Elevated Nitrogen Priming Induced Oxinitro-Responses and Water Deficit Tolerance in Rice

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Plant Physiology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Water deficit limits nitrogen availability and uptake in plants.
• Nitric oxide (NO) is explored as an abiotic stress tolerance inducer.
• Elevated nitrogen may mitigate water deficit effects by influencing NO pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate elevated nitrogen priming's potential to mitigate water deficit stress in rice.
• To investigate the role of nitric oxide accumulation in nitrogen-primed drought tolerance.
• To demonstrate NO accumulation in rice leaves under elevated nitrogen priming.

Main Methods:

• Rice plants were grown with initial nitrogen treatment (300 mg L⁻¹).
• Plants were primed with varying nitrogen concentrations (100, 300, 500, 1000 mg L⁻¹) before water deficit induction.
• Physiological parameters (photosynthesis, water content, electrolyte leakage, lipid peroxidation) and NO accumulation were measured.

Main Results:

• Priming with 500 mg L⁻¹ nitrogen significantly improved photosynthetic rate and relative water content under water deficit.
• Elevated nitrogen priming reduced electrolyte leakage and lipid peroxidation compared to controls.
• Water deficit tolerance was associated with nitric oxide accumulation in rice leaves and roots.

Conclusions:

• Elevated nitrogen priming enhances water deficit tolerance in rice.
• Nitric oxide accumulation plays a crucial role in mediating this enhanced tolerance.
• Nitrogen priming is a viable strategy to improve crop resilience in water-limited environments.