Balanced Nutrient Uptake Research Articles

Genetic biofortification: advancing crop nutrition to tackle hidden hunger.

Malnutrition, often termed "hidden hunger," represents a pervasive global issue carrying significant implications for health, development, and socioeconomic conditions. Addressing the challenge of inadequate essential nutrients, despite sufficient caloric intake, is crucial. Biofortification emerges as a promising solution by enhance the presence of vital nutrients like iron, zinc, iodine, and vitamin A in edible parts of different crop plants. Crop biofortification can be attained through either agronomic methods or genetic breeding techniques. Agronomic strategies for biofortification encompass the application of mineral fertilizers through foliar or soil methods, as well as leveraging microbe-mediated mechanisms to enhance nutrient uptake. On the other hand, genetic biofortification involves the strategic crossing of plants to achieve a desired combination of genes, promoting balanced nutrient uptake and bioavailability. Additionally, genetic biofortification encompasses innovative methods such as speed breeding, transgenic approaches, genome editing techniques, and integrated omics approaches. These diverse strategies collectively contribute to enhancing the nutritional profile of crops. This review highlights the above-said genetic biofortification strategies and it also covers the aspect of reduction in antinutritional components in food through genetic biofortification.

QUEFTS Model-based Estimation of the Nutrient Requirements and Fertilizer Recommendation for Chinese Onion

Accurate estimation of the nutrient requirements of Chinese onion is essential to increase its nutrient utilization efficiency and yield. In this study, the yield and nutrient uptake data were collected from major Chinese onion growing regions during 2001 to 2018, and the relationship between Chinese onion yield and nutrient uptake was evaluated using the Quantitative Evaluation of the Fertility of Tropical Soils (QUEFTS) model. The QUEFTS model predicted the linear-parabolic platform curve of the balanced nutrient uptake of Chinese onion and estimated the demand of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) for the potential target yields ranging from 40 t/ha to 120 t/ha. The nutrients required for the target yield increased linearly before reaching 60% to 70% of the potential yield. Nutrient requirements for producing 1 t of Chinese onion were 1.91 kg N–0.28 kg P–1.71 kg K. The corresponding nutrient internal efficiency (IE, yield per unit nutrient uptake) was 524.6 kg/kg, 3585.7 kg/kg, and 584.3 kg/kg for N, P and K, respectively. Subsequently, a nutrition decision-making software, Nutrient Expert (NE), for the Chinese onion was developed based on the improved QUEFTS model. Field verification studies for NE fertilizer recommendation were conducted in multiple Chinese onion growing plots for 2 consecutive years. Results showed that the QUEFTS model can be used to accurately estimate the nutrient requirements for Chinese onion within a defined range of target yield.

Estimating Nutrient Uptake Requirements for Melon Based on the QUEFTS Model

Imbalanced and excessive fertilizer application has resulted in low yields and reduced nutrient use efficiency for melon production in China. Estimating nutrient requirements is crucial for effectively developing site-specific fertilizer recommendations for increasing yield and profit while reducing negative environmental impacts. Relationships between the yield and nutrient uptake requirements of above-ground dry matter were assessed using 1127 on-farm observations (2000–2020) from melon production regions of China. The quantitative evaluation of fertility of tropical soils (QUEFTS) model was used to estimate nutrient requirements. It predicted a linear increase in yield at balanced nutrient uptake levels until the yield reached approximately 60–80% of the potential yield. In order to produce 1000 kg of fruit, 2.9, 0.4 and 3.2 kg/ha of N, P and K (7.2:1.0:7.8), respectively, were required for above-ground parts, while the corresponding nutrient internal efficiencies were 345.3, 2612.6 and 310.0 kg per kg N, P and K, respectively, whereas 1.4, 0.2 and 1.9 kg of N, P and K were required to replace nutrients removed after harvest. The corresponding fruit absorption rates were 47.0%, 59.5% and 58.2%, respectively. Field validation experiments confirmed the consistency between observed and simulated uptake rates, indicating that this model could estimate nutrient requirements. These findings will help develop fertilizer recommendations for improving melon yield and nutrient use efficiency.

Biofortification of Cereals and Pulses Using New Breeding Techniques: Current and Future Perspectives.

Cereals and pulses are consumed as a staple food in low-income countries for the fulfillment of daily dietary requirements and as a source of micronutrients. However, they are failing to offer balanced nutrition due to deficiencies of some essential compounds, macronutrients, and micronutrients, i.e., cereals are deficient in iron, zinc, some essential amino acids, and quality proteins. Meanwhile, the pulses are rich in anti-nutrient compounds that restrict the bioavailability of micronutrients. As a result, the population is suffering from malnutrition and resultantly different diseases, i.e., anemia, beriberi, pellagra, night blindness, rickets, and scurvy are common in the society. These facts highlight the need for the biofortification of cereals and pulses for the provision of balanced diets to masses and reduction of malnutrition. Biofortification of crops may be achieved through conventional approaches or new breeding techniques (NBTs). Conventional approaches for biofortification cover mineral fertilization through foliar or soil application, microbe-mediated enhanced uptake of nutrients, and conventional crossing of plants to obtain the desired combination of genes for balanced nutrient uptake and bioavailability. Whereas, NBTs rely on gene silencing, gene editing, overexpression, and gene transfer from other species for the acquisition of balanced nutritional profiles in mutant plants. Thus, we have highlighted the significance of conventional and NBTs for the biofortification of cereals and pulses. Current and future perspectives and opportunities are also discussed. Further, the regulatory aspects of newly developed biofortified transgenic and/or non-transgenic crop varieties via NBTs are also presented.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi mediated salt tolerance by regulating antioxidant enzyme system, photosynthetic pathways and ionic equilibrium in pea (Pisum sativumL.).

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi play an important role in improving the plant tolerance to salt stress. In the present study, we investigated the influence of AM fungi inoculation on various physiological, biochemical and nutritional aspects of pea grown under salt stress. The AM fungi inoculation successfully reduced the negative effects of salinity by improving the antioxidant enzyme system, a greater accumulation of compatible organic solutes, a higher content of photosynthetic pigment and a balanced uptake of nutrients, which resulted in higher growth and yield. Seed yield was found to be significantly higher by ~ 24, 40 and 54% in T2 (Rhizoglomusintraradices), T3 (Funneliformis mosseae and R. intraradices) and T4 (Rhizoglomus fasciculatum and Gigaspora sp.), respectively, as compared to nonmycorrhizal plants. Overall, a mixed application of Rfasciculatum and Gigaspora sp. was superior to other mycorrhizal treatments, which can be attributed to specific compatibility relationships or functional complementarity that exists between symbionts.

Growth and physiological responses of tree seedlings to oil sands non-segregated tailings

Bitumen recovery from oil sands in northeastern Alberta, Canada produces large volumes of tailings, which are deposited in mining areas that must be reclaimed upon mine closure. A new technology of non-segregated tailings (NST) developed by Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNRL) was designed to accelerate the process of oil sands fine tailings consolidation. However, effects of these novel tailings on plants used for the reclamation of oil sands mining areas remain to be determined. In the present study, we investigated the effects of NST on seedlings of three species of plants commonly planted in oil sands reclamation sites including paper birch (Betula papyrifera), white spruce (Picea glauca) and green alder (Alnus viridis). In the controlled-environment study, we grew seedlings directly in NST and in the two types of reclamation soils with and without added NST and we measured seedling growth, gas exchange parameters, as well as tissue concentrations of selected elements and foliar chlorophyll. White spruce seedlings suffered from severe mortality when grown directly in NST and their needles contained high concentrations of Na. The growth and physiological processes were also inhibited by NST in green alder and paper birch. However, the addition of top soil and peat mineral soil mix to NST significantly improved the growth of plants, possibly due to a more balanced nutrient uptake. It appears that NST may offer some advantages in terms of site revegetation compared with the traditional oil sands tailings that were used in the past. The results also suggest that, white spruce may be less suitable for planting at reclamation sites containing NST compared with the two studied deciduous tree species.

Balanced nutrient requirements for maize in the Northern Nigerian Savanna: Parameterization and validation of QUEFTS model

Establishing balanced nutrient requirements for maize (Zea mays L.) in the Northern Nigerian Savanna is paramount to develop site-specific fertilizer recommendations to increase maize yield, profits of farmers and avoid negative environmental impacts of fertilizer use. The model QUEFTS (QUantitative Evaluation of Fertility of Tropical Soils) was used to estimate balanced nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) requirements for maize production in the Northern Nigerian Savanna. Data from on-farm nutrient omission trials conducted in 2015 and 2016 rainy seasons in two agro-ecological zones in the Northern Nigerian Savanna (i.e. Northern Guinea Savanna “NGS” and Sudan Savanna “SS”) were used to parameterize and validate the QUEFTS model. The relations between indigenous soil N, P, and K supply and soil properties were not well described with the QUEFTS default equations and consequently new and better fitting equations were derived. The parameters of maximum accumulation (a) and dilution (d) in kg grain per kg nutrient for the QUEFTS model obtained were respectively 35 and 79 for N, 200 and 527 for P and 25 and 117 for K in the NGS zone; 32 and 79 for N, 164 and 528 for P and 24 and 136 for K in the SS zone; and 35 and 79 for N, 199 and 528 for P and 24 and 124 for K when the data of the two zones were combined. There was a close agreement between observed and parameterized QUEFTS predicted yields in each of the agro-ecological zone (R2 = 0.69 for the NGS and 0.75 for the SS). Although with a slight reduction in the prediction power, a good fit between the observed and model predicted grain yield was also detected when the data for the two agro-ecological zones were combined (R2 = 0.67). Therefore, across the two agro-ecological zones, the model predicted a linear relationship between grain yield and above-ground nutrient uptake until yield reached about 50 to 60% of the yield potential. When the yield target reached 60% of the potential yield (i.e. 6.0 t ha−1), the model showed above-ground balanced nutrient uptake of 20.7, 3.4 and 27.1 kg N, P, and K, respectively, per one tonne of maize grain. These results suggest an average NPK ratio in the plant dry matter of about 6.1:1:7.9. We concluded that the QUEFTS model can be widely used for balanced nutrient requirement estimations and development of site-specific fertilizer recommendations for maize intensification in the Northern Nigerian Savanna.

Characteristics of Yield and Harvest Index, and Evaluation of Balanced Nutrient Uptake of Soybean in Northeast China

The balance between fertilizer application and plant nutrient demand is essential for ensuring agricultural production because it is effective to prevent nutrient deficiency and excess, especially for soybean. This study used data from 29 sites of field experiments carried out in the soybean planting area of Liaoning province, China in 2011 to 2013. We (i) study the characteristics of yield, nutrient concentration, and harvest index to (ii) valuate the balanced nutrient uptake at different potential yield levels for soybean. The grain yield ranged from 804 to 4484 kg/ha, and average N, P, and K concentrations in grains were 45.7, 5.0, and 10.1 g/kg, respectively, while those in straw were 14.1, 1.8, and 6.7 g/kg, respectively. Average harvest index values of N, P, and K were 0.69, 0.65, and 0.52 kg/kg, respectively, while approximately 69% N and 65% P of the plant were stored in soybean grain, and 48% K was stored in straw. The two boundary lines of the QUEFTS (quantitative evaluation of the fertility of tropical soils) model were aN = 10.5, dN = 20.6, aP = 65.6, dP = 289.6, aK = 30.4, and dK = 162.7 as model parameters. The QUEFTS model estimated the balanced nutrient uptake with yield targets increased following a linear–parabolic–plateau curve. A continual linear increase in grain yield with 65.5 kg N, 7.0 kg P, and 13.9 kg K was required to produce 1000 kg grain, until the yield target reached approximately 60–70% of the potential yield, and the corresponding ratio of N, P, and K was 9.35:1:1.8. Results could be used to estimate balanced nutrient uptake to prevent excessive fertilizer being applied and reduce environment risk for ensuring sustainable agricultural development.

Estimating nutrient uptake requirements for soybean using QUEFTS model in China.

Estimating balanced nutrient requirements for soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr) in China is essential for identifying optimal fertilizer application regimes to increase soybean yield and nutrient use efficiency. We collected datasets from field experiments in major soybean planting regions of China between 2001 and 2015 to assess the relationship between soybean seed yield and nutrient uptake, and to estimate nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) requirements for a target yield of soybean using the quantitative evaluation of the fertility of tropical soils (QUEFTS) model. The QUEFTS model predicted a linear–parabolic–plateau curve for the balanced nutrient uptake with a target yield increased from 3.0 to 6.0 t ha−1 and the linear part was continuing until the yield reached about 60–70% of the potential yield. To produce 1000 kg seed of soybean in China, 55.4 kg N, 7.9 kg P, and 20.1 kg K (N:P:K = 7:1:2.5) were required in the above-ground parts, and the corresponding internal efficiencies (IE, kg seed yield per kg nutrient uptake) were 18.1, 126.6, and 49.8 kg seed per kg N, P, and K, respectively. The QUEFTS model also simulated that a balanced N, P, and K removal by seed which were 48.3, 5.9, and 12.2 kg per 1000 kg seed, respectively, accounting for 87.1%, 74.1%, and 60.8% of the total above-ground parts, respectively. These results were conducive to make fertilizer recommendations that improve the seed yield of soybean and avoid excessive or deficient nutrient supplies. Field validation indicated that the QUEFTS model could be used to estimate nutrient requirements which help develop fertilizer recommendations for soybean.

Available micronutrient status and their relationship with soil properties of vegetable growing area of Jammu district

Vegetables are the best source of revenue earning crops for promoting economic status especially of marginal and small farming community of Jammu and Kashmir. In order to boost up production per unit area and time, nutrient management is one of the most important practices for profitable cultivation of any vegetable crop. Vegetables are good source of proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins etc. A healthy soil will have a greater capacity to moderate the uptake of fertilizers and will allow a more balanced uptake of nutrients, creating a healthy plant that is more resistant to pest damage. Sustainable soil management maintains soil health and productivity by taking care of and increasing the soil organic matter which is lacking. The simplest solution to alleviate micronutrient deficiency is the application of micronutrient fertilizer to the vegetable crop. A study on DTPA-extractable micronutrients (Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn), was undertaken in 78 surface soil samples of vegetable growing area of Jammu district. The soil samples were collected and analyzed for DTPA- extractable Iron, Copper, Zinc and Manganese. The results revealed that DTPA-extractable Copper, Zinc, Manganese and Iron were varied from 0.04 – 3.67, 0.02 – 1.17, 1.29 – 10.30 and 2.39 – 40.75 with mean values of 0.77, 0.23, 4.47 and 21.19 mg kg−1, respectively. The available (DTPA-extractable) Zn related significantly with pH (0.253*), EC (−0.456**) and organic carbon (−0.578**). The available (DTPA-extractable) Cu related significantly with pH (−0.289**) and OC (−0.306**). The available (DTPAextractable) Fe related significantly with pH (−0.294*) and O C (−0.363**).The available (DTPA-extractable) Zn related significantly with silt (−0.367*) and clay (0.345**). Other physiochemical properties of soil showed neither negative nor positive relationship with any micronutrients. About 90% zinc deficiency was observed in the surface samples whereas about 12% soils were deficient in available copper. However, DTPA-extractable Mn and Fe in these samples were sufficient.

Estimating nutrient uptake requirements for wheat in China

Estimating balanced nutrient requirement for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in China is essential to manage nutrient application more effectively for increasing crop yields and reducing risk of negative environmental impact. Datasets from 2000 to 2011 dealing with nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) treatments across the winter and spring wheat growing regions in China were collected to assess the relationship between grain yield and nutrient uptake, and to estimate N, P and K optimal nutrient requirements for a target yield using the QUEFTS (Quantitative Evaluation of the Fertility of Tropical Soils) model. In the QUEFTS model, two boundary lines described the minimum and maximum internal efficiencies (IEs, kg grain per kg nutrient in above-ground plant dry matter) of N, P and K. The minimum and maximum IEs for wheat were 28.8 and 62.6kg grain per kg N, 98.9 and 487.4kg grain per kg P, and 23.0 and 112.9kg grain per kg K. The QUEFTS model predicted a linear–parabolic–plateau curve for balanced nutrient uptake with target yield increasing. The linear part continued until the yield was approximately at 60–70% of the potential yield, and 22.8kg N, 4.4kg P and 19.0kg K were required to produce 1000kg grain. The corresponding N:P:K ratio was 5.18:1:4.32, and the corresponding IEs were 43.9, 227.0 and 52.7kg grain per kg N, P and K, respectively. The QUEFTS model simulated balanced N, P and K removal by 1000kg grain were 18.3, 3.6 and 3.5kg, respectively, with a N:P:K ratio of 5.08:1:0.97. Approximately 80%, 82% and 18% of N, P and K in total above-ground plant material were presented in the grain and removed from the field. The relationship between grain yield and nutrient uptake was also estimated to suggest fertilizer application avoiding excess or deficient nutrient supply. Field experiment validation confirmed that the QUEFTS model could be used as a practical tool for the Nutrient Expert decision support system to make fertilizer recommendation.

Nutrilyzer: a tool for deciphering atomic stoichiometry of differentially expressed paralogous proteins.

Organisms try to maintain homeostasis by balanced uptake of nutrients from their environment. From an atomic perspective this means that, for example, carbon:nitrogen:sulfur ratios are kept within given limits. Upon limitation of, for example, sulfur, its acquisition is triggered. For yeast it was shown that transporters and enzymes involved in sulfur uptake are encoded as paralogous genes that express different isoforms. Sulfur deprivation leads to up-regulation of isoforms that are poor in sulfur-containing amino acids, that is, methinone and cysteine. Accordingly, sulfur-rich isoforms are down-regulated. We developed a web-based software, doped Nutrilyzer, that extracts paralogous protein coding sequences from an annotated genome sequence and evaluates their atomic composition. When fed with gene-expression data for nutrient limited and normal conditions, Nutrilyzer provides a list of genes that are significantly differently expressed and simultaneously contain significantly different amounts of the limited nutrient in their atomic composition. Its intended use is in the field of ecological stoichiometry. Nutrilyzer is available at http://nutrilyzer.hs-mittweida.de. Here we describe the work flow and results with an example from a whole-genome Arabidopsis thaliana gene-expression analysis upon oxygen deprivation. 43 paralogs distributed over 37 homology clusters were found to be significantly differently expressed while containing significantly different amounts of oxygen.

Nutrilyzer: A Tool for Deciphering Atomic Stoichiometry of Differentially Expressed Paralogous Proteins

Summary Organisms try to maintain homeostasis by balanced uptake of nutrients from their environment. From an atomic perspective this means that, for example, carbon:nitrogen:sulfur ratios are kept within given limits. Upon limitation of, for example, sulfur, its acquisition is triggered. For yeast it was shown that transporters and enzymes involved in sulfur up- take are encoded as paralogous genes that express different isoforms. Sulfur deprivation leads to up-regulation of isoforms that are poor in sulfur-containing amino acids, that is, methinone and cysteine. Accordingly, sulfur-rich isoforms are down-regulated. We developed a web-based software, doped Nutrilyzer, that extracts paralogous protein coding sequences from an annotated genome sequence and evaluates their atomic compo- sition. When fed with gene-expression data for nutrient limited and normal conditions, Nutrilyzer provides a list of genes that are significantly differently expressed and simul- taneously contain significantly different amounts of the limited nutrient in their atomic composition. Its intended use is in the field of ecological stoichiometry. Nutrilyzer is available at http://nutrilyzer.hs-mittweida.de. Here we describe the work flow and results with an example from a whole-genome Ara- bidopsis thaliana gene-expression analysis upon oxygen deprivation. 43 paralogs distributed over 37 homology clusters were found to be significantly differently expressed while containing significantly different amounts of oxygen.

Health status of sisal plants (Agave sisalana) as related to soils and the mineral composition of their leaves

AbstractLeaf samples from healthy and diseased sisal plants and the corresponding topsoil samples were analysed. The results show that K deficiency is the main cause of ‘banding disease’, whereas manganese is probably involved in ‘purple leaf tip roll’.For healthy growth, the important factors are good content of organic matter, pH 6–7 and a well balanced uptake of nutrients with no excess of one or more elements.