Nitrate sensor: characterizing the role of putative nitrate transporter1 (NRT 1) gene in augmenting the plasticity of wheat root and yield under \({\text{eCO}}_{2}\) and terminal heat
摘要
Nitrogen acquisition is primarily facilitated by the low affinity nitrate transporter and high affinity transporter system. The NRT1 gene plays a key role in the absorption, movement, and dispersion of nitrate within plants. In the present investigation an amplicon of ~ 876 bp was amplified from wheat cv. HD2967. The gene was submitted to NCBI Gen Bank with accession number OQ304607. BLASTn search showed maximum homology with Triticum aestivum NRT1/PTR like gene, having ORF of 291 amino acids. Higher dose of nitrogen application enhanced the relative expression of NRT1 in response to eCO₂ in HD2967 (fourfold) and HI1500 (3.4-fold). HD2967 showed significantly higher HSP17 expression (1.8-fold) under HS treatment, while HI1500 showed 1.7-fold expression compared to the control. Under combined eCO₂ and HS treatment, HD2967 had 2.4-fold HSP17 expression, and HI1500 had 2.1-fold, with further enhancement due to nitrogen application (2.7-fold and 2.5-fold, respectively). Root length and root surface area were observed to be increased under eCO2 treatment and higher nitrogen dose further enhanced the root length, surface area and average diameter under eCO2 treatment in HD2967. Among the selected genotypes, HD2329 was severely affected while HD2967 was least affected by combined stress. Tiller numbers, spike length and yield per spike were observed to be increased under eCO2 treatment and higher nitrogen dose further enhanced the tiller number and yield per spike due to upregulation of NRT1 gene under eCO2 treatment. Result showed highest percentage increase in superoxide dismutase (27%), catalase (29%), and guaiacol peroxidase activity (33%) in selected genotypes under nitrogen supplement subjected to eCO2 and HS treatment and the maximum positive effect was observed in HD2967. Overall results suggest that combined effect of eCO2 and heat stress has more detrimental effects than the individual stress and NRT1 positively modulate the root plasticity and grain yield.