Effects of Fulvic Acid on Growth and Nitrogen Utilization Efficiency in M9T337 Seedlings
Both fulvic acid (FA) and nitrogen (N) play important roles in agricultural production in China. Plants typically show a higher nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUE) under FA application. However, the role of FA application in apple growth and NUE remains unclear. A hydroponic culture experiment was...
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MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/23/3937 |
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| author | Bo Yu Laiping Wang Dongdong Cui Wensheng Gao Xiaomin Xue Peixian Nie |
| author_facet | Bo Yu Laiping Wang Dongdong Cui Wensheng Gao Xiaomin Xue Peixian Nie |
| author_sort | Bo Yu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Both fulvic acid (FA) and nitrogen (N) play important roles in agricultural production in China. Plants typically show a higher nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUE) under FA application. However, the role of FA application in apple growth and NUE remains unclear. A hydroponic culture experiment was performed, and M9T337 seedlings (a dwarf apple rootstock) were used as the experimental subjects. The biomass, photosynthesis, accumulation, and distribution of photosynthates, N absorption and assimilation, and relative gene expression in the seedlings were examined after treatment with five different concentrations of FA (0, 60, 120, 180, and 240 mg·L<sup>−1</sup>, represented by CK, FA1, FA2, FA3, FA4, respectively). The results showed that the seedling dry weight and <sup>15</sup>NUE were enhanced by FA, and both were highest under the FA2 (the concentration of fulvic acid is 120 mg·L<sup>−1</sup>) treatment. Further analysis revealed that under the FA2 treatment, the root morphology was optimized, and the root activity was relatively high. Compared with CK (control, the concentration of fulvic acid is 0 mg·L<sup>−1</sup>), the FA2 treatment strengthened photosynthesis, elevated the key enzyme activities related to C metabolism, upregulated the gene expression of sugar transport proteins, and increased the root sorbitol and sucrose contents, which suggested that the FA2 treatment optimally affected the root growth and N absorption because it enhanced photosynthate synthesis and the leaf-to-root translocation of photoassimilates. The seedlings in the FA2 treatment group also showed a significantly higher NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> influx rate and <i>NRT</i> (nitrate transporter) gene expression in the roots. Moreover, relatively high N metabolism-related enzyme activities in the leaves and roots were also observed under the FA2 treatment. The isotope labeling results showed that the optimal FA2 supply not only promoted seedling <sup>15</sup>N absorption but also optimized the distribution of C and N in the seedlings. These results suggested that an optimal FA supply (120 mg·L<sup>−1</sup>) enhanced seedling NUE by strengthening photoassimilate synthesis and transport from leaves to roots, regulating N absorption, assimilation, and distribution. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:44:40Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:44:40Z |
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| spelling | doaj.art-1bd87bddf02643cd9ed310c41cc7fdd62023-12-08T15:23:42ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472023-11-011223393710.3390/plants12233937Effects of Fulvic Acid on Growth and Nitrogen Utilization Efficiency in M9T337 SeedlingsBo Yu0Laiping Wang1Dongdong Cui2Wensheng Gao3Xiaomin Xue4Peixian Nie5Shandong Institute of Pomology, Tai’an 271000, ChinaShandong Institute of Pomology, Tai’an 271000, ChinaShandong Institute of Pomology, Tai’an 271000, ChinaShandong Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shandong Agricultural Technology Extension Center, Jinan 250100, ChinaShandong Institute of Pomology, Tai’an 271000, ChinaShandong Institute of Pomology, Tai’an 271000, ChinaBoth fulvic acid (FA) and nitrogen (N) play important roles in agricultural production in China. Plants typically show a higher nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUE) under FA application. However, the role of FA application in apple growth and NUE remains unclear. A hydroponic culture experiment was performed, and M9T337 seedlings (a dwarf apple rootstock) were used as the experimental subjects. The biomass, photosynthesis, accumulation, and distribution of photosynthates, N absorption and assimilation, and relative gene expression in the seedlings were examined after treatment with five different concentrations of FA (0, 60, 120, 180, and 240 mg·L<sup>−1</sup>, represented by CK, FA1, FA2, FA3, FA4, respectively). The results showed that the seedling dry weight and <sup>15</sup>NUE were enhanced by FA, and both were highest under the FA2 (the concentration of fulvic acid is 120 mg·L<sup>−1</sup>) treatment. Further analysis revealed that under the FA2 treatment, the root morphology was optimized, and the root activity was relatively high. Compared with CK (control, the concentration of fulvic acid is 0 mg·L<sup>−1</sup>), the FA2 treatment strengthened photosynthesis, elevated the key enzyme activities related to C metabolism, upregulated the gene expression of sugar transport proteins, and increased the root sorbitol and sucrose contents, which suggested that the FA2 treatment optimally affected the root growth and N absorption because it enhanced photosynthate synthesis and the leaf-to-root translocation of photoassimilates. The seedlings in the FA2 treatment group also showed a significantly higher NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> influx rate and <i>NRT</i> (nitrate transporter) gene expression in the roots. Moreover, relatively high N metabolism-related enzyme activities in the leaves and roots were also observed under the FA2 treatment. The isotope labeling results showed that the optimal FA2 supply not only promoted seedling <sup>15</sup>N absorption but also optimized the distribution of C and N in the seedlings. These results suggested that an optimal FA supply (120 mg·L<sup>−1</sup>) enhanced seedling NUE by strengthening photoassimilate synthesis and transport from leaves to roots, regulating N absorption, assimilation, and distribution.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/23/3937applefulvic acidphotosynthesisC and N metabolismNUE |
| spellingShingle | Bo Yu Laiping Wang Dongdong Cui Wensheng Gao Xiaomin Xue Peixian Nie Effects of Fulvic Acid on Growth and Nitrogen Utilization Efficiency in M9T337 Seedlings Plants apple fulvic acid photosynthesis C and N metabolism NUE |
| title | Effects of Fulvic Acid on Growth and Nitrogen Utilization Efficiency in M9T337 Seedlings |
| title_full | Effects of Fulvic Acid on Growth and Nitrogen Utilization Efficiency in M9T337 Seedlings |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Fulvic Acid on Growth and Nitrogen Utilization Efficiency in M9T337 Seedlings |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Fulvic Acid on Growth and Nitrogen Utilization Efficiency in M9T337 Seedlings |
| title_short | Effects of Fulvic Acid on Growth and Nitrogen Utilization Efficiency in M9T337 Seedlings |
| title_sort | effects of fulvic acid on growth and nitrogen utilization efficiency in m9t337 seedlings |
| topic | apple fulvic acid photosynthesis C and N metabolism NUE |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/23/3937 |
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