Effects of nitrogen deficiency on grain quality and functional properties of protein hydrolysates in a low-nitrogen-tolerant rice mutant (MT2)

Information from the abstract

Nitrogen deficiency is a major constraint affecting rice productivity and grain quality; however, nutrient stress may also trigger metabolic reprogramming that enhances health-promoting compounds. The MT2 mutant, derived from KDML105, has been developed for high yield and nitrogen deficiency tolerance, yet the nutritional quality of its grains remains unexplored. MT2 grains exhibited superior nutritional characteristics, including significant higher carbohydrate and amylose contents than KDML105. Subsequently, the responses of these lines to nitrogen concentrations were evaluated, including full strength (0.43 mM NH 4 NO 3 ) and low strength (0.18 mM NH 4 NO 3 ) of Yoshida’s solution. Under nitrogen-sufficient conditions, proteomic analysis revealed enhanced accumulation of functional proteins in MT2, including storage proteins, dietary fiber-related proteins, and bioactive compound-associated proteins such as GDSL esterase/lipase APG linked to antioxidant and anticancer activities resulting in the highest antioxidant activity in protein hydrolysates. In contrast, nitrogen deficiency reduced glutelin and allergenic proteins accumulation in MT2, shifting toward low-glutelin characteristics beneficial for individuals with chronic kidney disease and reduced glycemic response, while upregulating cellulose synthase-like protein D5 in both lines, suggesting conserved maintenance of dietary fiber content. Nitrogen deficiency also elevated galactoside 2-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase and cupincin, exclusively detected in MT2 and positively correlated with both antioxidant and antibacterial activities alongside cellulose synthase-like protein D5. Consequently, protein hydrolysates from nitrogen-deficient MT2 grains exhibited enhanced antibacterial activity against major pathogens. These responses appeared genotype-specific, highlighting the unique nutraceutical potential of MT2. Therefore, nitrogen management represents a promising preharvest strategy for enhancing the functional food potential of rice grains, effectively converting environmental stress into an adaptive agronomic strength with pharmaceutical and medicinal applications.

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Related topics: Food composition and properties · Polysaccharides and Plant Cell Walls · Transgenic Plants and Applications