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Detection of Nitrogen Sufficiency in Potato Plants Using Gene Expression Markers

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Abstract

In-season chemical or optical measures of crop N status can be effective tools in optimizing potato fertilizer N management. The feasibility of using a gene expression as an alternative approach for early detection of potato nitrate deficiency was examined using three potato cultivars (Shepody, Russet Norkotah, and Red Pontiac) with abundant (7.5 mM NO3), limited (0.75 mM NO3) or deficient (0 mM NO3) nitrate supply in nutrient culture over a 7 d period. RNA was extracted from the last fully expanded leaf and quantified using realtime RT-qPCR. Reduced nitrate supply had no measurable effect on shoot dry weight or leaf chlorophyll concentration, but decreased petiole nitrate concentration. Under deficit nitrate supply, down-regulation of nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase was measured within 3 days for all cultivars, and down-regulation of asparagine synthetase was measured in two cultivars. Nitrate supply had no effect on expression of ammonium transporter. In this experimental system, plant gene expression markers detected a reduction of nitrate supply prior to measureable reductions in plant growth or in N status measured using common chemical or optical methods.

Resumen

Las mediciones químicas y ópticas de temporada del estado del N en el cultivo, pueden ser herramientas efectivas en la optimización del manejo de la fertilización nitrogenada en papa. Se examinó la factibilidad del uso de la expresión génica como un enfoque alternativo para la detección temprana de deficiencia de nitrato en papa, en tres cultivares (Shepody, Russet Norkotah, y Red Pontiac) con suministro de nitrato abundante (7.5 mM NO3), limitado (0.75 mM NO3) o deficiente (0 mM NO3), en solución nutritiva en un período de 7 d. Se extrajo el RNA de la última hoja completamente expandida y se cuantificó usando RT-qPCR de tiempo real. El suministro reducido de nitrato no tuvo efecto medible en el peso seco del tallo o en la concentración de la clorofila foliar, pero disminuyó la concentración de nitrato en el pecíolo. Bajo el suministro deficitario de nitrato, se midió la regulación de nitrato reductasa y nitrito reductasa en los primeros tres días para todos los cultivares, y la regulación de asparagina sintetasa en dos cultivares. No tuvo efecto el suministro de nitrato en la expresión del transportador de amonio. En este sistema experimental, los marcadores de la expresión génica detectaron una reducción en el suministro de nitrato antes que las reducciones medibles en el crecimiento de la planta o en el estado del N medido usando los métodos comunes químicos u ópticos.

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Abbreviations

N:

nitrogen

NR:

nitrate reductase

NiR:

nitrite reductase

AS:

asparagine synthetase

AMT:

ammonium transporter

ANOVA:

Analysis of Variance

LSD:

Least Significant Difference

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Acknowledgments

Funding was provided by the Embracing Innovation Program of the New Brunswick Department of Agriculture and Aquaculture and the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Technical assistance was provided by Ginette Decker, Mona Levesque, Changai Xiu and Karen Terry.

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Authors and Affiliations

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

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

  2. BioAtlantech, PO Box 636, Station “A”, 921 College Hill Road, Fredericton, NB, E3B 5A6, Canada

    Dmitry Sveshnikov

  3. Macaulay Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen, AB15 8QH, UK

    Pete Millard

  4. Agricultural Certification Services, 1030 Lincoln Rd., Fredericton, NB, E3B 8B7, Canada

    Mathuresh Singh

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  1. Xiu-Qing Li
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  3. Bernie J. Zebarth
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Correspondence to Bernie J. Zebarth.

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Li, XQ., Sveshnikov, D., Zebarth, B.J. et al. Detection of Nitrogen Sufficiency in Potato Plants Using Gene Expression Markers. Am. J. Pot Res 87, 50–59 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12230-009-9116-9

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