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Related Concept Videos

Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation01:22

Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation

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Nitrogen is an essential element in biological systems, forming a crucial component of proteins, nucleic acids, and other cellular constituents. Many bacteria and archaea acquire nitrogen in the form of nitrate (NO₃⁻) or ammonia (NH₃), which are then assimilated into biomolecules through specific enzymatic pathways.Assimilatory Nitrate ReductionWhen nitrate enters the cell, it undergoes a two-step reduction process known as assimilatory nitrate reduction. Initially, the enzyme...
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Nitrogen atoms, present in all proteins and DNA, are recycled between abiotic and biotic components of the ecosystem. However, the primary form of nitrogen on Earth is nitrogen gas, which cannot be used by most animals and plants. Thus, nitrogen gas must first be converted into a usable form by nitrogen-fixing bacteria before it can be cycled through other living organisms. The use of nitrogen-containing fertilizers and animal waste products in human agriculture has greatly influenced the...
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Sulfur Assimilation01:20

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Short-distance transport refers to transport that occurs over a distance of just 2-3 cells, crossing the plasma membrane in the process. Small uncharged molecules, such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water, can diffuse across the plasma membrane on their own. In contrast, ions and larger molecules require the assistance of transport proteins due to their charge or size. Transport across membranes also occurs within individual cells, playing a variety of essential roles for the plant as a whole.
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Like many living organisms, plants have tissues that specialize in specific plant functions. For example, shoots are well adapted to rapid growth, while roots are structured to acquire resources efficiently. However, sugar production is primarily restricted to the photosynthetic cells that reside in the leaves of angiosperm plants. Sugar and other resources are transported from photosynthetic tissues to other specialized tissues by a process called translocation.
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Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism01:20

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Nitrogen is a very important element for life because it is a major constituent of proteins and nucleic acids. It is a macronutrient, and in nature, it is recycled from organic compounds and stored in the form of  ammonia, ammonium ions, nitrate, nitrite, or  nitrogen gas by many metabolic processes. Many of these metabolic processes are carried out only by prokaryotes.
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Lateral Root Inducible System in Arabidopsis and Maize
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Root Ideotype Influences Nitrogen Transport and Assimilation in Maize.

Julie Dechorgnat1, Karen L Francis2, Kanwarpal S Dhugga3

  • 1Sydney Institute of Agriculture, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camden, NSW, Australia.

Frontiers in Plant Science
|May 10, 2018
PubMed
Summary

Maize (Zea mays, L.) inbred lines B73 and F44 exhibit distinct nitrogen (N) uptake and root system architectures. Understanding these differences is key to improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and reducing fertilizer pollution.

Keywords:
Zea maysgene expressionnitrogenroot system architecturetransport

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Micron-scale Phenotyping Techniques of Maize Vascular Bundles Based on X-ray Microcomputed Tomography
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Area of Science:

  • Plant Physiology and Genetics
  • Agricultural Science
  • Environmental Science

Background:

  • Maize (Zea mays, L.) yield heavily relies on nitrogen (N) availability, with overuse of N-fertilizers causing environmental issues like water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in maize is crucial for sustainable agriculture, necessitating a deeper understanding of N uptake and utilization mechanisms.
  • Two maize inbred lines, B73 and F44, with distinct selection histories (Iowa vs. Florida soils), were chosen to investigate contrasting N assimilation and root development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and characterize genetic, enzymatic, and biochemical differences in nitrogen transport and assimilation between maize inbred lines B73 and F44.
  • To investigate the relationship between nitrogen form preference (ammonium vs. nitrate) and root system architecture (RSA) in these contrasting maize lines.
  • To determine the inheritance pattern of nitrogen specificity and RSA phenotypes in an F1 hybrid.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized transcriptional, enzymatic, and nitrogen transport analytical tools to assess N absorption and utilization.
  • Phenotypically characterized root system architecture (RSA) under different nitrogen forms (nitrate and ammonium).
  • Generated an F1 hybrid between B73 and F44 to analyze the dominance of specific traits.

Main Results:

  • B73 demonstrated a higher capacity for ammonium transport and assimilation, while F44 preferred nitrate.
  • Contrasting RSAs were observed: F44 exhibited longer crown roots with greater surface area, volume, and lateral root density; B73 had more abundant primary, seminal, and crown roots.
  • The F1 hybrid displayed phenotypes mirroring the B73 inbred line, indicating complete dominance of B73's nitrogen specificity and RSA traits.

Conclusions:

  • Significant genetic and phenotypic differences exist between maize inbred lines B73 and F44 regarding nitrogen assimilation and root system architecture.
  • Root system architecture is strongly linked to nitrogen form preference, impacting nitrogen use efficiency (NUE).
  • Simultaneous consideration of RSA and nitrogen management strategies is essential for enhancing NUE in maize breeding programs.