Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Can genetic manipulation of plant nitrogen assimilation enzymes result in increased crop yield and greater N-use efficiency? An assessment.
AU - Andrews, M.
AU - Lea, Peter John
AU - Raven, J. A.
AU - Lindsey, K.
PY - 2004/8
Y1 - 2004/8
N2 - The literature on the relations between plant nitrogen (N) assimilation enzymes and plant/crop N assimilation, growth and yield is reviewed to assess if genetic manipulation of the activities of N assimilation enzymes can result in increased yield and/or increased N use efficiency. The available data indicate that (I) levels of N assimilation enzymes do not limit primary N assimilation and hence yield; (II) root or shoot nitrate assimilation can have advantages under specific environmental conditions; (III) for cereals, cytosolic glutamine synthetase (GS1) is a key enzyme in the mobilisation of N from senescing leaves and its activity in senescing leaves is positively related to yield; and (TV) for rice (Oryza sativd), NADH-glutamate synthase (NADH-GOGAT) is important in the utilisation of N in grain filling and its activity in developing grains is positively related to yield. In our opinion, selection of plants, from either a genetically manipulated population or genetic resources, with expression of nitrate reductase/nitrite reductase primarily in the root or shoot should increase plant/crop growth and hence yield under specific environmental conditions. In addition for cereals the selection of plants with high GS1 in senescing leaves and in some cases high NADH-GOGAT in developing grains could help maximise the retrieval of plant N in seeds.
AB - The literature on the relations between plant nitrogen (N) assimilation enzymes and plant/crop N assimilation, growth and yield is reviewed to assess if genetic manipulation of the activities of N assimilation enzymes can result in increased yield and/or increased N use efficiency. The available data indicate that (I) levels of N assimilation enzymes do not limit primary N assimilation and hence yield; (II) root or shoot nitrate assimilation can have advantages under specific environmental conditions; (III) for cereals, cytosolic glutamine synthetase (GS1) is a key enzyme in the mobilisation of N from senescing leaves and its activity in senescing leaves is positively related to yield; and (TV) for rice (Oryza sativd), NADH-glutamate synthase (NADH-GOGAT) is important in the utilisation of N in grain filling and its activity in developing grains is positively related to yield. In our opinion, selection of plants, from either a genetically manipulated population or genetic resources, with expression of nitrate reductase/nitrite reductase primarily in the root or shoot should increase plant/crop growth and hence yield under specific environmental conditions. In addition for cereals the selection of plants with high GS1 in senescing leaves and in some cases high NADH-GOGAT in developing grains could help maximise the retrieval of plant N in seeds.
KW - Nitrogen assimilation • nitrogen use efficiency • nitrate reductase • nitrite reductase • glutamine synthetase • glutamate synthase • genetic manipulation • crop yield
U2 - 10.1111/j.1744-7348.2004.tb00356.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1744-7348.2004.tb00356.x
M3 - Journal article
VL - 145
SP - 25
EP - 40
JO - Annals of Applied Biology
JF - Annals of Applied Biology
SN - 0003-4746
IS - 1
ER -