Characterization of the Nitrate Transporter gene family and functional identification of HvNRT2.1 in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Authors:
Open Access
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is the efficiency with which plants acquire and use nitrogen. Plants have high-affinity nitrate transport systems, which involve certain nitrate transporter (NRT) genes. However, limited data are available on the contribution of the NRT2/3 gene family in barley nitrate transport. In the present study, ten putative NRT2 and three putative NRT3 genes were identified using bioinformatics methods. All the HvNRT2/3 genes were located on chromosomes 3H, 5H, 6H or 7H. Remarkably, the presence of tandem repeats indicated that duplication events contributed to the expansion of the NRT2 gene family in barley. In addition, the HvNRT2/3 genes displayed various expression patterns at selected developmental stages and were induced in the roots by both low and high nitrogen levels. Furthermore, the overexpression of HvNRT2.1 improved the yield related traits in Arabidopsis. Taken together, the data generated in the present study will be useful for genome-wide analyses to determine the precise role of the HvNRT2/3 genes during barley development, with the ultimate goal of improving NUE and crop production.
Funding Information
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (31771771)
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (31401370)
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (31571648)
  • Natural Science Foundation of the Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions of China (17KJB210006)
  • National Barley and Highland Barley Industrial Technology Specially Constructive Foundation of China (CARS-05)
  • Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions

This publication has 51 references indexed in Scilit: