Physiological Characteristics and Transcriptomic Dissection in Two Root Segments with Contrasting Net Fluxes of Ammonium and Nitrate of Poplar Under Low Nitrogen Availability

Abstract To investigate physiological and transcriptomic regulation mechanisms underlying the distinct net fluxes of NH4+ and NO3− in different root segments of Populus species under low nitrogen (N) conditions, we used saplings of Populus × canescens supplied with either 500 (normal N) or 50 (low N) μM NH4NO3. The net fluxes of NH4+ and NO3−, the concentrations of NH4+, amino acids and organic acids and the enzymatic activities of nitrite reductase (NiR) and glutamine synthetase (GS) in root segment II (SII, 35–70 mm to the apex) were lower than those in root segment I (SI, 0–35 mm to the apex). The net NH4+ influxes and the concentrations of organic acids were elevated, whereas the concentrations of NH4+ and NO3− and the activities of NiR and GS were reduced in SI and SII in response to low N. A number of genes were significantly differentially expressed in SII vs SI and in both segments grown under low vs normal N conditions, and these genes were mainly involved in the transport of NH4+ and NO3−, N metabolism and adenosine triphosphate synthesis. Moreover, the hub gene coexpression networks were dissected and correlated with N physiological processes in SI and SII under normal and low N conditions. These results suggest that the hub gene coexpression networks play pivotal roles in regulating N uptake and assimilation, amino acid metabolism and the levels of organic acids from the tricarboxylic acid cycle in the two root segments of poplars in acclimation to low N availability.