low levels in soils, and plants are often N deficient. Aluminum toxicity is dominant in acid soils, and so plants growing in acid soils have to overcome both Al toxicity and N limitation. Because of low N-use efficiency, large amounts of N fertilizers are applied to crop fields to achieve high yields, leading to soil acidification and potential Al toxicity. Aluminum lowers plant N uptake and N-use efficiency because Al inhibits root growth. Although numerous studies have investigated the interactions between Al and N, a complete review of these studies was lacking. This review describes: (1) the link between plant Al tolerance and ammonium/nitrate (NH4+/NO3-) preference; (2) the effects of NH4+/NO3- and pH on Al toxicity; (3) the effects of Al on soil N transformations; and (4) the effects of Al on NH4+/NO3- uptake and assimilation by plants. Acid soils are characterized chemically by a relatively high ratio of NH4+ to NO3- and high concentrations of toxic Al. Aluminum-tolerant plants generally prefer NH4+ as an N source, while Al-sensitive plants prefer NO3-. Compared with NO3-, NH4+ increases the solubilization of toxic Al into soil solutions, but NH4+ generally alleviates Al phytotoxicity under solution culture because the protons from NH4+ compete with Al3+ for adsorption sites on the root surface. Plant NO3- uptake and nitrate reductase activity are both inhibited by Al, while plant NH4+ uptake is inhibited to a smaller degree than NO3-. Together, the results of numerous studies indicate that there is a synergistic interaction between plant Al tolerance and NH4+ nutrition. This has important implications for the adaptation of plants to acid soils that are dominated chemically by toxic Al as well as NH4+. Finally, we discuss how this knowledge can be used to increase plant Al tolerance and N-use efficiency in acid soils.

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Transcriptional modulation of genes encoding nitrate reductase in maize (Zea mays) grown under aluminum toxicity

Cited by 3 publications

References 48 publications

Cd- and Cu-induced phytotoxicity on 2–3 leaf stage of Cyamopsis tetragonoloba and its regulation by nitrate reductase and ROS quenching enzyme

Cd- and Cu-induced phytotoxicity on 2–3 leaf stage of Cyamopsis tetragonoloba and its regulation by nitrate reductase and ROS quenching enzyme

Gene expression of a nitrogen tolerance gene ZmNR1 under the influence of different levels of nitrogen in maize

Aluminum–Nitrogen Interactions in the Soil–Plant System

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