Integrated physiological, biochemical, and transcriptomics analyses reveal the underlying mechanisms of high nitrogen use efficiency of black sesame

Cultivating high nitrogen use efficient varieties is a sustainable solution to mitigating adverse effects on the environment caused by excessive nitrogen fertilizer application. However, in sesame, although immoderate nitrogen fertilizers are used to promote yield, the molecular basis of high nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is largely unknown. Hence, this study aimed to identify high NUE black sesame variety and dissect the underlying physiological and molecular mechanisms. To achieve this, seventeen seedling traits of 30 black sesame varieties were evaluated under low nitrogen (LN) and high nitrogen (HN) conditions. Dry matter accumulation, root parameters, shoot nitrogen accumulation, and chlorophyll content are important factors for evaluating the NUE of sesame genotypes. The variety 17-156 was identified as the most efficient for N utilization. Comparative physiological and transcriptomics analyses revealed that 17-156 possesses a sophisticated nitrogen metabolizing machinery to uptake and assimilate higher quantities of inorganic nitrogen into amino acids and proteins, and simultaneously improving carbon metabolism and growth. Specifically, the total nitrogen and soluble protein contents significantly increased with the increase in nitrogen concentrations. Many important genes, including nitrate transporters (NPFs), amino acid metabolism-related (GS, GOGAT, GDH, etc.), phytohormone-related, and transcription factors, were significantly up-regulated in 17-156 under HN condition. In addition, 38 potential candidate genes were identified for future studies toward improving sesame's NUE. These findings offer valuable resources for deciphering the regulatory network of nitrogen metabolism and developing sesame cultivars with improved NUE.