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The superior nitrogen efficiency of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) hybrids is not related to delayed nitrogen starvation-induced leaf senescence

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Abstract

Aims

Winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) cultivation causes high nitrogen (N) balance surpluses. The breeding and cultivation of N-efficient cultivars (high grain yield under low N supply) can contribute to the reduction of the crop-specific N surpluses. Comparing line cultivars with hybrids and dwarfs the hypothesis was tested if stay-green into reproductive growth contributes to superior N efficiency of hybrids and dwarfs.

Methods

The present work comprised two years field experiments with ten line, five hybrid and three dwarf cultivars and hydroponic experiments with three hybrid and nine line cultivars.

Results

Hybrids were superior in yield formation independent of the N supply. The greater N efficiency of the hybrids was related to a higher N uptake until maturity, but not to stay-green. This was in agreement with a hydroponic experiment in which the hybrids were particularly responsive in N starvation-induced leaf senescence of older leaves as revealed by SPAD, photosynthesis and the expression of the senescence-specific cysteine protease gene SAG12-1. Additionally, hybrids were characterized by an efficient N retranslocation from vegetative to reproductive plant organs in combination with a lower grain-N concentration.

Conclusions

Both, N uptake and N utilization efficiency were decisive for the superior N efficiency of the hybrids.

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Acknowledgments

The financial support by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) within the Forschergruppe FOR 948 is gratefully acknowledged. We also thank Daniel Gerhard, Institute of Biostatistics, Leibniz University Hannover, for his advice in the statistical computation of the results.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Plant Nutrition, Leibniz University of Hannover, Herrenhäuser Str. 2, 30419, Hannover, Germany

    Fabian Koeslin-Findeklee, Andreas Meyer & Walter J. Horst

  2. Norddeutsche Pflanzenzucht Hans-Georg Lembke KG, Hohenlieth-Hof 1, 24363, Holtsee, Germany

    Andreas Girke

  3. NPZ Innovation GmbH, AgroBioTechnikum, Thünenplatz 1, 18190, Groß Lüsewitz, Germany

    Katrin Beckmann

Authors
  1. Fabian Koeslin-Findeklee
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  2. Andreas Meyer
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  3. Andreas Girke
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  4. Katrin Beckmann
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  5. Walter J. Horst
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Walter J. Horst.

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Responsible Editor: Philip John White.

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Koeslin-Findeklee, F., Meyer, A., Girke, A. et al. The superior nitrogen efficiency of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) hybrids is not related to delayed nitrogen starvation-induced leaf senescence. Plant Soil 384, 347–362 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-014-2212-8

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