Strigolactone roles in maize tolerance to low nitrogen involve shifts in acquisition and partitioning of protein, sulfur, and iron

Background and Aims Nitrogen (N) is an essential macronutrient that can limit plant development and crop yield through widespread physiological and molecular impacts. In maize, N-starvation enhances biosynthesis and exudation of strigolactones (SLs) in a process reversible by nitrate addition and co...

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Published in:Plant and soil 2024-12, Vol.505 (1), p.41-64
Main Authors: Quaggiotti, Silvia, Buzzicotti, Leonardo, Koch, Karen E., Guan, Jiahn Chou, Trevisan, Sara, Varotto, Serena, Ruperti, Benedetto, Ravazzolo, Laura
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acclimation
Acclimatization
Agriculture
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biosynthesis
Corn
Crop yield
Ecology
Exudation
Gene silencing
Genes
Hydroponics
Iron
Iron deficiency
Life Sciences
Mutants
Nitrogen
Parameter identification
Photosynthetic pigments
Physiology
Phytohormones
Plant Physiology
Plant Sciences
Proteins
Research Article
Soil Science & Conservation
Sulfur
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Summary:Background and Aims Nitrogen (N) is an essential macronutrient that can limit plant development and crop yield through widespread physiological and molecular impacts. In maize, N-starvation enhances biosynthesis and exudation of strigolactones (SLs) in a process reversible by nitrate addition and consequent repression of genes for SL biosynthesis. Methods In the present study, a maize mutant deficient in SL biosynthesis ( zmccd8 ) allowed an in-depth analysis of SL contributions under low N. Both hydroponic and field conditions were used to better characterize the response of the mutant to N availability. Results The severity of responses to N-limitation by the SL-deficient zmccd8 mutant extended from growth parameters to content of iron, sulfur, protein, and photosynthetic pigments, as well as pronounced impacts on expression of key genes, which could be crucial molecular target for the SL-mediated acclimatation to N shortage. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that SLs are critical for physiological acclimation to N deficiency by maize and identify central players in this action. Further contributions by iron and sulfur are implicated in the complex pathway underlying SL modulation of responses to N-deprivation, thus widening our knowledge on SL functioning and providing new hints on their potential use in agriculture.
ISSN:0032-079X
1573-5036
DOI:10.1007/s11104-024-06561-6