Czech J. Genet. Plant Breed., X:X | DOI: 10.17221/22/2025-CJGPB

Expression and analysis of StNR and StNiRs, key enzyme genes of nitrogen assimilation in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) with different nitrogen efficienciesOriginal Paper

Yuzhu Han¹, Zhijun Han², Yue Lu³, Zhongcai Han⁴, Jiayue Zhang⁵, Jingying Zhang⁶, Hongyu Qiao^6*, Hongxia He^7*

¹ College of Agriculture, Jilin Agricultural Science and Technology College, Jilin, P.R. China

² Economic Plants Research Institute, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences (Northeast Agricultural Research Center of China), Changchun, P.R. China

³ Bayannur Shengmu High Tech Ecological Grass Industry Co., Ltd, Bayannur, P.R. China

⁴ Potato Research Institute, Jilin Provincial Scientific Research Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Changchun, P.R. China

⁵ Institute of Brain Cognition and Brain Diseases, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, P.R. China

⁶ College of Horticulture, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, P.R. China

⁷ Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences (Northeast Agricultural Research Center of China), Changchun, P.R. China

The potato is a pivotal food crop on a global scale. Nitrate reductase (NR) and nitrite reductase (NiR) are the key enzymes in nitrogen assimilation. In previous research, we found that the nitrogen assimilation process was effectively regulated by StNR and StNiRs in potato and that there were significant differences in nitrogen utilisation efficiency between different potato varieties. In this study, three potato variants with different nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) were subjected to various nitrogen supply levels and photoperiod treatments. The results indicated that the relative expression levels of StNR and StNiRs in their leaves and roots, along with the enzyme activity of NR and NiR, were proportional to the nitrogen supply levels and photoperiod. This study further clarified the expression patterns of StNR and StNiRs, as well as the enzyme activity changes of NR and NiR in leaves and roots under different nitrogen supply levels and different photoperiod treatments. This provides a theoretical basis for further in-depth exploration of the specific functions related to nitrogen absorption and assimilation efficiency in potato.

Keywords: enzyme activity; gene expression level; nitrogen efficiency; nitrogen metabolism

Received: March 26, 2025; Revised: August 2, 2025; Accepted: August 5, 2025; Prepublished online: September 17, 2025