Disruption of the Lotus japonicus transporter LjNPF2.9 increases shoot biomass and nitrate content without affecting symbiotic performances.
Stefano SolVladimir Totev ValkovAlessandra RogatoMélanie NogueroLaura GargiuloGiacomo MeleBenoit LacombeMaurizio ChiurazziPublished in: BMC plant biology (2019)
This study shows that LjNPF2.9 plays a crucial role in the downward transport of nitrate to roots, occurring likely through a xylem-to-phloem loading-mediated activity. The increase of the shoot biomass and nitrate accumulation might represent a relevant phenotype in the perspective of an improved NUE and this is further reinforced in legume plants by the reported lack of effects on the SNF efficiency.