Abstract
Knowing the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of crops is crucial to minimize environmental pollution, although NUE is rarely provided for numerous genotypes in the tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) crop. Through the growth of contrasting genotypes in nutritive solutions, we aimed to characterize five NUE components of 28 genotypes and to classify them according to their efficiency and responsiveness to nitrogen (N) availability. On average, physiological N use efficiency, N harvest index, and N uptake efficiency decreased by 16%, 4%, and 57%, respectively, under N-deficient conditions, while N utilization efficiency decreased by 43% at adequate N supply. The relative efficiency of N use varied from 35% to 59% among genotypes. All genotypes of the Virginia and Maryland varietal groups were efficient, and those of the Burley, Comum, and Dark groups were inefficient, while the responsiveness varied among genotypes within varietal groups, except for Maryland genotypes. Our findings are helpful in indicating genotypes with distinguished efficiency and responsiveness to N supply, which can be further chosen according to soil N level or affordability to N fertilizers worldwide in tobacco crops. In a general framework, this can lead to a more sustainable use of N and can support tobacco breeding programs for NUE.
Highlights
Nitrogen use-efficiency (NUE) improvement for crops is a very important issue to decrease soil, air, and water pollution and, at same time, increase the profitability of landholders through the rational use of mineral nitrogen (N) fertilizers
A general view of the whole plants conducted in an N-sufficient solution revealed darker green plants, instead of a paler green color visualized in plants grown in a deficient solution, regardless of the genotype assessed (Figure S1)
The 28 tobacco genotypes studied vary in their efficiency and responsiveness to N supply
Summary
Nitrogen use-efficiency (NUE) improvement for crops is a very important issue to decrease soil, air, and water pollution and, at same time, increase the profitability of landholders through the rational use of mineral nitrogen (N) fertilizers. NUE varies among plant species and, within a certain plant species, it differs among the varieties that exist; in other words, NUE varies both inter- and intra-species. This variation of NUE is thought to be important as it allows the establishment of different varieties of the same species at different environmental conditions, i.e., different soil N levels.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
