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. 2022 Jun 7;5(1):555.
doi: 10.1038/s42003-022-03501-x.

zmm28 transgenic maize increases both N uptake- and N utilization-efficiencies

Javier A Fernandez  1 , Jeffrey E Habben  2 , Jeffrey R Schussler  2 , Tim Masek  2 , Ben Weers  2 , James Bing  2 , Ignacio A Ciampitti  3
Affiliations

zmm28 transgenic maize increases both N uptake- and N utilization-efficiencies

Javier A Fernandez et al. Commun Biol. .

Abstract

Biotechnology has emerged as a valuable tool in the development of maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids with enhanced nitrogen (N) use efficiency. Recent work has described the positive effects of an increased and extended expression of the zmm28 transcription factor (Event DP202216) on maize yield productivity. In this study, we expand on the previous findings studying maize N uptake and utilization in DP202216 transgenic hybrids compared to wild-type (WT) controls. Isotope 15N labeling demonstrates that DP202216 hybrids have an improved N uptake during late-vegetative stages (inducing N storage in lower leaves of the canopy) and, thus, N uptake efficiency (N uptake to applied N ratio) relative to WT. Through both greater N harvest index and reproductive N remobilization, transgenic plants were able to achieve better N utilization efficiency (yield to N uptake ratio). Our findings suggest the DP202216 trait could open new avenues for improving N uptake and utilization efficiencies in maize.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors (Bing, Habben, Masek, Schussler, Weers) are present or former scientists employed at Corteva Agriscience which supported this work. Some patent applications covering this work may have been filed that include one or more of the listed authors. Materials reported in this paper may be subject to third party ownership and/or to government regulations. Availability of materials reported in this paper to academic investigators for non-commercial research purposes under an applicable material transfer agreement will be subject to the requisite permission from any third-party owners of all or parts of the materials and to governmental regulation considerations. Obtaining the applicable permission from such third-party owners will be the responsibility of the requestor. Transgenic materials reported in this paper would only be made available if in full accordance with all applicable governmental regulations. Most of the research materials described herein have been destroyed and no longer exist per our material retention policies.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Plant N traits measured from V11 until flowering stage on WT and DP202216 field-grown maize hybrids.
a Rates of crop 15N uptake per day measured using short-term labeling at V11, V17, and R1 on two WT and two DP202216 hybrids under 0 (N0) and 225 (N225) kg N ha−1 conditions (n = 3 independent samples). b Proportion of 15N that was allocated to green leaves during the V11-R1 period, expressed in percentage over the total 15N uptake (n = 3 independent samples). c Nitrogen per unit leaf area of the lower section of the canopy during the V11-R1 period (n = 3 independent samples). Bars and whiskers represent the medians and standard deviations of the posterior predictive distribution estimated for the two-year data. Asterisks represent moderate (one) or strong (two) evidence for differences between WT and DP202216 maize hybrids.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. Plant growth and N traits during flowering and post-flowering stages of WT and DP202216 field-grown maize hybrids.
a Proportion of 15N that was allocated to the ear (cob +  grains) during the V17-R6 period, expressed in percentage over the total 15N uptake, for two WT and two DP202216 hybrids under 0 (N0) and 225 (N225) kg N ha−1 conditions (n = 3 independent samples by year). b Nitrogen remobilized to the grains from flowering to maturity, calculated using the ‘balance approach’: the difference between vegetative N at flowering (i.e., whole-plant N at flowering) and stover N at maturity (i.e., leaves + stem +  cob + husk N fractions) (n = 3 independent samples by year). c Nitrogen harvest index, representing the percentage of whole-plant N in the grains at maturity (n = 3 independent samples by year). Bars and whiskers represent the medians and standard deviations of the posterior predictive distribution estimated for the two-year data in (a), and separated by year in b and c. Asterisks represent moderate (one) or strong (two) evidence for differences between WT and DP202216 maize hybrids. d Image of two WT and two DP202216 hybrids 15 days after flowering under 0 kg N ha−1 conditions.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3. Nitrogen use efficiency of WT and DP202216 field-grown maize hybrids.
a 15N fertilizer uptake efficiency during pre-flowering stages (V11 and V17) expressed in percentage over the total 15N applied of two WT and two DP202216 hybrids under 0 (N0) and 225 (N225) kg N ha−1 conditions (n = 3 independent samples). b Nitrogen utilization efficiency calculated as the ratio between grain yield and whole-plant N uptake at maturity (n = 3 independent samples). Bars and whiskers represent the medians and standard deviations of the posterior predictive distribution estimated for the two-year data. Asterisks represent moderate (one) or strong (two) evidence for differences between WT and DP202216 maize hybrids.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4. Physiological model of DP202216 effects on NUE during pre- and post-anthesis.
Graphical representation describing the critical impacts of DP202216 (ZmGos2-zmm28) in NUE during pre- and post-anthesis under N-fertilized and N-unfertilized conditions, compared to WT. Plus (+) symbols indicate increases, minus (−) decreases, and left-right arrows (↔) no changes observed for one or two hybrids (one/two symbols).
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