Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41826777›Full record

ArticleNature genetics2026

A genetic module boosts grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency by improving nitrate transport in maize.

Meiling Zhang, Ziqi Wu, Liangliang Huang, Xiaomeng Shen, Kangqi Wang, Yingying Hu, Burebiyanmu Wubulikasimu, Yizhou Qin, Junzheng Fu, Ziwei Luo and 10 more

Erratum issuedAbstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Nature genetics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

20 authors.

Meiling Zhang *State Key Laboratory of Maize Bio-breeding, National Maize Improvement Center, Department of Plant Genetics and Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
Ziqi Wu *State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience (SKLPER), College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
Liangliang HuangState Key Laboratory of Maize Bio-breeding, National Maize Improvement Center, Department of Plant Genetics and Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0004-2965-4531
Xiaomeng ShenState Key Laboratory of Maize Bio-breeding, National Maize Improvement Center, Department of Plant Genetics and Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
Kangqi WangState Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience (SKLPER), College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
Yingying HuState Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience (SKLPER), College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
Burebiyanmu WubulikasimuState Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience (SKLPER), College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
Yizhou QinState Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience (SKLPER), College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1272-2436
Junzheng FuState Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience (SKLPER), College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
Ziwei LuoState Key Laboratory of Maize Bio-breeding, National Maize Improvement Center, Department of Plant Genetics and Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
Bo YangState Key Laboratory of Maize Bio-breeding, National Maize Improvement Center, Department of Plant Genetics and Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
Xiaoming ZhaoCenter for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
Xiqing WangState Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience (SKLPER), College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
Feng QinState Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience (SKLPER), College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9134-4711
Chao BianState Key Laboratory of Maize Bio-breeding, National Maize Improvement Center, Department of Plant Genetics and Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3572-0521
Haiming ZhaoState Key Laboratory of Maize Bio-breeding, National Maize Improvement Center, Department of Plant Genetics and Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
Jian ChenState Key Laboratory of Maize Bio-breeding, National Maize Improvement Center, Department of Plant Genetics and Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
Weibin SongState Key Laboratory of Maize Bio-breeding, National Maize Improvement Center, Department of Plant Genetics and Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3496-2585
Yi WangState Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience (SKLPER), College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China. yiwang@cau.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3660-5859
Jinsheng LaiState Key Laboratory of Maize Bio-breeding, National Maize Improvement Center, Department of Plant Genetics and Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China. jlai@cau.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9202-9641

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 32025004National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 32302660National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 32425041
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Although nitrogen fertilizer use has boosted crop yields, excessive application diminishes crop nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and causes environmental problems. Therefore, increasing crop NUE is urgently needed for agricultural sustainability. Through a genome-wide association study, we identified a locus, NCR1 (Nitrate Concentration Regulator 1), that correlates with nitrate concentrations in maize root xylem. NCR1 encodes a MYB transcription factor that positively regulates the transcription of nitrate transporter NRT2.3 expressed predominantly in root xylem parenchyma cells. The NCR1-NRT2.3 transcription module responds to external nitrogen and controls nitrate translocation from roots to shoots. The superior NCR1

Indexed as

Edible GrainNitratesNitrogenZea maysAnion Transport ProteinsBiological TransportGene Expression Regulation, PlantGenome-Wide Association StudyNitrate TransportersPlant ProteinsPlant RootsPlants, Genetically ModifiedPlant ShootsPromoter Regions, GeneticTranscription FactorsXylemAnion Transport ProteinsNitratesNitrate TransportersNitrogenPlant ProteinsTranscription Factors

Identifiers

PMID41826777

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.