title: Proteomic analysis revealed nitrogen-mediated metabolic, developmental, and hormonal regulation of maize (Zea mays L.) ear growth.
abstract: Optimal nitrogen (N) supply is critical for achieving high grain yield of maize. It is well established that N deficiency significantly reduces grain yield and N oversupply reduces N use efficiency without significant yield increase. However, the underlying proteomic mechanism remains poorly understood. The present field study showed that N deficiency significantly reduced ear size and dry matter accumulation in the cob and grain, directly resulting in a significant decrease in grain yield. The N content, biomass accumulation, and proteomic variations were further analysed in young ears at the silking stage under different N regimes. N deficiency significantly reduced N content and biomass accumulation in young ears of maize plants. Proteomic analysis identified 47 proteins with significant differential accumulation in young ears under different N treatments. Eighteen proteins also responded to other abiotic and biotic stresses, suggesting that N nutritional imbalance triggered a general stress response. Importantly, 24 proteins are involved in regulation of hormonal metabolism and functions, ear development, and C/N metabolism in young ears, indicating profound impacts of N nutrition on ear growth and grain yield at the proteomic level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Nutrition, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
authors.forename: Chengsong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Yunfeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Renyi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chunjian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xuexian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D005308:Fertilizers; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018514:Plant Structures / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D020543:Proteome / Q000378:metabolism*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005308:Fertilizers; D010940:Plant Proteins; D020543:Proteome; D009584:Nitrogen