Carbon and nitrogen metabolism affects kentucky bluegrass rhizome expansion

Abstract Background Rhizome is vital for carbon and nitrogen metabolism of the whole plant. However, the effect of carbon and nitrogen in the rhizome on rhizome expansion remains unclear. Results Three wild Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) germplasms with different rhizome expansion capacity (strong expansion capacity, ‘YZ’; medium expansion capacity, ‘WY’; and weak expansion capacity, ‘AD’) were planted in the field and the rhizomes number, tiller number, rhizome dry weight, physiological indicators and enzyme activity associated carbon and nitrogen metabolisms were measured. Liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was utilized to analyze the metabolomic of the rhizomes. The results showed that the rhizome and tiller numbers of the YZ were 3.26 and 2.69-fold of that of the AD, respectively. The aboveground dry weight of the YZ was the greatest among all three germplasms. Contents of soluble sugar, starch, sucrose, NO3 −-N, and free amino acid were significantly higher in rhizomes of the YZ than those of the WY and AD (P