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Auxin synthesis promotes N metabolism and optimizes root structure enhancing N acquirement in maize (Zea mays L.)

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Abstract

Main conclusion

Foliar NAA increases photosynthate supplied by enhancing photosynthesis, to strengthen root activity and provide a large sink for root carbohydrate accumulation, which is beneficial to acquire more nitrogen.

Abstract

The improvement of grain yield is an effective component in the food security. Auxin acts as a well-known plant hormone, plays an important role in maize growth and nutrient uptake. In this study, with maize variety Zhengdan 958 (ZD958) as material, the effects of auxin on nitrogen (N) uptake and assimilation of seedling maize were studied by hydroponic experiments. With water as the control, naphthalene acetic acid (NAA, 0.1 mmol/L) and aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG, 0.1 mmol/L, an auxin synthesis inhibitor) were used for foliar spraying. The results showed that NAA significantly improved photosynthetic rate and plant biomass by 58.6% and 91.7%, respectively, while the effect of AVG was opposite to that of NAA. At the same time, key enzymes activities related N assimilation in NAA leaves were significantly increased, and the activities of nitrate reductase (NR), glutamine synthetase (GS) and glutamate synthase (GOGAT) were increased by 32.3%, 22.9%, and 16.2% in new leaves. Furthermore, NAA treatment promoted underground growth. When compared with control, total root length, root surface area, root tip number, branch number and root activity were significantly increased by 37.8%, 22.2%, 35.1%, 28.8% and 21.2%. Root growth is beneficial to N capture in maize. Ultimately, the total N accumulation of NAA treatment was significantly increased by 74.5%, as compared to the control. In conclusion, NAA foliar spraying increased endogenous IAA content, and enhanced the activity of N assimilation-related enzymes and photosynthesis rate, in order to build a large sink for carbohydrate accumulation. In addition, NAA strengthened root activity and regulated root morphology and architecture, which facilitated further N uptake and plant growth.

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Data availability

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article.

Abbreviations

NAA:

Naphthalene acetic acid

AVG:

Aminoethoxyvinylglycine

NR:

Nitrate reductase

GS:

Glutamine synthetase

GOGAT:

Glutamate synthase

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32102476).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Resources, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, People’s Republic of China

    Na Jiang, Changwei Li, Yixiang Xia & Lan Yang

  2. Yiyang City Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yiyang, 413046, People’s Republic of China

    Tong Zou

  3. Changde Cigarette Factory, Changde, 415200, People’s Republic of China

    Haitao Huang

Authors
  1. Na Jiang
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  2. Tong Zou
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  3. Haitao Huang
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  4. Changwei Li
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  5. Yixiang Xia
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  6. Lan Yang
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Contributions

Na Jiang: Data curation, Investigation, Methodology, Writing original draft. Tong Zou: Resources, Data curation. Haitao Huang: Supervision, Investigation, Conceptualization. Changwei Li: Investigation, Validation, Data curation. Yixiang Xia: Investigation, Data curation. Lan Yang: Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Funding acquisition, Project administration, Resources, Writing review and editing.

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Correspondence to Lan Yang.

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Jiang, N., Zou, T., Huang, H. et al. Auxin synthesis promotes N metabolism and optimizes root structure enhancing N acquirement in maize (Zea mays L.). Planta 259, 46 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-023-04327-5

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