Effect of nitrogen supply on leaf traits related to photosynthesis during grain filling in two maize genotypes with different N efficiency

In the present study, plant traits related to the photosynthetic capacity at the whole plant level were compared during grain filling in two maize genotypes with different nitrogen (N) efficiency. The plants were grown in a greenhouse in large root containers and supplied either with suboptimal or optimal rates of N fertilizer. Suboptimal N supply reduced total plant biomass at maturity (47 days (d) after flowering) by 29% for the efficient genotype and by 36% for the inefficient genotype. Suboptimal N supply reduced leaf growth of both genotypes. The reduction of leaf area was less severe in the N-efficient genotype, despite of lower N content in the leaves. This indicates lower sensitivity of leaf growth towards internal N limitation in the efficient genotype. At low N supply, the green leaf area per plant gradually decreased after flowering in both genotypes, because of loss of chlorophyll during leaf senescence. The rate of net photosynthesis per unit leaf area (A) was reduced at low in comparison with high N supply. The ratio of A/leaf N content or leaf chlorophyll content was higher in the efficient genotype, indicating more efficient utilization of internal N for photosynthesis. At the end of grain filling, low N supply led to enhanced intercelluar CO2 concentrations (Ci) in the leaves, indicating limitation of CO2 assimilation by carboxylation rather than by stomatal resistance. The N deficiency-induced increase of Ci was less pronounced in the efficient genotype. Furthermore, higher photosynthetic rate of the efficient genotype at suboptimal N supply was associated with lower contents of reducing sugars and sucrose in the leaves, whereas starch content was higher than in the inefficient genotype. The ability to avoid excessive sugar accumulation in the leaves under N deficiency might be related to higher photosynthetic N efficiency.