Comprehensive Evaluation of Low Nitrogen Tolerance in Oat (Avena sativa L.) Seedlings

Abstract

In oat production, the over-application of nitrogen (N) fertilizer in fields due to low N fertilizer use efficiency not only increases production costs but also causes environmental pollution. Currently, mining low N-tolerant oat varieties is an important way to promote sustainable agriculture. In this study, 30 oat varieties were grown in a seedling culture with two treatments of normal N (10 mM NH4NO3) and low N (1.25 mM NH4NO3), and the correlations between agronomic traits and plant N content and low N tolerance coefficients and indices were determined, which can be used as indicators for the evaluation of low N-tolerant oat varieties. Coefficient of variation, correlation analysis, principal component analysis, partial least-squares discrimination analysis, random forest analysis, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression and model evaluation, and membership function analysis were used for in-depth analysis of these indicators. Plant N content, root–crown ratio, and dry weight of aboveground plant parts were found to be important indicators of low N tolerance in oats. According to the membership function ranking of the 30 selected oat varieties, Jiayan 2, Qingyongjiu 035, and Qingyin 2 had strong tolerance to low N stress and Qingyongjiu 003, Qingyongjiu 021, and Qingyongjiu 016 had poor tolerance to low N stress. Thus, this study provides a reliable and comprehensive method for evaluating the low N tolerance of oat varieties as well as a reference for screening other low N-tolerant plants.

Genome-wide characterization of TCP family and their potential roles in abiotic stress resistance of oat (Avena sativa L.)

“…Our study found some AsTCP genes (19 genes, about 39%) did not contain introns. This structural feature is similar to that found in Camellia sinensis (87%) ( Shang et al., 2022 ), Cymbidium goeringii (57%) ( Liu D. et al., 2022 ), and Dactylis glomerata (18%) ( Wang C. et al, 2023 ). Most AsTCP genes do not have introns, meaning their transcription times are shorter than those containing introns.…”

“…After seedlings grew to 3 weeks of age, we divided seedlings into two groups. One group was treated with Hoagland nutrient solution containing 1.25 mM NH 4 NO 3 for low nitrogen stress (LN- Low nitrogen), and the other group was incubated with Hoagland nutrient solution holding 10 mM NH 4 NO 3 (NN-normal nitrogen) ( Wang Y. et al., 2023 ). The low N treatment time points were 7 and 14 days, with a control group at normal N levels.…”

Salt tolerance evaluation and mini-core collection development in Miscanthus sacchariflorus and M. lutarioriparius

“…For a more comprehensive assessment of plant stress resistance, employing multidimensional indices is considered more scientifically sound ( Wu et al., 2019 ; Weng et al., 2021 ). Membership function analysis has gained a wider use in recent years for evaluating plant stress tolerance in that it addresses the limitations of selecting plant varieties based on a single index ( Wassie et al., 2019 ; Weng et al., 2021 ; Wang et al., 2023 ). In the present study, through membership function analysis, 14 individual indicators were integrated into a comprehensive evaluation index of salt tolerance (D value) for different genotypes of M. sacchariflorus and M. lutarioriparius at the seedling stage, with a higher D value indicating stronger salt tolerance ability.…”

“…The salt tolerance of M. sacchariflorus and M. lutarioriparius was evaluated by calculating the membership function value (MFV) of STI and traits such as RGR, RNIL, RLER, Sen, SWC, RWC, SNC, RNC, SN/RN, SKC, RKC, SK/RK, SK/N, and RK/N using a fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method. The MFV of salt tolerance was calculated using the following equation ( Wassie et al., 2019 ; Weng et al., 2021 ; Wang et al., 2023 ):…”