Improving genetical controlled crop nitrogen use efficiency

Each step of nitrogen (N) uptake, translocation, assimilation, and remobilization in crops is governed by multiple interacting genetic and environmental factors, therefore, crop nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is inherently complex and shows natural large variations among the germplasms or cultivars.

In the presentation, I will introduce the NUE evaluation of corecollection germplasms and landrace cultivars of rice plants grown in paddy field supplied with different levels of N fertilizers at both subtropical and tropical areas. Meanwhile, I will also present the preliminary regulatory mechanisms for enhancing crop NUE. Our results demonstrate that the back and forth between field and lab is essential for breeding future high NUE cultivars to reduce N fertilizer demand.