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Molecular bases for the stronger plastic response to high nitrate in the invasive plant Xanthium strumarium compared with its native congener

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Abstract

Main conclusion

High expressions of nitrate use and photosynthesis-related transcripts contribute to the stronger plasticity to high nitrate for the invader relative to its native congener, which may be driven by hormones.

Abstract

Strong phenotypic plasticity is often considered as one of the main mechanisms underlying exotic plant invasions. However, few studies have been conducted to investigate the related molecular mechanisms. Here, we determined the differences in the plastic responses to high nitrate between the invasive plant X. strumarium and its native congener, and the molecular bases by transcriptome analysis and quantitative real-time PCR validation. Our results showed that the invader had higher plasticity of growth, nitrogen accumulation and photosynthesis in responses to high nitrate than its native congener. Compared with its congener, more N utilization-related transcripts, including nitrate transporter 1/peptide transporter family 6.2 and nitrate reductase 1, were induced by high nitrate in the root of X. strumarium, improving its N utilization ability. More transcripts coding for photosynthetic antenna proteins were also induced by high nitrate in the shoot of X. strumarium, enhancing its photosynthesis. Hormones may be involved in the regulation of the plastic responses to high nitrate in the two species. Our study contributes to understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the stronger plasticity of the invader in responses to high nitrate, and the potential function of plant hormones in these processes, providing bases for precise control of invasive plants using modern molecular techniques.

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Data availability

The data sets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. RNA sequencing used in this study are stored in https://dataview.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/object/PRJNA863412?reviewer=dv32r49hisb0ugi1siv1771ed4.

Abbreviations

DETs:

Differently expressed transcripts

GLN:

Glutamine synthetase

GOGAT:

Glutamate synthase

NIA:

Nitrate reductase

NIR:

Nitrite reductase

NPF:

Nitrate transporter 1/peptide transporter family

NRT2:

Nitrate transporter 2

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Funding

This study was funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China (31971557, 32001235 and 32171666).

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  1. Chang Zhang and Shi-Ting Wang contribute equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Liaoning Key Laboratory for Biological Invasions and Global Changes, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, Liaoning, China

    Chang Zhang, Shi-Ting Wang, Jian-Zhi Li & Yu-Long Feng

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  1. Chang Zhang
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Correspondence to Yu-Long Feng.

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Zhang, C., Wang, ST., Li, JZ. et al. Molecular bases for the stronger plastic response to high nitrate in the invasive plant Xanthium strumarium compared with its native congener. Planta 258, 61 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-023-04220-1

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