Effects of a barley (Hordeum vulgare) chromosome 6 grain protein content locus on whole-plant nitrogen reallocation under two different fertilisation regimes
Nancy M. Heidlebaugh A , Brian R. Trethewey A , Aravind K. Jukanti A , David L. Parrott A , John M. Martin A and Andreas M. Fischer A BA Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717-3150, USA.
B Corresponding author. Email: fischer@montana.edu
Functional Plant Biology 35(7) 619-632 https://doi.org/10.1071/FP07247
Submitted: 24 October 2007 Accepted: 12 June 2008 Published: 21 August 2008
Abstract
A large fraction of protein N harvested with crop seeds is derived from N remobilisation from senescing vegetative plant parts, while a smaller fraction stems from de novo N assimilation occurring after anthesis. This study contrasts near-isogenic barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) germplasm, varying in the allelic state of a major grain protein content (GPC) locus on chromosome 6. Plant material was grown under both low- and high-N fertilisation levels. The analyses indicated that leaf N remobilisation occurred earlier in high-GPC germplasm under both fertilisation regimes, as indicated by an earlier decrease of total leaf N, chlorophylls, soluble- and membrane-proteins. At the same time, kernel free amino acid levels were enhanced, while leaf free amino acid levels were lower in high-GPC barleys, suggesting enhanced retranslocation of organic N to the developing sinks. Enhanced or longer availability of leaf nitrates was detected in high-GPC varieties and lines, at least under high N fertilisation, indicating that the GPC locus profoundly influences whole-plant N allocation and management. Results presented here, together with data from a recent transcriptomic analysis, make a substantial contribution to our understanding of whole-plant N storage, remobilisation and retranslocation to developing sinks.
Additional keywords: nitrogen assimilation, nitrogen remobilisation, nitrogen transport, proteolysis, senescence.
Acknowledgements
Funding for this research was provided by grants from the Montana Board of Research & Commercialisation Technology (grants #04–10 and 06–10), from the US Barley Genome Project (USDA) and from USDA-NRI (project 2005–02022) to A. M. F. Additional support from the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station is also gratefully acknowledged.
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