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Transcription Analysis of Genes Encoding the Wheat Root Transporter NRT1 and NRT2 Families During Nitrogen Starvation

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Abstract

In the present study, nitrogen (N) starvation for 8 days significantly inhibited the growth of wheat seedlings as manifested by decreased plant height, shoot fresh weight, and shoot dry weight, although it stimulated root growth. The nitrate and protein contents were markedly reduced and the oxidative stress marker, malondialdehyde content, was markedly increased in the leaves and roots of wheat seedlings during N starvation. The genes encoding the NRT1 and NRT2 families in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were identified, and their transcription levels were measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in the roots of N-starved wheat seedlings. N starvation significantly enhanced the transcription levels of TaNRT1.1 at 2 and 4 days; TaNRT1.3 at 2, 4, and 6 days; TaNRT1.4 at 2 days; TaNRT1.7 and TaNRT1.8 at 2 days; TaNRT2.1 and TaNRT2.2 at 2 days; and TaNRT2.3 at 2 and 4 days. However, the TaNRT1.5 and TaNRT2.4 genes were greatly inhibited at all sampling time points after N starvation, whereas the TaNRT1.2 and TaNRT2.5 genes were dramatically induced. The functions of these transporters in N starvation of wheat seedlings based on these expression profiles are herein discussed.

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Acknowledgments

This study is financially supported by the Twelfth Five-Year National Food Production Technology Project (2011BAD16B07) and the Special Fund for Agro-scientific Research in the Public Interest (201203033).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing financial interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Food Crops, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, China

    Tiancai Guo, Hongmei Xuan, Lina Wang & Yonghua Wang

  2. The National Engineering Research Centre for Wheat, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, China

    Yingying Yang & Liting Wei

  3. The National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Henan Agricultural University, #62, Nongye Road, Zhengzhou, 450002, Henan Province, China

    Guozhang Kang

Authors
  1. Tiancai Guo
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  2. Hongmei Xuan
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  3. Yingying Yang
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  4. Lina Wang
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  5. Liting Wei
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  6. Yonghua Wang
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  7. Guozhang Kang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Guozhang Kang.

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Supplementary Fig. S1

Transcript levels of TaNRT1 family genes were measured using GAPDH as another internal control during N starvation. Each value is the mean ± standard deviation of at least three independent measurements. Different letters indicate significant differences (P < 0.05). a Transcript levels of TaNRT1.1 in wheat seedling roots. b Transcript levels of TaNRT1.2 in wheat seedling roots. c Transcript levels of TaNRT1.3 in wheat seedling roots. d Transcript levels of TaNRT1.4 in wheat seedling roots. e Transcript levels of TaNRT1.5 in wheat seedling roots. f Transcript levels of TaNRT1.7 in wheat seedling roots. g Transcript levels of TaNRT1.8 in wheat seedling roots. (TIFF 722 kb)

Supplementary Fig. S2

Transcript levels of TaNRT2 family genes were measured using GAPDH as another internal control during N starvation. Each value is the mean ± standard deviation of at least three independent measurements. Different letters indicate significant differences (P < 0.05). a Transcript levels of TaNRT2.1 in wheat seedling roots. b Transcript levels of TaNRT2.2 in wheat seedling roots. c Transcript levels of TaNRT2.3 in wheat seedling roots. d Transcript levels of TaNRT2.4 in wheat seedling roots. e Transcript levels of TaNRT2.5 in wheat seedling roots. (TIFF 1,098 kb)

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Guo, T., Xuan, H., Yang, Y. et al. Transcription Analysis of Genes Encoding the Wheat Root Transporter NRT1 and NRT2 Families During Nitrogen Starvation. J Plant Growth Regul 33, 837–848 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-014-9435-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-014-9435-z

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