Evaluation of candidate gene expression in transgenic high proline tobacco plants grown under different nitrogen sources

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) is quantitatively the most important nutrient for plants, as their supply has a profound influence on many aspects related to growth and development. The most abundant N forms in agricultural soils are nitrate (NO3-) and ammonium (NH4+), while urea [CO2 (NH)2] is the main form of N used in fertilization. Increasing the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is a key factor for sustainable agriculture, leading to increased production with less use of inputs and less impact on the environment. In this way, the present study aims to evaluate expression of candidate genes in transgenic tobacco plants with high proline accumulation grown under different nitrogen sources. Understanding the transcriptional mechanisms of the genes involved in these processes will be of great importance for breeding programs it will allow to outline new strategies for the development of cultivars with greater nutritional efficiency.