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Liu C, Gu W, Li B, Feng Y, Liu C, Shi X, Zhou Y
INTRODUCTION: Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) can withstand drought and heat stress and efficiently utilize water and nutrients. However, the underlying mechanism of its tolerance to low-nitrogen (N) stress remains poorly understood.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study assessed low-N tolerance in 100 sorghum-inbred lines and identified those with exceptional resilience. Principal component analysis, Pearson's correlation, and Y value analysis were used to examine various seedling growth metrics, including plant and root dimensions, biomass, chlorophyll content, root N content, shoot N content, and root/shoot ratio.RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The genotypes were categorized into four distinct groups based on their respective Y values, revealing a spectrum from highly tolerant to sensitive. Low-N-tolerant sorghum lines maintained higher photosynthetic rates and exhibited increased enzymatic activities linked to carbon and N metabolism in the leaves and roots. Furthermore, low-N-tolerant genotypes had higher levels of key amino acids, including cystine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, threonine, and tyrosine, indicating a robust internal metabolic response to N deficiency.CONCLUSION: This study provides a comprehensive and reliable approach for the evaluation of sorghum tolerance to low-N environments, sheds light on its morphological and physiological adaptations, and provides valuable insights for future breeding programs and agricultural practices.