Effects of heterologously overexpressing Manihot esculenta Crantz MeNRT2.6 gene in Arabidopsis thaliana on nitrogen utilization efficiency

• Published in: Hua nan nong ye da xue xue bao Vol. 46; no. 4; pp. 459 - 470
• Main Authors: Min ZHAI, Yingjie CAO, Chenyu LIN, Pingjuan ZHAO, Wenbin LI, Xiaoling YU, Wenbin LIAO, Mengbin RUAN, Liangping ZOU, Zhuang LI
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Chinese
• Published: South China Agricultural University 28.07.2025
• Subjects: evaluation indicator; heterologous overexpression; manihot esculenta crantz; menrt2.6 gene; nitrate nitrogen stress; nitrogen utilization
• ISSN: 1001-411X
• DOI: 10.7671/j.issn.1001-411X.202410014

ObjectiveThe high-affinity nitrate transporter family 2 (NRT2), when upregulated under low nitrogen conditions, enhances plants’ efficient nitrogen uptake and plays a crucial role in improving plant tolerance to low nitrogen stress. This study focused on functional characterization of the MeNRT2.6 gene in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz), by examining the effects of heterologous overexpression of cassava MeNRT2.6 in Arabidopsis thaliana on nitrogen use efficiency, to provide both theoretical foundation and technical support for targeted molecular breeding aimed at improving nitrogen utilization efficiency. MethodThe MeNRT2.6 gene, which was identified through transcriptome screening as being highly expressed in cassava roots, stems and leaves under low nitrogen conditions, was selected as the research subject. The MeNRT2.6 gene fragment was obtained by PCR amplification using cDNA from cassava cultivar C3 as template. Bioinformatics analysis and tissue expression profiling were performed, and the tissue exp