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Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE): elucidated mechanisms, mapped genes and gene networks in maize (Zea mays L.)

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Abstract

Nitrogen, the vital primary plant growth nutrient at deficit soil conditions, drastically affects the growth and yield of a crop. Over the years, excess use of inorganic nitrogenous fertilizers resulted in pollution, eutrophication and thereby demanding the reduction in the use of chemical fertilizers. Being a C4 plant with fibrous root system and high NUE, maize can be deployed to be the best candidate for better N uptake and utilization in nitrogen deficient soils. The maize germplasm sources has enormous genetic variation for better nitrogen uptake contributing traits. Adoption of single cross maize hybrids as well as inherent property of high NUE has helped maize cultivars to achieve the highest growth rate among the cereals during last decade. Further, considering the high cost of nitrogenous fertilizers, adverse effects on soil health and environmental impact, maize improvement demands better utilization of existing genetic variation for NUE via introgression of novel allelic combinations in existing cultivars. Marker assisted breeding efforts need to be supplemented with introgression of genes/QTLs related to NUE in ruling varieties and thereby enhancing the overall productivity of maize in a sustainable manner. To achieve this, we need mapped genes and network of interacting genes and proteins to be elucidated. Identified genes may be used in screening ideal maize genotypes in terms of better physiological functionality exhibiting high NUE. Future genome editing may help in developing lines with increased productivity under low N conditions in an environment of optimum agronomic practices.

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Acknowledgements

Authors are grateful to their respective institutions.

Funding

This work was partially supported by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research –National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources [PGR/DFP-BUR-DEL-01.01]. AZ is thankful to Aligarh Muslim University and UGC-New Delhi India for financial assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Genetics and Plant Breeding, Mountain Research Centre For Field Crops, Sher-E-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Khudwani Anantnag, J&K, 192101, India

    Shabir H. Wani

  2. Regional Agricultural Research Station-Central Zone, Kerala Agricultural University, MelePattambi, Palakkad, Kerala, 679306, India

    Roshni Vijayan

  3. ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research, Ludhiana, 141001, India

    Mukesh Choudhary & Pardeep Kumar

  4. Centre for Agricultural Bioinformatics (CABin), ICAR-Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India

    Anuj Kumar

  5. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry Section, Department of Botany, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, India

    Abbu Zaid

  6. Department of Plants, Soils and Climate, Utah State University, 4820 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT, 84322, USA

    Vishal Singh

  7. Division of Genomic Resources, ICAR-National Bureau Plant Genetic Resources, PUSA Campus, New Delhi, 110012, India

    Jeshima Khan Yasin

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  8. Jeshima Khan Yasin
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SHW conceived the idea, SHW, RV, MK, AK, AZ, VS, PK and JKY wrote the MS.

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Wani, S.H., Vijayan, R., Choudhary, M. et al. Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE): elucidated mechanisms, mapped genes and gene networks in maize (Zea mays L.). Physiol Mol Biol Plants 27, 2875–2891 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12298-021-01113-z

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