Nitrogen (N) inhibits soybean (Glycine max L.) nodulation and N2 fixation. Isoflavones secreted by soybean roots can stimulate signal transduction for symbiotic nodules, thus playing a key role in root nodule development and N2 fixation. The relationship between the inhibition of soybean nodulation, N2 fixation and isoflavones by N is still unclear. In this study, dual-root soybean plants were prepared by grafting, and N or isoflavones were supplied to unilateral roots. The number and dry weight of the soybean nodules, nitrogenase activity, isoflavone concentrations and relative changes in the level of expression of nodulation-related genes were measured to study the response relationship between the N systemic regulation the soybean nodule N2 fixation and changes in the concentrations of isoflavones in its roots. The results showed that N supply to one side of the dual-root soybeans systematically affected the N2 fixation of root nodules on both sides, and this effect began in the early stage of nodulation. Moreover, a unilateral supply of N systematically affected the concentrations of daidzein and genistein on both sides of the roots. The concentrations of isoflavones were consistent with the change trend of soybean root nodule and nodulation-related gene expression level. Treatment with unilateral N or isoflavones affected the soybean nodule N2 fixation and its nodulation-related genes, which had the same response to the changes in concentrations of root isoflavones. N regulates soybean nodulation and N2 fixation by systematically affecting the concentrations of isoflavones in the roots.
Keywords: dual-root soybean; isoflavones; nitrogen; nodulation; systemic regulation.
Copyright © 2022 Lyu, Sun, Lin, Wang, Li, Zhao, Gong, Wei, Yan and Ma.