Natural allelic variation in BnCLV1 orchestrates root architectural remodelling and yield performance under nitrogen-limited conditions in Brassica napus

Xiaohua Wang, Yi Du, Baixi Cui, Chuanquan Xu, Jie Niu, Xiaohong Wang & Ping Xu

Theoretical and Applied Genetics; March 2 2026; vol. 139; article 83

Key message

The findings reveal that BnCLV1 modulates root growth and yield under N-deficient conditions in rapeseed, which may offering a target for breeding varieties with enhanced N use efficiency and improved agricultural sustainability.

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) deficiency is a major limiting factor for rapeseed root growth and yield. Therefore, genetic improvement of rapeseed with N acquisition and utilisation efficiency is a curial strategy for enhancing rapeseed yield and N fertiliser efficiency. Using genome-wide association study (GWAS) and transcriptome analyses, we found that natural variation of leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase gene (BnCLV1) regulates N-responsive root system architecture at the seeding stage and yield at the maturity in the natural rapeseed population. N supply inhibited BnCLV1 expression, thereby increasing lateral root number, root surface area, shoot and root biomass, and total root length at the seeding stage. N supply also enhanced yield, pod number and silique length in the maturation stage. GUS assays showed that BnCLV1 signals were negatively regulated in response to N deficiency in primary root, lateral root primordia, leaf veins, and floral primordia tissues. Thus, BnCLV1 modulates lateral root and floral primordia activity, reducing root growth and yield under N deficiency. Overall, these findings reveal that BnCLV1 modulates root growth and yield under N deficiency in rapeseed, providing a target for breeding varieties with enhanced N-use efficiency and improved agricultural sustainability.

See https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00122-026-05191-z