International Journal of Applied Science - Research and Review Open Access

A smaller root system with enhanced biomass accumulation and transporter expression in foxtail millet [Setaria italica (L.) Beauv.] under low nitrogen

EuroSciCon Joint Events on Plant Science, Tissue Engineering and Parasitology

December 03-04, 2018 Amsterdam, Netherlands

Faisal Nadeem, Zeeshan Ahmad and Xuexian Li

MOE Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions-China Agricultural University, China Institute of Crop Sciences-Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Int J Appl Sci Res Rev

Abstract:

Foxtail millet (FM) [Setaria italica (L.) Beauv.] is an important grain and forage crop well adapted to nutrient-poor soils. Studies related to its adaption to nutrient limitation are rare. How FM adapts to low nitrogen (LN) at the morphological, physiological, and molecular levels remains worth studying and to date, little is known about that. Low nitrogen (LN) led to lower chlorophyll contents and N concentrations, and higher root/shoot and C/N ratios and N utilization efficiencies in FM variety Yugu1 under hydroponic culture. A smaller root system as indicated by significant decreases in total root length; crown root number and length; and lateral root number, length, and density; was in contrast to enhanced biomass accumulation in the root under LN. Increased average diameter of the LN root, potentially favourable for wider xylem vessels or other anatomical alterations favourable for nutrient transport facilitated enhanced carbon allocation towards root. Consistent with smaller root system IAA and CKs levels were lower whereas higher levels of GA may promote root thickening under LN. Further, up-regulation of SiNRT1.1, SiNRT2.1, and SiNAR2.1 expression and nitrate influx in the root and that of SiNRT1.11 and SiNRT1.12 expression in the shoot probably favoured nitrate uptake and remobilization as a whole. Lastly, more soluble proteins accumulated in the N-deficient root likely as a result of increases of N utilization efficiencies. Such excessive protein-N was possibly available for shoot delivery. Thus, FM may preferentially transport carbon toward the root facilitating root thickening/ nutrient transport and allocate N toward the shoot maximizing photosynthesis/ carbon fixation as a primary adaptive strategy to N limitation

Biography :

Faisal Nadeem has completed his Masters’ degree in Agriculture-Soil Science from Pakistan and then got admitted to China Agricultural University, Beijing, China for PhD. He is in final year of his PhD and his research focuses on morphological, physiological and molecular response of foxtail millet to different nitrogen regimes. He has published one research article as first author and the other as second author during his PhD tenure so far.

E-mail: fnadeem90@gmail.com