Bharath Kumar*, Adel H. Abdel-Ghani, Jenaro M Reyes Matamoros, Thomas Lübberstedt

1
Bharath Kumar*, Adel H. Abdel-Ghani, Jenaro M Reyes Matamoros, Thomas Lübberstedt Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA *email: [email protected] Response of expired plant variety protection lines and public inbred lines to nitrogen at seedling stage Introduction Nitrogen (N) is a key macro-element in maize production. Plant breeders are concerned to improve nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in maize to help reducing extensive N application and, consequently, costs and N losses into the environment (Zhang et al. 1997). High levels of variation among genotypes in N uptake and N use efficiency have been reported among maize lines based on grain yield data (Uribelarrea et al. 2004). However, little attention has been given to root related traits as a selection criterion to improve NUE (Tuberosa and Salvi 2007). The current study was aimed at studying the genotypic variation in a diverse set of maize inbred lines composed of 44 expired plant variety protection (PVP) lines and 30 public inbred lines for sixteen root traits possibly having influence on NUE. Objectives Study the variation in root related traits in response to N in a diverse set of 74 maize inbred lines. Quantify the broad sense heritability and correlation coefficients for various seedling root and shoot attributes under low N (LN) and high N (HN) levels. Set recommendations for plant breeders on the possible use of maize lines based on root morphology in future NUE improvement programs. Materials and Methods Plant materials The panel of maize inbred lines used in this study was composed of 74 maize inbred lines as follows: a) 44 expired PVP lines, and (b) 30 public inbred lines such as Nested Association Mapping founder lines, Germplasm Enhancement of Maize lines and lines used in the maize diversity study using Single Nucleotide Polymorphism markers. Experimental design and cigar roll culture conditions Two independent experiments were carried out under contrasting levels of N (15mM and 1.5mM) availability in Hoagland nutrient solution (Hoagland and Arnon 1950). The experimental design was a Randomized Complete Block Design with split-plot arrangement of treatments. N level was the main plot and line was the sub-plot factor. The experiment was replicated twice. Each line within a replicate was represented by three healthy and homogenous seedlings. Seedlings were grown in cigar rolls as described by Woll et al. (2005). Root measurements and analysis After 14 days, seedlings were preserved in 30% ethanol until further measurements to prevent further growth. Various root traits measured in this study are listed in Table (1).Image analysis software WinRhizo Pro 2009 was used to make the measurements. Statistical analysis was carried using SAS and SPSS software packages. r = 0.78** r = 0.86** r = 0.83** r = 0.80** Table 1: Estimates of broad sense heritabilities for 16 seedling attributes of 74 maize lines combined over experiments. Fig. 2: Phenotypic correlation coefficients between seedling attributes for the high and low nitrogen (N) treatments. ** Significant at P=0.01 Fig. 3: Classification of inbred lines according to their nitrogen response under high and low nitrogen supply. Numbers in the chart corresponds to Inbred lines used in the study. Trait H eritability estim ates Under H igh N Under Low N Com bined overN levels Shootlength (SL) 0.70 0.74 0.82 Prim ary rootlength (PR L) 0.83 0.87 0.87 C row n rootnum ber(C R N ) 0.56 0.65 0.73 C row n rootlength (C R L) 0.67 0.44 0.73 Sem inalrootnum ber(SR N ) 0.67 0.75 0.83 Sem inalrootlength (SR L) 0.71 0.68 0.79 Lateralrootnum ber(LR N ) 0.66 0.67 0.64 Lateralrootlength (LR L) 0.73 0.68 0.81 Totalrootlength (TR L) 0.70 0.70 0.80 Prim ary rootsurface area (P R SA ) 0.75 0.75 0.87 Prim ary root average diam eter(PR A D ) 0.61 0.65 0.76 Prim ary rootvolum e (P R V) 0.71 0.78 0.85 Shootdry w eight(SD W ) 0.66 0.78 0.83 R ootdry w eight(R D W ) 0.78 0.86 0.89 Totalplantbiom ass (TPB ) 0.70 0.83 0.87 R ootto shootratio (R :S) 0.64 0.74 0.80 Results In our study, maize lines exhibited an adaptive mechanism to N deficit by displaying an increased shoot biomass at HN level and increased root attributes at LN level (Fig. 1). Higher heritability values under LN than under HN (Table 1) and strong associations of traits under HN and LN level (Fig.2) indicates that direct selection under LN conditions is more efficient to improve N- use efficiency than indirect selection at HN. In view of the positive correlations for SDW and RDW with other shoot and root attributes (data not shown), combined with high heritability values for these traits (Table 1), it can be concluded that direct selection for SDW and RDW per se would be effective to screen lines for high NUE performance. Based on the response of TPB to N supply, efficient/responder and non-efficient/non-responder lines were identified (Fig.3). Efficient/responder lines have high plant biomass under both N levels (Fig.4a), whereas non-efficient/non-responder lines have low plant biomass under both N levels (Fig.4b). These lines could be used establish QTL mapping populations to identify genomic regions associated with efficient use of N. Conclusions The expired plant variety protection and public inbred lines are a rich source of variation for seedling attributes related to NUE. Extensive genetic variation for root architecture in response to N reported in this study opens the opportunity to consider root and shoot attributes as a selection criteria to improve yield in maize under N deficient conditions and to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms and insertion/deletions associated with root development in maize. Figure 1: Maize inbred lines under high and low nitrogen condition. Figure 4a: Efficient/responder lines under high and low nitrogen condition. Figure 4b: Non-efficient/non-responder lines under high and low nitrogen condition. References Uribelarrea M, Below FE, Moose SP (2004) Grain composition and productivity of maize hybrids derived from the Illinois protein strains in response to variable nitrogen supply. Crop Sci 44:1593-1600 Tuberosa R, Salvi S (2007) From QTLs to genes controlling root traits in maize. In: Spiertz JHJ, Struik PC, Van Laar HH (eds) Scale and complexity in plant systems research: gene–plant–crop relations. Springer, pp 13–22 Woll K, Borsuk L, Stransky H, Nettleton D, Schnable PS, Hochholdinger F (2005) Isolation, characterization and pericycle specific transcriptome analyses of the novel maize (Zea mays L.) lateral and seminal root initiation mutant rum1. Plant Physiol 139:1255-1267 Zhang F, Mi G, Liu J (1997) The improvement and application of maize in N efficiency. J Agric Biotech 2:112–117 Acknowledgments This work was funded by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (project number: IOW05180) and RF Baker Center for Plant Breeding. Under High N Under Low N PHZ51 PHZ51 B73 Mo17 Mo17 B73 Under Low N Under High N PHZ51 PHZ51 PHR36 PHR36 Under Low N Under High N HP301 HP301 FR19 FR19 Non Efficient, Responder Efficient, Non Responder Efficient, Responder Non Efficient, Non Responder x̄ =157.1 mg x̄ =138.4 mg Efficient responders. 6= B47 + ;30= LH1 + ; 69= PHR36 + ; 75= PHZ51 + ; 16= GEMN-0187 + . Non Efficient/Non Responder: 15= FR19 + ; 67= PHG84 + ; 25= HP301*; 27= I29*; 11= SG 18*. +PVP = Expired plant variety protection; line *Public= Public inbred line

description

Response of expired plant variety protection lines and public inbred lines to nitrogen at seedling stage. Efficient, Non Responder. Efficient, Responder. r = 0.80**. r = 0.78**. Non Efficient, Non Responder. Non Efficient, Responder. r = 0.86**. r = 0.83**. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of Bharath Kumar*, Adel H. Abdel-Ghani, Jenaro M Reyes Matamoros, Thomas Lübberstedt

Bharath Kumar*, Adel H. Abdel-Ghani, Jenaro M Reyes Matamoros, Thomas LübberstedtDepartment of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA

*email: [email protected]

Response of expired plant variety protection lines and public inbred lines to nitrogen at seedling stage

IntroductionNitrogen (N) is a key macro-element in maize production. Plant breeders are

concerned to improve nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in maize to help reducing

extensive N application and, consequently, costs and N losses into the

environment (Zhang et al. 1997). High levels of variation among genotypes in

N uptake and N use efficiency have been reported among maize lines based

on grain yield data (Uribelarrea et al. 2004). However, little attention has been

given to root related traits as a selection criterion to improve NUE (Tuberosa

and Salvi 2007). The current study was aimed at studying the genotypic

variation in a diverse set of maize inbred lines composed of 44 expired plant

variety protection (PVP) lines and 30 public inbred lines for sixteen root traits

possibly having influence on NUE.

ObjectivesStudy the variation in root related traits in response to N in a diverse set of

74 maize inbred lines.

Quantify the broad sense heritability and correlation coefficients for various

seedling root and shoot attributes under low N (LN) and high N (HN) levels.

Set recommendations for plant breeders on the possible use of maize lines

based on root morphology in future NUE improvement programs.

Materials and MethodsPlant materials

The panel of maize inbred lines used in this study was composed of 74

maize inbred lines as follows: a) 44 expired PVP lines, and (b) 30 public

inbred lines such as Nested Association Mapping founder lines,

Germplasm Enhancement of Maize lines and lines used in the maize

diversity study using Single Nucleotide Polymorphism markers.

Experimental design and cigar roll culture conditions

Two independent experiments were carried out under contrasting levels of

N (15mM and 1.5mM) availability in Hoagland nutrient solution (Hoagland

and Arnon 1950). The experimental design was a Randomized Complete

Block Design with split-plot arrangement of treatments. N level was the

main plot and line was the sub-plot factor. The experiment was replicated

twice. Each line within a replicate was represented by three healthy and

homogenous seedlings. Seedlings were grown in cigar rolls as described

by Woll et al. (2005).

Root measurements and analysis

After 14 days, seedlings were preserved in 30% ethanol until further

measurements to prevent further growth. Various root traits measured in

this study are listed in Table (1).Image analysis software WinRhizo Pro

2009 was used to make the measurements. Statistical analysis was

carried using SAS and SPSS software packages.

r = 0.78**

r = 0.86**r = 0.83**

r = 0.80**

Table 1: Estimates of broad sense heritabilities for 16 seedling attributes of 74 maize lines combined over experiments.

Fig. 2: Phenotypic correlation coefficients between seedling attributes for the high and low nitrogen (N) treatments. ** Significant at P=0.01

Fig. 3: Classification of inbred lines according to their nitrogen response under high and low nitrogen supply. Numbers in the chart corresponds to Inbred lines used in the study.

Trait

Heritability estimates Under

High N Under Low N

Combined over N levels

Shoot length (SL) 0.70 0.74 0.82 Primary root length (PRL) 0.83 0.87 0.87 Crown root number (CRN) 0.56 0.65 0.73 Crown root length (CRL) 0.67 0.44 0.73 Seminal root number (SRN) 0.67 0.75 0.83 Seminal root length (SRL) 0.71 0.68 0.79 Lateral root number (LRN) 0.66 0.67 0.64 Lateral root length (LRL) 0.73 0.68 0.81 Total root length (TRL) 0.70 0.70 0.80 Primary root surface area (PRSA) 0.75 0.75 0.87 Primary root average diameter (PRAD) 0.61 0.65 0.76 Primary root volume (PRV) 0.71 0.78 0.85 Shoot dry weight (SDW) 0.66 0.78 0.83 Root dry weight (RDW) 0.78 0.86 0.89 Total plant biomass (TPB) 0.70 0.83 0.87 Root to shoot ratio (R:S) 0.64 0.74 0.80

ResultsIn our study, maize lines exhibited an adaptive mechanism to N deficit

by displaying an increased shoot biomass at HN level and increased

root attributes at LN level (Fig. 1).

Higher heritability values under LN than under HN (Table 1) and

strong associations of traits under HN and LN level (Fig.2) indicates

that direct selection under LN conditions is more efficient to improve N-

use efficiency than indirect selection at HN.

In view of the positive correlations for SDW and RDW with other shoot

and root attributes (data not shown), combined with high heritability

values for these traits (Table 1), it can be concluded that direct

selection for SDW and RDW per se would be effective to screen lines

for high NUE performance.

Based on the response of TPB to N supply, efficient/responder and

non-efficient/non-responder lines were identified (Fig.3).

Efficient/responder lines have high plant biomass under both N levels

(Fig.4a), whereas non-efficient/non-responder lines have low plant

biomass under both N levels (Fig.4b). These lines could be used

establish QTL mapping populations to identify genomic regions

associated with efficient use of N.

ConclusionsThe expired plant variety protection and public inbred lines are a rich

source of variation for seedling attributes related to NUE.

Extensive genetic variation for root architecture in response to N

reported in this study opens the opportunity to consider root and

shoot attributes as a selection criteria to improve yield in maize under

N deficient conditions and to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms

and insertion/deletions associated with root development in maize.

Figure 1: Maize inbred lines under high and low nitrogen condition. Figure 4a: Efficient/responder lines under high and low nitrogen condition.

Figure 4b: Non-efficient/non-responder lines under high and low nitrogen condition.

ReferencesUribelarrea M, Below FE, Moose SP (2004) Grain composition and productivity of maize hybrids derived

from the Illinois protein strains in response to variable nitrogen supply. Crop Sci 44:1593-1600

Tuberosa R, Salvi S (2007) From QTLs to genes controlling root traits in maize. In: Spiertz JHJ, Struik

PC, Van Laar HH (eds) Scale and complexity in plant systems research: gene–plant–crop relations.

Springer, pp 13–22

Woll K, Borsuk L, Stransky H, Nettleton D, Schnable PS, Hochholdinger F (2005) Isolation,

characterization and pericycle specific transcriptome analyses of the novel maize (Zea mays L.) lateral

and seminal root initiation mutant rum1. Plant Physiol 139:1255-1267

Zhang F, Mi G, Liu J (1997) The improvement and application of maize in N efficiency. J Agric Biotech

2:112–117

AcknowledgmentsThis work was funded by USDA's National Institute of Food and

Agriculture (project number: IOW05180) and RF Baker Center for

Plant Breeding.

Under High NUnder Low N

PHZ51 PHZ51B73 Mo17Mo17 B73

Under Low N Under High N

PHZ51PHZ51 PHR36PHR36

Under Low N Under High N

HP301 HP301 FR19FR19

Non Efficient,

Responder

Efficient, Non Responder Efficient, Responder

Non Efficient,

Non Responder

x̄ =157.1 mg

x̄ =138.4 mg

Efficient responders. 6= B47+;30= LH1+; 69= PHR36+; 75= PHZ51+; 16= GEMN-0187+.

Non Efficient/Non Responder: 15= FR19+; 67= PHG84+; 25= HP301*; 27= I29*; 11= SG 18*.

+PVP = Expired plant variety protection; line *Public= Public inbred line