Abstract

Nitrogen (N) is an essential macronutrient required by all plants to complete their life cycles. Inefficient N uptake contributes to over fertilization and subsequent environmental and sustainability issues resulting in the need for improved nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). Chenopodium quinoa is a resilient pseudocereal crop that is relatively adapted to N-deficient soils. Previous studies have uncovered the unique genetic structure of quinoa and its physiological responses to N availability; however, gaps remain in understanding its molecular mechanisms for NUE. This study investigates four quinoa genotypes (Real-1, 0654, KU-2, and QQ74) hydroponically grown in N-deficient conditions. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between N-deficient and control treatments across genotypes. GO enrichment analysis revealed that many DEGs were associated with molecular functions such as catalytic activity, redox processes, and transport.QQ74 and KU-2 exhibited more pronounced changes in gene expression under N limitation, including upregulation of genes linked to general transport and metabolic activity. In contrast, Real-1 and 0654 showed a higher proportion of DEGs associated with stress-response pathways. These findings suggest that quinoa genotypes employ different transcriptional strategies to cope with N deficiency, providing insight into the genetic basis of NUE variation and potential targets for future research.

Degree

College and Department

Life Sciences; Plant and Wildlife Sciences

Rights

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