Open AccessTransgenic expression of plastidic glutamine synthetase increases nitrogen uptake and yield in wheat
Author(s) -
Hu Mengyun,
Zhao Xueqiang,
Liu Qian,
Hong Xia,
Zhang Wei,
Zhang Yingjun,
Sun Lijing,
Li Hui,
Tong Yiping
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
plant biotechnology journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.525
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1467-7652
pISSN - 1467-7644
DOI - 10.1111/pbi.12921
Subject(s) - biology , glutamine synthetase , transgene , photosynthesis , agronomy , glutamine , grain yield , chlorophyll , horticulture , botany , gene , biochemistry , amino acid
Summary The plastidic glutamine synthetase isoform ( GS 2) plays a key role in nitrogen (N) assimilation. We introduced Ta GS 2‐2Abpro::Ta GS 2‐2Ab, the favourable allele of Ta GS 2‐2A in the winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum ) variety Ji5265. Transgenic expression of Ta GS 2‐2Ab significantly increased GS 2 abundance and GS activity in leaves. Two consecutive field experiments showed the transgenic lines had higher grain yield, spike number, grain number per spike and 1000‐grain weight than did the wild type under both low N and high N conditions. Analysis of N use‐related traits showed that transgenic expression of Ta GS 2‐2Ab increased root ability to acquire N, N uptake before and after flowering, remobilization of N to grains and N harvest index. Measurement of chlorophyll content and net photosynthesis rate in flag leaves during grain filling stage revealed that the transgenic lines had prolonged leaf functional duration as compared with the wild type. These results suggest that Ta GS 2 plays important role in N use, and the favourable allele Ta GS 2‐2Ab is valuable in engineering wheat with improved N use efficiency and grain yield.