The physiological and molecular mechanisms of N transfer in Eucalyptus and Dalbergia odorifera intercropping systems using root proteomics.

backgroundThe mixing of Eucalyptus with N

resultsN transfer occurred from D. odorifera to Eucalyptus at a rate of 14.61% in the intercropping system, which increased N uptake and growth in Eucalyptus but inhibited growth in D. odorifera. There were 285 and 288 differentially expressed proteins by greater than 1.5-fold in Eucalyptus and D. odorifera roots with intercropping vs monoculture, respectively. Introduction of D. odorifera increased the stress resistance ability of Eucalyptus, while D. odorifera stress resistance was increased by increasing levels of jasmonic acid (JA). Additionally, the differentially expressed proteins of N metabolism, such as glutamine synthetase nodule isozyme (GS), were upregulated to enhance N competition in Eucalyptus. Importantly, more proteins were involved in synthetic pathways than in metabolic pathways in Eucalyptus because of the benefit of N transfer, and the two groups of N compound transporters were found in Eucalyptus; however, more functional proteins were involved in metabolic degradation in D. odorifera; specifically, the molecular mechanism of the transfer of N from D. odorifera to Eucalyptus was explained by proteomics.

conclusionsOur study suggests that N transfer occurred from D. odorifera to Eucalyptus and was affected by the variations in the differentially expressed proteins. We anticipate that these results can be verified in field experiments for the sustainable development of Eucalyptus plantations.