Contributing traits for nitrogen use efficiency in selected wheat genotypes and corollary between screening methodologies

ABSTRACT

Nitrogen uptake being part of nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is largely decided by root traits. Root traits variability has hardly been explored by breeders mainly because of difficulties in scoring. The hydroponic system requiring lesser space for precise phenotyping of large numbers of genotypes independently of the growing season can be a suitable alternative. However, the effectiveness of hydroponic screening methods needs to be verified under the soil condition of the field or pot. In the present study, root traits and NUE were investigated in 19 genotypes under two conditions (hydroponic and pipe filled with soil). Both environments revealed large variability for root traits and NUE under high and low N conditions establishing the absence of any direct selection for these traits in the past. Under both sets of experimentation, NUpE was largely responsible for improved nitrogen efficiency mainly because of higher root biomass. The significant association between the two screening methods i.e. hydroponic and pot filled with soil under both low and high N condition support large scale screening for root traits under hydroponic condition.     

Nitrate leaching in a silage maize field under different irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer rates

Quantification of the interactive effects of nitrogen (N) and water on nitrate (NO₃) loss provides an important insight for more effective N and water management. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of different irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer levels on nitrate-nitrogen (NO₃-N) leaching in a silage maize field. The experiment included four irrigation levels (0.7, 0.85, 1.0, and 1.13 of soil moisture depletion, SMD) and three N fertilization levels (0, 142, and 189 kg N ha⁻¹), with three replications. Ceramic suction cups were used to extract soil solution at 30 and 60 cm soil depths for all 36 experimental plots. Soil NO₃-N content of 0-30 and 30-60-cm layers were evaluated at planting and harvest maturity. Total N uptake (NU) by the crop was also determined. Maximum NO₃-N leaching out of the 60-cm soil layer was 8.43 kg N ha⁻¹, for the 142 kg N ha⁻¹ and over irrigation (1.13 SMD) treatment. The minimum and maximum seasonal average NO₃ concentration at the 60 cm depth was 46 and 138 mg l⁻¹, respectively. Based on our findings, it is possible to control NO₃ leaching out of the root zone during the growing season with a proper combination of irrigation and fertilizer management.     

玉米秸秆还田条件下冬灌时间与施氮方式对冬小麦生长发育及水肥利用效率的影响

为给玉米秸秆还田条件下冬小麦的水氮运筹提供依据,以小麦品种临优2069为材料,研究了山西省小麦-玉米一年两熟区玉米秸秆还田条件下冬灌时间和施氮方式对冬小麦生长发育及水氮利用效率的影响。结果表明,随着冬前灌水时间的推迟,小麦总茎数、单株分蘖数、成穗数、产量、籽粒水分生产率、氮肥表观利用率均呈先升高后降低趋势,以11月25日冬灌的最高。在施氮量相同条件下,氮肥一次性底施(N10∶0)的拔节期总茎数、成穗数、产量、籽粒水分生产率和氮素吸收量、表观利用率高于氮肥70%底施+30%拔节期追施(N7∶3)处理,冬前总茎数、单株分蘖数则相反。冬前灌水时间提前和氮肥一次性底施有利于提高小麦前期单株干重;冬前灌水时间推迟和后期追氮则有利于灌浆期穗部和总干物质的积累。因此,山西省小麦-玉米一年两熟区,秸秆还田条件下氮肥采取一次性底施,并于11月25日冬灌,可实现冬小麦的高产高效栽培。     

不同基因型糯玉米氮素吸收利用效率的研究Ⅰ.氮素吸收利用的基因型差异

为明确糯玉米的氮素吸收利用特性及为因种施肥和氮素高效利用提供依据,开展了同一氮素供应水平下31个糯玉米品种氮素吸收利用的基因型差异研究。结果表明,生产鲜穗、鲜子粒和成熟子粒糯玉米的氮素利用效率品种间变异范围分别为57.829~8.65、39.436~1.31和31.705~3.70 kg/kg。聚类分析指出,无论其收获产品是鲜穗、鲜子粒还是成熟子粒,均属于高产、氮素高效吸收利用的品种有6个,其百公斤鲜穗、鲜子粒及成熟子粒需氮量平均值分别为1.244、1.884和2.091 kg。通径分析表明,提高品种鲜穗和鲜子粒产量,改良吸氮总量起主导作用;提高成熟期子粒产量,改良吸氮总量和氮素利用效率并重。     

Increased plant density with reduced nitrogen input can improve nitrogen use efficiency in winter wheat while maintaining grain yield

ABSTRACT

Plant density and nitrogen (N) input level have notable effects on root development, distribution in the soil profile, and in turn, N-uptake of winter wheat. Our study objectives were to identify whether a high yield can be maintained with a reduced N input by increasing plant density. Field studies were conducted during four successive seasons (2014–2015, 2015–2016, 2016–2017, and 2017–2018) using a widely planted cultivar, Tainong18. Two regimes of N fertilization (180 kg ha^?1 and 240 kg ha^?1) and three planting densities (135, 270, and 405 plants per m²) were used. Higher plant density led to increased root length density (RLD) and enhanced N uptake from the whole soil profile. The RLD in the soil profile at 0–1.2 m, 0–0.4 m, and 0.4–0.8 m decreased while in the 0.8–1.2 m layer it increased in response to reduced N input. The combined effects of higher plant density and lower N input resulted in reduced N uptake, a lower nitrogen nutrition index (NNI), unchanged grain yield, and improved N use efficiency. In conclusion, it is possible and sustainable to maintain a high wheat yield with reduced N input by increasing plant density.     

减氮对半冬性中筋小麦产量、NUE及氮代谢关键酶活性的影响

为了研究半冬性中筋小麦在减氮条件下籽粒产量、氮效率(NUE)及氮代谢关键酶活性的差异与调控效应,于2012年-2013年以半冬性中筋小麦徐麦30、保麦1号为供试品种进行池栽试验。研究表明,施用氮肥增加了穗数和粒数,扩大了小麦库容(公顷粒数),而粒重却有所下降,但穗数和粒数的增加幅度大于粒重的降低幅度,从而提高了单位面积籽粒产量。施氮量从270 kg·hm-2降至225kg·hm-2,籽粒谷丙转氨酶(GPT)活性略有提升,而单株氮素积累量、花后剑叶硝酸还原酶(NR)和谷氨酰胺合成酶(GS)、籽粒GS活性均呈下降趋势,籽粒产量有所降低,但差异未达显著水平。减氮影响了植株对氮素的吸收,对氮肥表观利用率(RE)有降低效应,但增强了氮肥偏生产力(PFP)和氮素生理效率(PE),对NHI影响较小。在兼顾生产成本、生态和效益的条件下,将氮肥用量从270 kg·hm-2减少至225 kg·hm-2,更有利于半冬性中筋小麦的可持续高效生产。本研究为小麦合理施氮及提高氮肥利用效率提供科学依据。     

Application of Molecular Markers in Breeding for Nitrogen Use Efficiency

Summary

Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is defined as dry matter yield produced per unit of N supplied and available in the soil. NUE is approximately 33% for cereal production worldwide. Increased cereal NUE must accompany increased yield needed to feed the growing world population. Consequently, continued efforts are needed to include plant selection under low N input which is not often considered a priority by plant breeders. Molecular markers have accelerated plant breeding in a number of areas including biotic (disease and insect) resistance and abiotic (drought, low nitrogen fertilization and frost) tolerance. Marker-based technology has already provided scientists with a powerful approach for identifying and mapping quantitative trait loci (QTL) and would lead to the development of a better understanding of genetic phenomena. Two main NUE studies have been discussed. The first study identified QTL for NUE in maize involved the grain yield and secondary morphological traits of interest, such as plant height, ear leaf area, ears per plant and kernels per ear. This was compared with second study of QTL for yield and its components with genes encoding cytolistic gult-amine synthestase and leaf N0₃ ^- content. These secondary traits were correlated with yield and demonstrated segregation with high heritability under low nitrogen conditions. Marker assisted selection (MAS) should be able to offer significant advantages in cases where phenotypic screening is particularly expensive or difficult, including breeding projects involving multiple genes, recessive genes, late expression of the trait of interest, seasonal considerations, or geographical considerations. In addition to reducing costs of conventional breeding, MAS also has the potential to generate time savings. Possibly, the greatest contribution of QTL mapping to plant breeding will be the basic understanding of the genetic architecture of quantitative traits, thereby relating specific genetic loci with the biological mechanisms associated with desirable phenotypes.     

包膜尿素不同配比减施对土壤无机氮含量及玉米氮素吸收的影响

【目的】研究包膜尿素与普通尿素不同配施比例对氮素释放及玉米氮素吸收的影响,旨在筛选有利于东北春玉米高产及氮素高效利用的包膜肥料与普通尿素比例,为控释氮肥在东北地区春玉米生产上的推广应用提供科学依据。【方法】2017年在辽宁省沈阳市和海城市两地以当地主栽品种东单6531和铁研358开展田间试验。供试肥料：树脂包膜尿素和普通尿素。两个试验区均设置了不施氮处理（CK0）、普通尿素常规施氮量（CK）和减氮对照处理（CK1）、树脂包膜尿素较CK减氮处理（T0）;沈阳试验区还设置了3个树脂包膜尿素与普通尿素不同配比及减氮处理（T1、T2、T3）,海城试验区设置了两个处理（T1、T2）。T1、T2、T3处理包膜尿素和普通尿素的配施比例分别为8:2、6:4、4:6;沈阳试验区常规氮肥用量为244 kg·hm ^-2,减氮处理施氮量为220 kg·hm ^-2;海城试验区常规氮肥用量为217 kg·hm ^-2,减氮处理施氮量为195 kg·hm ^-2。玉米生长季内各生育时期分别采集土壤和植株样品,测定土壤无机氮含量和植株不同部位养分含量,每个小区单独采收记录产量。 【结果】包膜尿素与普通尿素配施能显著提高玉米产量（P<0.05）,且随着配施比例的增加,产量呈先增加后降低趋势,其中T2处理的玉米产量最高（10 250 kg·hm ^-2）,CK1产量最低（9 307 kg·hm ^-2）。在等氮素条件下,玉米产量表现为T2>T3>T1>T0>CK1,籽粒产量较CK1处理增产幅度为3.89%—25.76%。在减氮10%条件下,T2处理产量与CK处理相比差异不显著。包膜尿素与普通尿素配施能显著提高玉米生育前期土壤中无机氮含量,树脂包膜尿素可以为玉米中后期生长提供氮源,且在等氮条件下,随着包膜肥料与普通尿素配比增加,氮素表观利用率和氮肥农学效益均呈先升高后降低趋势,其中均以T2处理最高,CK1处理最低,两地结果一致。 【结论】包膜尿素与普通尿素配施处理的春玉米产量、氮肥利用率和氮肥农学效益均优于普通尿素处理,其中以T2处理包膜尿素与普通尿素配比为6:4,效果最好;根据两种肥料不同时期的释放特点,通过拟合曲线,在辽中南地区,当62%包膜尿素搭配38%普通尿素条件下,产量、氮素表观利用率和经济效益最高且最合理,可以充分发挥普通尿素和包膜肥料优势,可有效增加春玉米中后期土壤无机氮供应能力,获得显著的增产效果,提高经济效益。     

不同施氮方式对夏玉米产量、氮素吸收与利用的影响

大田条件下以不施氮处理为对照(CK),设置农民传统施肥(FP)、水肥一体化(WF)以及水肥一体化减氮20%(WF-N)4种水氮管理模式,研究氮肥用量及施氮方式对玉米产量形成、氮素吸收及其利用效率的影响。结果表明,同等施氮量下,与FP处理相比,WF处理的子粒产量、穗粒数、千粒重和完熟期植株干物质积累量分别增加9.57%、7.45%、2.41%和9.14%;完熟期植株氮素积累量增加8.77%,氮肥偏生产力(PFPN)、氮肥农学效率(AEN)、氮肥利用率(NUE)分别增加9.57%、45.28%、28.65%。减氮20%条件下,水肥一体化施氮处理的玉米产量及产量构成、完熟期植株干物质积累量与FP处理间无显著差异,其PFPN、AEN、NUE较FP处理分别增加24.34%、21.87%和21.38%。     

玉米氮素敏感性差异自交系的表达谱分析

玉米材料的氮肥敏感性存在显著差异,但基因表达模式尚不清楚。基于此,本研究以玉米氮敏感型自交系 B73和钝感型自交系Mo17为材料,对足氮(sufficient nitrogen,简称SN)和低氮(limiting nitrogen,简称LN)条件下苗期叶片组织的转录组进行分析。对于叶片总氮含量,敏感型B73在足氮和低氮条件下存在显著差异,而钝感型Mo17的差异小且不显著。基因表达差异分析显示Mo17在两种氮环境下差异基因的数目达13 867个,在低氮环境下基因上调比例高于下调比例1.9倍;B73差异基因的数目为10 028个,低氮环境基因上调比例低于下调比例。基因聚类分析也显示低氮环境下,钝感型Mo17基因表达上调或下调的幅度高于敏感型B73。差异基因双尾方差分析表明受氮环境和基因型共同影响的差异基因为342个,功能主要集中在与氨基酸代谢、光合作用、次级代谢及基因复制表达等相关途径。综上所述,在低氮条件下氮钝感型Mo17较敏感型B73激活更多的基因来提高植株对氮的吸收和同化能力,被激活的基因可能与玉米氮肥转运和利用有关。