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Effect of Nitrogen Form on Gene Expression in Leaf Tissue of Greenhouse Grown Potatoes During Three Stages of Growth

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Abstract

This study examined the expression of genes in leaf tissue of greenhouse-grown potatoes to the form of N supplied in the context of development of a diagnostic tool for detection of N status. Potato cultivar ‘Shepody’ was grown over a two-week period at three stages of growth (tuber initiation, flowering and early tuber bulking) with three forms of N (NO3− only, NH4+ only, or 1:1 NO3−:NH4+) at two levels of N supply (0.75 or 7.5 mM). Leaf disks were collected and extracted for RNA, and 28 genes examined for expression using nCounter. Expression of ammonium transporter AT1 was increased when the N supply was reduced, regardless of N form, and was generally independent of growth stage. Expression of AT1 was less influenced by N form than currently used chemical or optical measures of plant N status. Expression of AT1 can be used as a quantitative indicator for plant N status of potato regardless of nitrogen form and crop growth stage.

Resumen

En este estudio se examinó la expresión de genes en tejido foliar de papas de invernadero respecto a la forma de suministro de N en el contexto de desarrollo de una herramienta de diagnóstico para la detección de la situación del N. Se cultivó la variedad “Shepody” en un período de dos semanas y en tres etapas de crecimiento (iniciación de la tuberización, floración e inicio del llenado de tubérculo) con tres formas de suministro de N (NO3−solamente, NH4+ solamente, o 1:1 NO3−:NH4+), a dos niveles de suministro (0.75 o7.5 mM). Se colectaron discos de hoja y se les extrajo el ARN, examinándose la expresión de 28 genes mediante el uso de un nContador. Se incrementó la expresión de un transportador de amonio AT1 cuando se reducía el suministro de N, independientemente de su forma, y fue generalmente independiente del estado de crecimiento. La expresión de AT1 estuvo menos influenciada por la forma de N que las medidas químicas u ópticas comúnmente usadas para medir el estado de N en la planta. La expresión de AT1 puede usarse como un indicador cuantitativo para la situación del N de la planta de papa, independientemente de la forma de nitrógeno y etapa de crecimiento del cultivo.

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Acknowledgments

Funding was provided by the SAGES program of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Technical assistance was provided by K. Terry, K. Worrall and C. Davidson.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Potato Research Centre, PO Box 20280, Fredericton, NB, Canada, E3B 4Z7

    Bernie J. Zebarth, Helen Tai, David De Koeyer & Xiu-Qing Li

  2. Institute of Horticulture, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha, Hunan, China, 410025

    Sainan Luo

  3. James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen, UK, AB15 8QH

    Pete Millard

  4. College of Horticulture and Landscape, Hunan Agriculture University, Hunan, Changsha, China, 410128

    Xingyao Xiong

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  1. Bernie J. Zebarth
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  2. Helen Tai
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  3. Sainan Luo
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  4. Pete Millard
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  5. David De Koeyer
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  6. Xiu-Qing Li
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  7. Xingyao Xiong
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Correspondence to Bernie J. Zebarth.

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Zebarth, B.J., Tai, H., Luo, S. et al. Effect of Nitrogen Form on Gene Expression in Leaf Tissue of Greenhouse Grown Potatoes During Three Stages of Growth. Am. J. Pot Res 89, 315–327 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12230-012-9255-2

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