Brachypodium distachyon strain:Bd21-3 Raw sequence reads
This study investigates how different forms and concentrations of nitrogen, specifically nitrate and ammonium affect root development, anatomy, and gene regulation in the model grass Brachypodium distachyon. By integrating high-throughput phenotyping with transcriptomic and co-expression network analyses, the research identifies key regulatory genes and pathways underlying nitrogen-form-specific root responses. Atypical Aspartic Protease (APs) and Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase 1 (PEPC1) genes were found to play central roles in coordinating root architectural and metabolic adjustments under varying nitrogen supplies. The findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms that enable plants to optimize nitrogen uptake and balance metabolic costs, offering valuable knowledge for improving nitrogen use efficiency and guiding breeding strategies in cereal crops.