Nitrogen reduces calcium availability by promoting oxalate biosynthesis in apple leaves

Abstract

N and Ca are essential nutrients for apple growth and development. Studies have found that Ca content was not low under high N condition but was poorly available and could be easily fixed. However, the underlying physiological mechanism through which N regulates Ca availability remains unclear. In this study, apple plants were supplied with N and Ca to analyze the content, in situ distribution, and forms of Ca using noninvasive micro-test technique, electron probe microanalysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and transcriptome analysis. A potential interaction was observed between N and Ca in apple leaves. The application of high N and Ca concentration led to a CaOx content of 12.51 g/kg, representing 93.54% of the total Ca in the apple leaves. Electron probe microanalysis revealed that Ca deposited in the phloem primarily existed as CaOx rhombus-shaped crystals. Additionally, high N positively regulated oxalate accumulation in the leaves, increasing it by 40.79 times compared with low N concentration. Specifically, N induced oxalate synthesis in apple leaves by upregulating the ICL, OXAC, and MDH genes, while simultaneously inhibiting degradation through downregulation of the AAE3 gene. Transcriptome and correlation analyses further confirmed oxaloacetate as the precursor for the synthesis of CaOx crystals in the apple leaves, which were produced via the “photosynthesis/glycolysis -oxaloacetate -oxalate -CaOx” pathway. WGCNA identified potential regulators of the CaOx biosynthesis pathway triggered by N. Overall, the results provide insights into the regulatory through which N regulates Ca availability in apple leaves and support the development of Ca efficient cultivation technique.