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1.
Using foliar nitrogen application during veraison to improve the flavor components of grape and wine.
Cheng, X, Liang, Y, Zhang, A, Wang, P, He, S, Zhang, K, Wang, J, Fang, Y, Sun, X
Journal of the science of food and agriculture. 2021;(4):1288-1300
Abstract
Nitrogen is involved in the winemaking process from grapevine growth to wine fermentation, and its precise utilization in vineyards can regulate grape and wine quality. Foliar nitrogen application during veraison (FNAV) could prevent nitrogen deficiency in grape and must in nitrogen-deficient vineyards. Moreover, FNAV also could improve certain flavor components of grape and wine, but little attention has been paid to FNAV. Therefore, this paper mainly reviews the difficulties encountered in current applications of nitrogen in vineyards and wineries, and the advantages of FNAV over the addition of nitrogen in soil and wineries. And it discusses that FNAV can increase yeast-assimilable nitrogen and phenolics, and scarcely affect volatile components of grape (must and wine), and points out the existing problems including the core issue and then puts forward future research directions. This information may indicate future directions for research, and provide a reference for viticulturists and winemakers on the precise application of nitrogen on grapevine and must to further improve grape and wine quality in nitrogen-deficient vineyards. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.
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2.
Cyanobacterial inoculation as resource conserving options for improving the soil nutrient availability and growth of maize genotypes.
Sharma, V, Prasanna, R, Hossain, F, Muthusamy, V, Nain, L, Shivay, YS, Kumar, S
Archives of microbiology. 2021;(5):2393-2409
Abstract
Harnessing the benefits of plant-microbe interactions towards better nutrient mobilization and plant growth is an important challenge for agriculturists globally. In our investigation, the focus was towards analyzing the soil-plant-environment interactions of cyanobacteria-based formulations (Anabaena-Nostoc consortium, BF1-4 and Anabaena-Trichoderma biofilm, An-Tr) as inoculants for ten maize genotypes (V1-V10). Field experimentation using seeds treated with the formulations illustrated a significant increase of 1.3- to 3.8-fold in C-N mobilizing enzyme activities in plants, along with more than five- to six-fold higher values of nitrogen fixation in rhizosphere soil samples. An increase of 22-30% in soil available nitrogen was also observed at flag leaf stage, and 13-16% higher values were also recorded in terms of cob yield of V6 with An-Tr biofilm inoculation. Savings of 30 kg N ha-1 season-1 was indicative of the reduced environmental pollution, due to the use of microbial options. The use of cyanobacterial formulations also enhanced the economic, environmental and energy use efficiency. This was reflected as 37-41% reduced costs lowered GHG emission by 58-68 CO2 equivalents and input energy requirement by 3651-4296 MJ, over the uninoculated control, on hectare basis. This investigation highlights the superior performance of these formulations, not only in terms of efficient C-N mobilization in maize, but also making maize cultivation a more profitable enterprise. Such interactions can be explored as resource-conserving options, for future evaluation across ecologies and locations, particularly in the global climate change scenario.
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3.
Defining the physiological determinants of low nitrogen requirement in wheat.
Fradgley, NS, Bentley, AR, Swarbreck, SM
Biochemical Society transactions. 2021;(2):609-616
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Abstract
Nitrogen (N) is a major nutrient limiting productivity in many ecosystems. The large N demands associated with food crop production are met mainly through the provision of synthetic N fertiliser, leading to economic and ecological costs. Optimising the balance between N supply and demand is key to reducing N losses to the environment. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production provides food for millions of people worldwide and is highly dependent on sufficient N supply. The size of the N sink, i.e. wheat grain (number, size, and protein content) is the main driver of high N requirement. Optimal functioning of temporary sinks, in particular the canopy, can also affect N requirement. N use efficiency (i.e. yield produced per unit of N available) tends to be lower under high N conditions, suggesting that wheat plants are more efficient under low N conditions and that there is an optimal functioning yet unattained under high N conditions. Understanding the determinants of low N requirement in wheat would provide the basis for the selection of genetic material suitable for sustainable cereal production. In this review, we dissect the drivers of N requirement at the plant level along with the temporal dynamics of supply and demand.
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4.
Effects of water and nitrogen coupling on the photosynthetic characteristics, yield, and quality of Isatis indigotica.
Wang, Y, He, X, Li, F, Deng, H, Wang, Z, Huang, C, Han, Y, Ba, Y, Lei, L, Zhang, C
Scientific reports. 2021;(1):17356
Abstract
Isatis indigotica is a commercial medicinal crop that is widely cultivated with high water and nutrient application, in the arid areas of northwest China. Rational irrigation and nitrogen application are key factors for successful crop management. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of water and nitrogen coupling on the photosynthetic characteristics, yield, and quality of Isatis indigotica produced in northwestern China. Field trials were conducted for 2 consecutive years at an irrigation test station. Data on photosynthetic parameters, yield, and quality were collected from individual Isatis indigotica for each treatment during 2018-2019. The application of nitrogen significantly increased photosynthetic rates and yield under the same irrigation conditions. However, the yields were reduced in the excess water treatments (W3N1 and W3N2) and in the excess nitrogen treatments (W1N3, W2N3, and W3N3) in contrast to the optimum W2N2 treatment. Moreover, the quality indicators of the W2N2 treatment decreased compared with CK, which was due to water stress and more photoassimilates being available to the roots, but the effective quality index value could be effectively improved by greatly increasing the yield.
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5.
Molecular Regulatory Networks for Improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Rice.
Hou, M, Yu, M, Li, Z, Ai, Z, Chen, J
International journal of molecular sciences. 2021;(16)
Abstract
Nitrogen is an important factor limiting the growth and yield of rice. However, the excessive application of nitrogen will lead to water eutrophication and economic costs. To create rice varieties with high nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) has always been an arduous task in rice breeding. The processes for improving NUE include nitrogen uptake, nitrogen transport from root to shoot, nitrogen assimilation, and nitrogen redistribution, with each step being indispensable to the improvement of NUE. Here, we summarize the effects of absorption, transport, and metabolism of nitrate, ammonium, and amino acids on NUE, as well as the role of hormones in improving rice NUE. Our discussion provide insight for further research in the future.
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Synthesis and Structure of Novel Copper(II) Complexes with N,O- or N,N-Donors as Radical Scavengers and a Functional Model of the Active Sites in Metalloenzymes.
Masternak, J, Zienkiewicz-Machnik, M, Łakomska, I, Hodorowicz, M, Kazimierczuk, K, Nosek, M, Majkowska-Młynarczyk, A, Wietrzyk, J, Barszcz, B
International journal of molecular sciences. 2021;(14)
Abstract
To evaluate the antioxidant activity of potential synthetic enzyme mimetics, we prepared new five copper(II) complexes via a self-assembly method and named them [Cu(2-(HOCH2)py)3](ClO4)2 (1), [Cu(2-(HOCH2)py)2(H2O)2]SiF6 (2), [Cu2(2-(HOCH2CH2)py)2(2-(OCH2CH2)py)2](ClO4)2 (3), [Cu(pyBIm)3](BF4)2·1.5H2O (4) and [Cu(py2C(OH)2)2](ClO4)2 (5). The synthetic protocol involved N,O- or N,N-donors: 2-(hydroxymethyl)pyridine (2-(HOCH2)py), 2-(hydroxyethyl)pyridine (2-(HOCH2CH2)py), 2-(2-pyridyl)benzimidazole (pyBIm), di(2-pyridyl)ketone (py2CO). The obtained Cu(II) complexes were fully characterised by elemental analysis, FTIR, EPR, UV-Vis, single-crystal X-ray diffraction and Hirshfeld surface analysis. Crystallographic and spectroscopic analyses confirmed chromophores of both monomeric ({CuN3O3} (1), {CuN2O4} (2), {CuN6} (4), {CuN4O2} (5)) and dimeric complex ({CuN2O3} (3)). Most of the obtained species possessed a distorted octahedral environment, except dimer 3, which consisted of two copper centres with square pyramidal geometries. The water-soluble compounds (1, 3 and 5) were selected for biological testing. The results of the study revealed that complex 1 in solutions displayed better radical scavenging activity than complexes 3, 5 and free ligands. Therefore, complex 1 has been selected for further studies to test its activity as an enzyme mimetic. The chosen compound was tested on the erythrocyte lysate of two groups of patients after undergoing chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy. The effect of the tested compound (1) on enzyme activity levels (TAS, SOD and CAT) suggests that the selected complex can be treated as a functional mimetic of the enzymes.
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Iron Transport across Symbiotic Membranes of Nitrogen-Fixing Legumes.
Day, DA, Smith, PMC
International journal of molecular sciences. 2021;(1)
Abstract
Iron is an essential nutrient for the legume-rhizobia symbiosis and nitrogen-fixing bacteroids within root nodules of legumes have a very high demand for the metal. Within the infected cells of nodules, the bacteroids are surrounded by a plant membrane to form an organelle-like structure called the symbiosome. In this review, we focus on how iron is transported across the symbiosome membrane and accessed by the bacteroids.
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Modulation of plant root growth by nitrogen source-defined regulation of polar auxin transport.
Ötvös, K, Marconi, M, Vega, A, O'Brien, J, Johnson, A, Abualia, R, Antonielli, L, Montesinos, JC, Zhang, Y, Tan, S, et al
The EMBO journal. 2021;(3):e106862
Abstract
Availability of the essential macronutrient nitrogen in soil plays a critical role in plant growth, development, and impacts agricultural productivity. Plants have evolved different strategies for sensing and responding to heterogeneous nitrogen distribution. Modulation of root system architecture, including primary root growth and branching, is among the most essential plant adaptions to ensure adequate nitrogen acquisition. However, the immediate molecular pathways coordinating the adjustment of root growth in response to distinct nitrogen sources, such as nitrate or ammonium, are poorly understood. Here, we show that growth as manifested by cell division and elongation is synchronized by coordinated auxin flux between two adjacent outer tissue layers of the root. This coordination is achieved by nitrate-dependent dephosphorylation of the PIN2 auxin efflux carrier at a previously uncharacterized phosphorylation site, leading to subsequent PIN2 lateralization and thereby regulating auxin flow between adjacent tissues. A dynamic computer model based on our experimental data successfully recapitulates experimental observations. Our study provides mechanistic insights broadening our understanding of root growth mechanisms in dynamic environments.
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Epigenetic regulation of nitrogen and phosphorus responses in plants.
Li, A, Hu, B, Chu, C
Journal of plant physiology. 2021;:153363
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are two of the most important nutrients for plant growth and crop yields. In the last decade, plenty of studies have revealed the genetic factors and their regulatory networks which are involved in N and/or P uptake and utilization in different model plant species, especially in Arabidopsis and rice. However, increasing evidences have shown that epigenetic regulation also plays a vital role in modulating plant responses to nutrient availability. In this review, we make a brief summary of epigenetic regulation including histone modifications, DNA methylation, and other chromatin structure alterations in tuning N and P responses. We also give an outlook for future research directions to comprehensively dissect the involvement of epigenetic regulation in modulating nutrient response in plants.
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10.
Screening of Saccharomyces strains for the capacity to produce desirable fermentative compounds under the influence of different nitrogen sources in synthetic wine fermentations.
Pérez, D, Jaehde, I, Guillamón, JM, Heras, JM, Querol, A
Food microbiology. 2021;:103763
Abstract
A collection of 33 Saccharomyces yeasts were used for wine fermentation with a sole nitrogen source: ammonium and four individual aroma-inducing amino acids. The fermentation performance and chemical wine composition were evaluated. The most valuable nitrogen sources were valine as a fermentation promoter on non-cerevisiae strains, phenylalanine as fruity aromas enhancer whereas the ethanol yield was lessened by leucine and isoleucine. S. cerevisiae SC03 and S. kudriavzevii SK02 strains showed to be the greatest producers of fruity ethyl esters while S. kudriavzevii strains SK06 and SK07 by shortening the fermentation duration. S. uvarum strains produced the greatest succinic acid amounts and, together with S. eubayanus, they reached the highest production of 2-phenylethanol and its acetate ester; whereas S. kudriavzevii strains were found to be positively related to high glycerol production.