Nitrogen (N) is an important nutrient for plant growth. However, its excess application leads to environmental damage. Hence, improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of plant is one of the plausible options to solve the problems. Aim of this study was to identify candidate genes involved in enhancing NUE in potato cv. Kufri Gaurav (N efficient). Plants were grown in aeroponic with two contrasting N regimes (low N: 0.75 mM, and high N: 7.5 mM). Higher NUE in Kufri Gaurav was observed in low N based on the parameters like NUE, NUpE (N uptake efficiency), NUtE (N utilization efficiency) and AgNUE (agronomic NUE). Further, global gene expression profiles in root, leaf and stolon tissues were analyzed by RNA-sequencing using Ion Proton™ System. Quality data (≥Q20) of 2.04–2.73 Gb per sample were mapped with the potato genome. Statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05) differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified such as 176 (up-regulated) and 30 (down-regulated) in leaves, 39 (up-regulated) and 105 (down-regulated) in roots, and 81 (up-regulated) and 694 (down-regulated) in stolons. The gene ontology (GO) terms like metabolic process, cellular process and catalytic activity were predominant. Our RT-qPCR analysis confirmed the gene expression profiles of RNA-seq. Overall, we identified candidate genes associated with improving NUE such as superoxide dismutase, GDSL esterase lipase, probable phosphatase 2C, high affinity nitrate transporters, sugar transporter, proline rich proteins, transcription factors (VQ motif, SPX domain, bHLH) etc. Our findings suggest that these candidate genes probably play crucial roles in enhancing NUE in potato.

氮是植物生长的重要营养素。但是，过量使用会导致环境破坏。因此，提高植物的氮利用效率（NUE）是解决这些问题的可行选择之一。本研究的目的是鉴定参与增强马铃薯CV中NUE的候选基因。库夫里·高拉夫（N效率）。植物在气耕条件下以两种相反的N方式生长（低N：0.75 mM和高N：7.5 mM）。根据诸如NUE，NUpE（氮吸收效率），NUtE（氮利用效率）和AgNUE（农艺性NUE）等参数，在低氮条件下在Kufri Gaurav中观察到较高的NUE。此外，使用Ion Proton™System通过RNA测序分析了根，叶和sto茎组织中的全局基因表达谱。每个样品的质量数据（≥Q20）为2.04-2.73 Gb，并与马铃薯基因组作图。具有统计意义的（P  ≤0.05）差异表达的基因（DEGS）被确定，如176（上调）和30（下调）的叶，39（上调）和105（下调）在根，和81（最高（下调）和694（下调）。诸如代谢过程，细胞过程和催化活性之类的基因本体论（GO）术语占主导地位。我们的RT-qPCR分析证实了RNA-seq的基因表达谱。总体而言，我们确定了与NUE改善相关的候选基因，例如超氧化物歧化酶，GDSL酯酶脂肪酶，可能的磷酸酶2C，高亲和力硝酸盐转运蛋白，糖转运蛋白，富含脯氨酸的蛋白质，转录因子（VQ基序，SPX域，bHLH）等。提示这些候选基因可能在增强马铃薯NUE中起关键作用。