Transcriptomic response of durum wheat to nitrogen starvation

Area of Science:

• Plant Science
• Molecular Biology
• Agricultural Science

Background:

• Nitrogen (N) is essential for plant growth and a critical factor limiting wheat productivity.
• Understanding plant responses to nitrogen deficiency is crucial for enhancing crop yields and sustainability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the transcriptomic response of durum wheat to chronic nitrogen starvation during grain filling.
• To identify key genes and pathways involved in nitrogen stress tolerance.

Main Methods:

• RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was employed to analyze gene expression in roots, leaves/stems, flag leaf, and spikes of durum wheat (cv. Svevo).
• Differential gene expression analysis identified thousands of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and associated gene ontology (GO) terms.

Main Results:

• Nitrogen stress negatively affected plant height, tillering, flag leaf area, spike and seed traits, and total nitrogen content.
• A total of 4,626 differentially expressed genes were identified, with the most significant changes observed in roots (3,270 DEGs).
• Key affected biological processes included nitrogen compound metabolism, carbon metabolism, and photosynthesis, with notable DEGs in N transporters, assimilation, and stress-related genes.

Conclusions:

• The study provides a comprehensive transcriptomic overview of durum wheat's response to chronic nitrogen stress.
• Identified genes and pathways offer potential targets for breeding durum wheat with improved nitrogen use efficiency.