Cao Xiaochuang
China National Rice Research Institute, China
Title: Mixed-nitrogen Nutrition-mediated Enhancement of Drought Tolerance of Rice Seedlings Associated with Photosynthesis, Hormone Balance and Carbohydrate Partitioning
Biography
Biography: Cao Xiaochuang
Abstract
To investigate the response of rice growth to nitrogen forms under water-deficit condition, and its intrinsic mechanisms involved in photosynthesis, hormone signaling and root-shoot photoassimilates partitioning. A hydroponic experiment supplying different N forms (NO3-, NH4+, NO3-+NH4+) was conducted in a greenhouse under water stress.Water stress significantly inhibited rice biomass, leaf area, leaf chlorophyll and Rubisco contents. However, mixed-N nutrition substantially alleviated these inhibitions compared with NO3- nutrition. Mixed-N nutrition maintained a higher, ETR, ФPSII and NP, thus causing higher photosynthesis and photochemical efficiency. Water stress up-regulated leaf SPS, but reduced leaf InvA. Water stress decreased IAA in leaf and cytokinins in root, and their contents in mixed-N nutrition were higher than those in NO3- nutrition. In mixed-N nutrition, the up-regulation of leaf SPS and IAA and the reduction of SSc and InvA in roots jointly resulted in the accumulation of sucrose in leaves and the inhibition of its transportation to roots, finally reducing R/S.The inhibited R/S reduces the photosynthate for root redundant growth, but provides more photosynthate for shoots, also increases its drought tolerance. We concluded that the strengthened water-deficit tolerance in mixed-N-supplied rice seedlings is closely associated with the improvement of photosynthesis and photochemical efficiency, hormone balance and root-shoot carbon partitioning.