ABSTRACT

Crops are often subjected to iron (Fe)-deficiency due to the limited solubility of this essential element in most neutral or basic soils. Developing cultivars with high efficiency in Fe utilization via breeding programs can provide solutions to this problem as a long term strategy. In the present study, to select inbred lines for breeding of maize with high efficiency in Fe utilization, we screened 123 inbred lines at the seedling stage by analyzing secretion pattern of phytosiderophores, a class of non-protein amino acids released by graminaceous species for Fe utilization, using high-performance liquid chromatography. One hundred and twenty three inbred lines were clustered into nine groups. The low PS secretion rate under Fe-sufficient condition and high PS secretion rate increment after Fe-deficiency treatment type were the ideal inbred lines for breeding of maize with high efficiency in Fe utilization.

Keywords:Maize, Phytosiderophore, Iron-Efficient Utilization

1. Introduction

Iron (Fe) is one of the essential nutrients for plant growth, which plays important roles in many crucial metabolic pathways [1] . Although it is the fourth most common element in the Earth’s crust, plants are often subjected to Fe-deficiency due to its low solubility especially in calcareous soils (about 30% of world’s cultivated soils) [2] [3] . In world-wide agricultural production, it is an acute contradiction between Fe-abundance in soils and Fedeficiency in crops. Although this issue can be solved through soil improvement and foliage spray of Fe fertilizer, it is a real economic burden. Developing cultivars with high efficiency in Fe utilization via breeding programs can provide solutions to this problem as a long term strategy.

Under Fe-deficiency stress condition, plants have evolved two distinct strategies to solubilize and transport Fe [4] . Strategy I plants, including dicotyledonous and non-graminaceous monocotyledonous species, are characterized by release of proton (H⁺) and Fe (III)-chelate reductase to increase Fe-acquisition [5] . Graminaceous species (strategy II plants) secrete phytosiderophores (PSs), a class of non-protein amino acids, into the rhizosphere to solubilize and utilize insoluble Fe (III) in soils [1] .

It has been demonstrated that PS secretion rate varies with different graminaceous species, and even with different cultivars within the same species [4] [6] . In addition, Fe-deficiency treatment increases PS secreting rate dramatically [4] [7] . So, it is necessary to characterize PS secreting pattern for developing cultivars of graminaceous species with high efficiency in Fe utilization. At present, no publications on this field are available.

In the present study, to select inbred lines suited to develop maize hybrids with high efficiency in Fe utilization, PS secretion patterns of 123 inbred lines were analyzed. These lines were clustered into nine groups based on PS secretion rates under Fe-sufficient condition and PS secretion rate increment after Fe-deficiency treatment. And then, lines suited to developing cultivars with high efficiency in Fe utilization were discussed. We believe that our work will benefit the Fe-efficient maize breeding.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Plant Materials and Growth Condition

One hundred and twenty three maize inbred lines were used in the present study, which were displayed in Table 1. Seeds were incubated on moist paperbed at 25˚C for germination. Germinated seeds were transferred to a net floating on a continuously aerated Hoagland’s solution (pH 6.0) in the temperature-controlled growth chamber with a 16 h light/8 h dark photoperiod at 25˚C. After 7 d of culture, seedlings were removed endosperm and then transferred into the aerated Hoagland’s solution without Fe element for seven days for collection of root exudates under Fe-deficiency stress. Root exudates under Fe-efficient condition were collected from plants cultured in Hoagland’s solution with every essential element. All experiments were performed with three replicates.

2.2. Collection of Root Exudates

Firstly, roots of maize seedling were washed clean with deionized water, and then placed in 500 ml of deionized water for collection of root exudates. Root exudates collection was started at 7:00 and terminated at 15:00, lasting eight hours.

2.3. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) Analysis of PS

Root exudates were chromatographed on Amberlite IR120B (H⁺ form) followed by freeze-dried in vacuum. The freeze-dried materials were dissolved in 10 ml ultrapure water, and then analyzed by HPLC using C18 column (4.6 mm × 250 mm) with wavelength 209 nm, mobile phase 0.5% (NH₄)H₂PO₄ (pH 2.85) and flow rate 0.6 ml∙min⁻¹.

2.4. Statistical Analysis

DPS 7.05 software was used for data processing [8] . Chi-square distance and sum of squared deviations were adopted in cluster analysis.

3. Results

3.1. PS Secretion Characteristics of the 123 Inbred Lines at Seedling Stage

HPLC analysis was performed to characterize PS secretion of 123 inbred lines at seedling stage. Table 1 listed the PS secretion data of these lines. The average of PS secretion rate under Fe-sufficient condition was 7.281 mg/(g dry root*8h). The variation range among different genotypes was from 1.786 ± 0.222 mg/(g dry root*8h) [mean ± standard deviation (S.D.), Dan340] to 19.695 ± 0.442 mg/(g dry root*8h) (LL0726-1). The average of

PS secretion rate after Fe-deficiency stress was 9.560 mg/(g dry root*8h), and the variation range was from 2.414 ± 0.200 mg/(g dry root*8h) (D10-2) to 24.526 ± 1.518 mg/(g dry root*8h) (HN0709-1-1). These data strongly suggested that PS secrete rates were clearly different among these inbred lines at the seedling stage under Fe-sufficient condition and under Fe-deficiency treatment. In addition, Fe-deficiency treatment increased PS secretion rate among all 123 inbred lines. And the increment was from 0.037 mg/(g dry root*8h) (D10-2) to 11.417 mg/(g dry root*8h) (HN0709-1-1). These data revealed that sensibility to Fe-deficiency treatment was obviously different among these inbred lines.

3.2. Clustering Analysis of the 123 Inbred Lines Based on PS Secretion Characteristics at the Seedling Stage

Figure 1 listed the data gained from Chi-square distance and sum of squared deviations analysis of the 123 inbred lines. These lines were grouped based on their PS secretion rates under Fe-sufficient condition (Figure 1(a)) and PS secretion rate increment after Fe-deficiency treatment (Figure 1(b)).

With the threshold value 15.20, these inbred lines can be categorized into three groups based on the PS secretion rate under Fe-sufficient condition: low (L), intermediate (M) and high (H) (Figure 1(a)). The average secretion rates of the three groups were 4.307, 7.001 and 11.792 mg/(g dry root*8h) respectively, raging from 1.786 to 5.782 mg/(g dry root*8h), from 5.914 to 8.329 mg/(g dry root*8h), and from 5.914 to 19.695 mg/(g dry root∙8h) respectively. With the threshold value 12.82, these lines were also categorized into three groups based on PS secretion rate increment after Fe-deficiency treatment: low (l), intermediate (m) and high (h) (Figure 1(b)). The average secretion rate increment of the three groups were 0.595, 2.382 and 5.792 mg/(g dry root*8h) respectively, raging from 0.037 to 1.416 mg/(g dry root*8h), from 1.690 to 3.329 mg/(g dry root*8h), and from 3.479 to 11.417 mg/(g dry root*8h) respectively.

To cluster the 123 inbred lines more accurately, these lines were divided into nine groups based on both the two parameters described above (Table 2). The nine groups were: 1) the high PS secretion rate under Fe-sufficient condition and high PS secretion rate increment after Fe-deficiency treatment (Hh); 2) the high PS secretion rate and intermediate PS secretion rate increment (Hm); 3) the high PS secretion rate and low PS secretion rate

increment (Hl); 4) the intermediate PSs secretion rate and high PSs secretion rate increment (Mh); 5) the intermediate PS secretion rate and intermediate PS secretion rate increment (Mm); 6) the intermediate PS secretion rate and low PS secretion rate increment (Ml); 7) the low PS secretion rate and high PS secretion rate increment (Lh); 8) the low PS secretion rate and intermediate PS secretion rate increment (Lm); 9) the low PS secretion rate and low PS secretion rate increment (Ll) (Table 2).

4. Discussion

Fe is one of the essential nutrients for microorganisms, plants, animals and human beings. Fe in plants is an important source of this element for human beings, especially in developing countries [9] . However, plants are often subjected to Fe-deficiency due to the limited solubility of Fe in most neutral or basic soils [3] . In graminaceous species, PSs are the ones which are secreted into the rhizosphere to solubilize and utilize insoluble Fe (III) [5] . In the present study, to select inbred lines suited to developing maize hybrids with high efficiency in Fe utilization, we characterize PS secretion pattern of 123 lines.

In this study, PS secretion rate ranged from 1.786 ± 0.222 to 19.695 ± 0.442 mg/(g dry root*8h) under Fesufficient condition, and PS secretion rate increment ranged from 0.037 to 11.417 mg/(g dry root*8h) under Fedeficiency stress, suggesting that PS secretion pattern differed with genotypes.

Based on PS secretion rates under Fe-sufficient condition and PS secretion rate increment after Fe-deficiency treatment, 123 maize inbred lines were divided into nine groups, Hh, Hm, Hl, Mh, Mm, Ml, Lh, Lm and Ll  (Table 2). PSs are metal chelators that play a major role in Fe and Zn acquisition [10] [11] . So it is unnecessary for plants cultured in Hoagland’s solution to secrete large amounts of PSs. Under Fe-deficient stress, however, more increase of PS secretion rate contributes evidently to quickly adapt the stress circumstance. Therefore, the Lh type was the ideal inbred lines for breeding of maize with high efficiency in Fe utilization.

5. Conclusion

In the present study, to select inbred lines suited to develop maize hybrids with high efficiency in Fe utilization, PS secretion patterns of 123 inbred lines were analyzed. These lines were clustered into nine groups based on PS secretion rates under Fe-sufficient condition and PS secretion rate increment after Fe-deficiency treatment. The Lh type was the ideal inbred lines for breeding of maize with high efficiency in Fe utilization.

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31101160), Seed Improvement Project of Shandong Province, China (2008-6) and Innovative Team Foundation of Modern Agricultural Technology System of Shandong Province, China.

References

NOTES

^*These authors contributed equally to this paper.

#Corresponding author.