Plant growth and nitrate absorption and assimilation of two sweet potato cultivars with different N tolerances in response to nitrate supply

Abstract In sweet potato, rational nitrogen (N) assimilation and distribution are conducive to inhibiting vine overgrowth. Nitrate (NO3 -) is the main N form absorbed by roots, and cultivar is an important factor affecting N utilization. Herein, a hydroponic experiment was conducted that included four NO3 - concentrations of 0 (N0), 4 (N1), 8 (N2) and 16 (N3) mmol L-1 with two cultivars of Jishu26 (J26, N-sensitive) and Xushu32 (X32, N-tolerant). For J26, with increasing NO3 - concentrations, the root length and root surface area significantly decreased. However, no significant differences were observed in these parameters for X32. Higher NO3 - concentrations upregulated the expression levels of the genes that encode nitrate reductase (NR2), nitrite reductase (NiR2) and nitrate transporter (NRT1.1) in roots for both cultivars. The trends in the activities of NR and NiR were subject to regulation of NR2 and NiR2 transcription, respectively. For both cultivars, N2 increased the N accumulated in leaves, growth points and roots. For J26, N3 further increased the N accumulation in these organs. Under higher NO3 - nutrition, compared with X32, J26 exhibited higher expression levels of the NiR2, NR2 and NRT1.1 genes, a higher influx NO3 - rate in roots, and higher activities of NR and NiR in leaves and roots. Conclusively, the regulated effects of NO3 - supplies on root growth and NO3 - utilization were more significant for J26. Under high NO3 - conditions, J26 exhibited higher capacities of NO3 - absorption and distributed more N in leaves and in growth points, which may contribute to higher growth potential in shoots and more easily cause vine overgrowth.