Characterization of Root Morphology and Anatomical Structure of Spring Maize under Varying N Application Rates and Their Effects on Yield
Root morphology is an important factor determining nitrogen (N) uptake by plants, which might be affected by the extent of N application. The processes associated with root morphogenesis of spring maize in response to N application rates remain poorly understood. In this study, both field and pot ex...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/11/2671 |
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| author | Xiangling Li Rui Wang Baoyuan Zhou Xinbing Wang Jian Wang Ming Zhao Congfeng Li |
| author_facet | Xiangling Li Rui Wang Baoyuan Zhou Xinbing Wang Jian Wang Ming Zhao Congfeng Li |
| author_sort | Xiangling Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Root morphology is an important factor determining nitrogen (N) uptake by plants, which might be affected by the extent of N application. The processes associated with root morphogenesis of spring maize in response to N application rates remain poorly understood. In this study, both field and pot experiments were conducted to explore the effect of zero-N (N0), optimized-N (N180), and high-N (N360) on root morphology, anatomical structure, and N accumulation in spring maize. N application rates affected root length and surface area, and its endogenous hormone contents. The largest difference in total root length and surface area among the three N rates was found at the silking stage: the total root length and surface increased by 51.36% and 42.58% under N180 and by 7.8% and 30.14% under N360, respectively, compared with N0, and the root/shoot ratio and root bleeding sap significantly increased under N180 and N360 compared with N0. The auxin and jasmonic acid levels of roots under N180 and N360 were higher than N0. N application rates also affected root microstructure and ultrastructure. Compared with N0, the proportions of root aerating tissue under N180 and N360 were decreased by 32.42% and 11.92% at silking. The root tip cell structure was damaged under N0, and intact under N180 and N360. Moreover, the <sup>15</sup>N allocation proportions to root and grain under N180 and N360 were increased compared to N0. Grain yields under N180 and N360 increased by 20.44% and 16.6% compared with N0, respectively. It can be concluded that optimized-N application decreased root aerated tissue and thus improved root length and root surface area through regulating auxin and jasmonic acid levels and affected N uptake and grain yield of N-efficient spring maize variety. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:20:42Z |
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| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:20:42Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
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| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-18924c0a66764b9894f3b3869660dd532023-11-24T03:20:17ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952022-10-011211267110.3390/agronomy12112671Characterization of Root Morphology and Anatomical Structure of Spring Maize under Varying N Application Rates and Their Effects on YieldXiangling Li0Rui Wang1Baoyuan Zhou2Xinbing Wang3Jian Wang4Ming Zhao5Congfeng Li6Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Production, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, ChinaInstitute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Production, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, ChinaInstitute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Production, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, ChinaInstitute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Production, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, ChinaCollege of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Hebei Normal University of Science & Technology/Hebei Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology, Qinhuangdao 066000, ChinaInstitute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Production, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, ChinaInstitute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Production, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, ChinaRoot morphology is an important factor determining nitrogen (N) uptake by plants, which might be affected by the extent of N application. The processes associated with root morphogenesis of spring maize in response to N application rates remain poorly understood. In this study, both field and pot experiments were conducted to explore the effect of zero-N (N0), optimized-N (N180), and high-N (N360) on root morphology, anatomical structure, and N accumulation in spring maize. N application rates affected root length and surface area, and its endogenous hormone contents. The largest difference in total root length and surface area among the three N rates was found at the silking stage: the total root length and surface increased by 51.36% and 42.58% under N180 and by 7.8% and 30.14% under N360, respectively, compared with N0, and the root/shoot ratio and root bleeding sap significantly increased under N180 and N360 compared with N0. The auxin and jasmonic acid levels of roots under N180 and N360 were higher than N0. N application rates also affected root microstructure and ultrastructure. Compared with N0, the proportions of root aerating tissue under N180 and N360 were decreased by 32.42% and 11.92% at silking. The root tip cell structure was damaged under N0, and intact under N180 and N360. Moreover, the <sup>15</sup>N allocation proportions to root and grain under N180 and N360 were increased compared to N0. Grain yields under N180 and N360 increased by 20.44% and 16.6% compared with N0, respectively. It can be concluded that optimized-N application decreased root aerated tissue and thus improved root length and root surface area through regulating auxin and jasmonic acid levels and affected N uptake and grain yield of N-efficient spring maize variety.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/11/2671spring maizeroot morphologyroot anatomical structurenitrogen uptake efficiencygrain yield |
| spellingShingle | Xiangling Li Rui Wang Baoyuan Zhou Xinbing Wang Jian Wang Ming Zhao Congfeng Li Characterization of Root Morphology and Anatomical Structure of Spring Maize under Varying N Application Rates and Their Effects on Yield Agronomy spring maize root morphology root anatomical structure nitrogen uptake efficiency grain yield |
| title | Characterization of Root Morphology and Anatomical Structure of Spring Maize under Varying N Application Rates and Their Effects on Yield |
| title_full | Characterization of Root Morphology and Anatomical Structure of Spring Maize under Varying N Application Rates and Their Effects on Yield |
| title_fullStr | Characterization of Root Morphology and Anatomical Structure of Spring Maize under Varying N Application Rates and Their Effects on Yield |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterization of Root Morphology and Anatomical Structure of Spring Maize under Varying N Application Rates and Their Effects on Yield |
| title_short | Characterization of Root Morphology and Anatomical Structure of Spring Maize under Varying N Application Rates and Their Effects on Yield |
| title_sort | characterization of root morphology and anatomical structure of spring maize under varying n application rates and their effects on yield |
| topic | spring maize root morphology root anatomical structure nitrogen uptake efficiency grain yield |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/11/2671 |
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