Multi-Omics Analysis Deciphers Nitrogen-Phosphate Balance to Maintain Metabolic Homoeostasis and Promote Plant Growth...

Area of Science:

• Plant Physiology
• Nutrient Management
• Agricultural Science

Background:

• Nitrogen (N) and phosphate (P) are vital macronutrients for plant growth.
• The combined regulatory dynamics of N and P in rapeseed (Brassica napus) are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the integrated responses of rapeseed to combined and single deficiencies of N and P.
• To elucidate the metabolic and transcriptomic adaptations in rapeseed under varying N and P availability.

Main Methods:

• Transcriptomics, metabolomics, lipidomics, and physiological phenotyping were employed.
• Rapeseed was subjected to conditions of N-P co-deficiency, single nutrient deficiencies (-P, -N), and sufficiency (+N+P).

Main Results:

• Combined N-P deficiency caused severe growth inhibition but enhanced nutrient acquisition efficiency through root plasticity.
• Photosynthesis was suppressed, with evidence of carbon repartitioning and TCA cycle perturbation.
• Lipid remodelling, including phospholipid-to-galactolipid/sulfolipid conversion and altered signaling/storage lipids, was a key adaptive strategy.

Conclusions:

• Balanced N-P supply is essential for metabolic homeostasis and optimal carbon allocation in rapeseed, as described by the 'N-P Tumbler' model.
• Lipid metabolic trade-offs, orchestrated by gene expression, are central to N-P interplay.
• Findings provide a framework for developing nutrient-efficient crops and precision fertilization strategies for sustainable agriculture.