Exploring the Potential of Heterosis to Improve Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Popcorn Plants
Talles de Oliveira Santos,
Antônio Teixeira do Amaral Junior,
Rosimeire Barboza Bispo,
Wallace de Paula Bernado,
Bruna Rohem Simão,
Valter Jário de Lima,
Marta Simone Mendonça Freitas,
Freddy Mora-Poblete,
Roberto dos Santos Trindade,
Samuel Henrique Kamphorst,
Weverton Pereira Rodrigues,
Eliemar Campostrini,
Flávia Nicácio Viana,
Cosme Damião Cruz
Affiliations
Talles de Oliveira Santos
Center for Plant Science Innovation, Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska—Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588-0664, USA
Antônio Teixeira do Amaral Junior
Laboratory of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Center for Agricultural Sciences and Technologies (CCTA), Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes 28013-602, RJ, Brazil
Rosimeire Barboza Bispo
Laboratory of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Center for Agricultural Sciences and Technologies (CCTA), Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes 28013-602, RJ, Brazil
Wallace de Paula Bernado
Laboratory of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Center for Agricultural Sciences and Technologies (CCTA), Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes 28013-602, RJ, Brazil
Bruna Rohem Simão
Laboratory of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Center for Agricultural Sciences and Technologies (CCTA), Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes 28013-602, RJ, Brazil
Valter Jário de Lima
Laboratory of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Center for Agricultural Sciences and Technologies (CCTA), Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes 28013-602, RJ, Brazil
Marta Simone Mendonça Freitas
Plant Science Laboratory, Center for Agricultural Science and Technologies, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes 28013-602, RJ, Brazil
Freddy Mora-Poblete
Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Talca, 1 Poniente 1141, Talca 3460000, Chile
Roberto dos Santos Trindade
National Research Center for Maize and Sorghum, Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, MG-424 Highway, Km 45, Sete Lagoas 35701-970, MG, Brazil
Samuel Henrique Kamphorst
Laboratory of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Center for Agricultural Sciences and Technologies (CCTA), Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes 28013-602, RJ, Brazil
Weverton Pereira Rodrigues
Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Naturais e Letras, Universidade Estadual da Região Tocantina do Maranhão (UEMASUL), Estreito 65975-000, MA, Brazil
Eliemar Campostrini
Laboratory of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Center for Agricultural Sciences and Technologies (CCTA), Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes 28013-602, RJ, Brazil
Flávia Nicácio Viana
Laboratory of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Center for Agricultural Sciences and Technologies (CCTA), Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes 28013-602, RJ, Brazil
Cosme Damião Cruz
Laboratory of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Center for Agricultural Sciences and Technologies (CCTA), Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes 28013-602, RJ, Brazil
Nitrogen is crucial for plant growth and development, and improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is a viable strategy for reducing dependence on nitrogen inputs and promoting sustainability. While the benefits of heterosis in corn are well known, the physiological mechanisms underlying this phenomenon in popcorn are less understood. We aimed to investigate the effects of heterosis on growth and physiological traits in four popcorn lines and their hybrids under two contrasting nitrogen conditions. We evaluated morpho-agronomic and physiological traits such as leaf pigments, the maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII, and leaf gas exchange. Components associated with NUE were also evaluated. N deprivation caused reductions of up to 65% in terms of plant architecture, 37% in terms of leaf pigments, and 42% in terms of photosynthesis-related traits. Heterosis had significant effects on growth traits, NUE, and foliar pigments, particularly under low soil nitrogen conditions. N-utilization efficiency was found to be the mechanism favoring superior hybrid performance for NUE. Non-additive genetic effects were predominant in controlling the studied traits, indicating that exploring heterosis is the most effective strategy for obtaining superior hybrids to promote NUE. The findings are relevant and beneficial for agro farmers seeking sustainable agricultural practices and improved crop productivity through the optimization of nitrogen utilization.
