Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Leaf protein allocation across the canopy and during senescence in earlier and later senescing maize hybrids, and implications for the use of chlorophyll as a proxy of leaf N

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Acta Physiologiae Plantarum Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Leaf chlorophyll (chl) and protein distribution were analyzed throughout grain filling in four modern maize hybrids with contrasting senescence behavior, at three different canopy levels and at low-N (LN, 18 kg N ha−1) and high-N (HN, 218 kg N ha−1) fertilization levels. Chl content assessed by SPAD resembled protein content only at LN, with delayed senescing genotypes having more leaf protein content than reference genotypes. Across N levels, relative chl content negatively related to light intensity (r2 = 0.59, P < 0.001), while relative protein content did only for the lowest part of the canopy (r2 = 0.54, P < 0.001), suggesting protein distribution in the canopy could be further improved. Relative Rubisco/LHCII partitioning increased from lower to upper leaves (P < 0.09) and differed among genotypes (P < 0.05) with no link to senescence behavior. Photosynthetic electron transport rates were lower at LN and differed between genotypes (P < 0.05) including those with similar leaf protein contents. Chl and protein contents were related across the entire dataset (r2 = 0.53, P < 0.001) but the slope (b) of this relationship varied widely depending on the leaf position (b = 0.026–0.019), the senescence stage (b = 0.014–0.020), the N level (b = 0.035–0.026) and the hybrid (b = 0.016–0.033). Our results suggest that in modern maize hybrids, leaf N utilization can be further improved and that genotypic together with other sources of variation should be included as specific variables in SPAD-based predictions of leaf N content.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Acciaresi HA, Tambussi EA, Antonietta M, Zuluaga MS, Andrade FH, Guiamet JJ (2014) Carbon assimilation, leaf area dynamics, and grain yield in contemporary earlier and later-senescing maize hybrids. Eur J Agron 59:29–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Antonietta M, Fanello DD, Acciaresi HA, Guiamet JJ (2014) Senescence and yield responses to plant density in stay green and earlier-senescing maize hybrids from Argentina. Field Crops Res 155:111–119

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Antonietta M, Acciaresi HA, Guiamet JJ (2016) Responses to N deficiency in stay green and non stay green Argentinean hybrids of maize. J Agron Crop Sci 202:231–242

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bellasio C, Griffiths H (2014) Acclimation of C4 metabolism to low light in mature maize leaves could limit energetic losses during progressive shading in a crop canopy. J Exp Bot 65:3725–3736

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Below F, Cazetta J, Seebauer J (2000) Carbon/nitrogen interactions during ear and kernel development of maize. In: Physiology and modeling kernel set in maize. Crop Science Society of America and American Society of Agronomy. Special publication number 29

  • Cabrini SM, Llovet JA, Bitar MV, Paollili MC (2017) Márgenes brutos de las principales actividades agrícolas. Campaña 2017/2018. INTA Pergamino. https://inta.gob.ar/sites/default/files

  • Chen Y, Xiao C, Chen X, Li Q, Zhang J, Chen F, Yuan L, Mi G (2014) Characterization of the plant traits contributed to high grain yield and high grain nitrogen concentration in maize. Field Crops Res 159:1–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen Y, Xiao C, Wu D, Xia T, Chen Q, Chen F, Yuan L, Mi G (2015) Effects of nitrogen application rate on grain yield and grain nitrogen concentration in two maize hybrids with contrasting nitrogen remobilization efficiency. Eur J Agron 62:79–89

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen Y, Wu D, Mu X, Xiao C, Chen F, Yuan L, Mi G (2016) Vertical distribution of photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency and its response to nitrogen in field-grown maize. Crop Sci 56:397–407

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cirilo AG, Dardanelli J, Balzarini M, Andrade FH, Cantarero M, Luque S, Pedrol HM (2009) Morpho-physiological traits associated with maize crop adaptations to environments differing in nitrogen availability. Field Crops Res 113:116–124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Earl HJ, Tollenaar M (1999) Using chlorophyll fluorometry to compare photosynthetic performance of commercial maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids in the field. Field Crops Res 61:201–210

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans J, Poorter H (2001) Photosynthetic acclimation of plants to growth irradiance: the relative importance of specific leaf area and nitrogen partitioning in maximizing carbon gain. Plant Cell Environ 24:755–767

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gallais A, Coque M (2005) Genetic variation and selection for nitrogen use efficiency in maize: a synthesis. Maydica 50(3/4):531–547

    Google Scholar 

  • Gastal F, Lemaire G (2002) N uptake and distribution in crops: an agronomical and ecophysiological perspective. J Exp Bot 53:789–799

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • He P, Osaki M, Takebe M, Shinano T (2002) Changes of photosynthetic characteristics in relation to leaf senescence in two maize hybrids with different senescent appearance. Photosynthetica 40:547–552

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hidema J, Makino A, Mae T, Ojima K (1991) Photosynthetic characteristics of rice leaves aged under different irradiances from full expansion through senescence. Plant Phys 97:1287–1293

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hirel B, Martin A, Tercé-Laforgue T, Gonzalez-Moro MB, Estavillo JM (2005) Physiology of maize I: a comprehensive and integrated view of nitrogen metabolism in a C4 plant. Phys Plant 124:167–177

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kingston-Smith AH, Foyer CH (2000) Bundle sheath proteins are more sensitive to oxidative damage than those of the mesophyll in maize leaves exposed to paraquat or low temperatures. J Exp Bot 51:123–130

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kosgey JR, Moot DJ, Fletcher AL, McKenzie BA (2013) Dry matter accumulation and post-silking N economy of ‘stay-green’ maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids. Eur J Agron 51:43–52

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laemmli UK (1970) Most commonly used discontinuous buffer system for SDS electrophoresis. Nature 227:680–685

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Makino A, Sakuma H, Sudo E, Mae T (2003) Differences between maize and rice in N-use efficiency for photosynthesis and protein allocation. Plant Cell Phys 44:952–956

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martinez DE, Costa ML, Gomez FM, Otegui MS, Guiamet JJ (2008) ‘Senescence-associated vacuoles’ are involved in the degradation of chloroplast proteins in tobacco leaves. Plant J 56:196–206

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Masclaux-Daubresse C, Daniel-Vedele F, Dechorgnat J, Chardon F, Gaufichon L, Suzuki A (2010) Nitrogen uptake, assimilation and remobilization in plants, challenges for sustainable and productive agriculture. Ann Bot 105:1141–1157

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mu X, Chen Q, Chen F, Yuan L, Mi G (2016) Within-leaf nitrogen allocation in adaptation to low nitrogen supply in maize during grain-filling stage. Front Plant Sci 7:699

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Osaki M (1995) Comparison of productivity between tropical and temperate maize: II. Parameters determining the productivity in relation to the amount of nitrogen absorbed. Soil Sci Plant Nutr 41:451–459

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paponov IA, Sambo P, Erley GSAM, Presterl T, Geiger HH, Engels C (2005) Grain yield and kernel weight of two maize genotypes differing in nitrogen use efficiency at various levels of nitrogen and carbohydrate availability during flowering and grain filling. Plant Soil 272:111–123

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ritchie SW, Hanway JJ, Thompson HE (1996) How a Corn plant develops. Special report, 48. Cooperative extension service. Iowa State University of Sciece and Technology, Ames

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenqvist E, van Kooten O (2003) Chlorophyll fluorescence: a general description and nomenclature. Practical applications of chlorophyll fluorescence in plant biology. Springer, New York, pp 31–77

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Schippers JH, Schmidt R, Wagstaff C, Jing HC (2015) Living to die and dying to live: the survival strategy behind leaf senescence. Plant Phys. 169:914–930. http://www.trimble.com/Agriculture/greenseeker.aspx/. Accessed 13 Feb 2017 (Trimble. Greenseeker crop sensing system)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas H, Ougham H, Canter P, Donnison I (2002) What stay-green mutants tell us about nitrogen remobilization in leaf senescence. J Exp Bot 53:801–808

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • van Oosterom EJ, Borrell AK, Chapman SC, Broad IJ, Hammer GL (2010) Functional dynamics of the nitrogen balance of sorghum, I. N demand of vegetative plant parts. Field Crops Res 115:19–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xiong D, Chen J, Yu T, Gao W, Ling X, Li Y, Peng S, Huang J (2015) SPAD-based leaf nitrogen estimation is impacted by environmental factors and crop leaf characteristics. Sci Rep 5:13389

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica, Argentina [PICT 1137, 2012; PICT 1092, 2016]. Thanks are due to the staff of the Experimental Field of Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales (Universidad Nacional de La Plata), in particular to Ing. Agr. Pablo Etchevers, for their help with crop management.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Paula Girón

    Present address: EEA General Villegas, INTA, San Martín No. 26, 6230, General Villegas, Argentina

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Fisiología Vegetal (INFIVE), Universidad Nacional de La Plata-CONICET, cc 327, La Plata, CP 1900, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Mariana Antonietta, Paula Girón, María L. Costa & Juan J. Guiamét

Authors
  1. Mariana Antonietta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Paula Girón
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. María L. Costa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Juan J. Guiamét
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mariana Antonietta.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Communicated by P. Wojtaszek.

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (DOCX 360 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Antonietta, M., Girón, P., Costa, M.L. et al. Leaf protein allocation across the canopy and during senescence in earlier and later senescing maize hybrids, and implications for the use of chlorophyll as a proxy of leaf N. Acta Physiol Plant 41, 150 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-019-2943-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-019-2943-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation