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Low nitrate alleviates iron deficiency through regulating iron homeostasis in apple
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  • Wei-Jian Sun,
  • Xing-Long Ji,
  • Zi-Quan Feng,
  • Xun Wang,
  • Jiu-Cheng Zhang,
  • Wen-Jing Huang,
  • Chun-Xiang You,
  • Xiao-Fei Wang,
  • Yu-Jin Hao
Wei-Jian Sun
Shandong Agricultural University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Xing-Long Ji
Shandong Agricultural University
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Zi-Quan Feng
Shandong Agricultural University
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Xun Wang
Shandong Agricultural University
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Jiu-Cheng Zhang
Shandong Agricultural University
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Wen-Jing Huang
Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences
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Chun-Xiang You
Shandong Agricultural University
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Xiao-Fei Wang
Shandong Agricultural University, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering 61 Daizong Stree Tai-An, Shandong Province, CN 271018 86+538-8246692
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Yu-Jin Hao
Shandong Agricultural University
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Abstract

Iron (Fe) is an essential element for plant growth, development, and metabolism. Due to its lack of solubility and low bioavailability in soil, Fe levels are usually far below the optimum amount for most plants’ growth and development. In apple production, excessive use of nitrogen fertilizer may cause iron chlorosis symptoms in the newly growing leaves, but the regulatory mechanism is unclear. In this study, it was found that low nitrate (NO3-, LN) application could alleviate the symptoms of Fe deficiency, LN treatment promoted lower the rhizosphere pH, which was beneficial for root Fe acquisition, meanwhile, LN treatment increased citrate and abscisic acid (ABA) accumulation in root, which promoted Fe transport from root to shoot and maintained Fe homeostasis. Moreover, RNA-Seq and qRT-PCR analysis showed that nitrate application caused differential expression of genes that were related to Fe uptake and transport as well as transcriptional regulators. In summary, our data reveal that low nitrate alleviated Fe deficiency through multiple pathway, which exhibits a new option for attenuating Fe deprivation by regulating the balance between nutrients.