CO2 enhances low-nitrogen adaption by promoting amino acid metabolism in Brassica napus

Abstract

Increasing concentrations of atmospheric CO2 are driving climate change and negatively impacting the carbon-nitrogen (C/N) balance in crops, which in turn alters fertilizer use efficiency. In this study, Brassica napus was cultivated under different CO2 and NO3−-N concentrations to study the impact of C/N ratio on plant growth. Elevated CO2 enhanced biomass and nitrogen assimilation efficiency under low NO3−-N conditions, indicating an adaptation by Brassica napus. Transcriptome and metabolome analyses revealed that elevated CO2 promoted amino acid catabolism under low NO3−-N conditions. This study provides new insights into how Brassica napus adapts to environmental change.