Molybdenum-induced effects on photosynthetic efficacy of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under different nitrogen sources are associated with nitrogen assimilation

Different nitrogen (N) sources have been reported to significantly affect the photosynthesis (Pn) and its attributes. However, molybdenum (Mo) induced effects on photosynthetic efficacy of winter wheat under different N sources have not been investigated. A hydroponic study was carried out comprising of two winter wheat cultivars ‘97003’ and ‘97014’ as Mo-efficient and Mo-inefficient, respectively to underpin the effects of Mo supply (0 and 1 μM) on photosynthetic efficacy of winter wheat under different N sources (NO3̶, NH4NO3 or NH4+). The results revealed that Mo-induced increases in dry weight, gas exchange parameters, chlorophyll contents, NR activities, NO3̶ assimilation, total N contents and transcripts of TaNR and TaNRT1.1 genes under different N sources followed the trend of NH4NO3 > NO3̶ > NH4+, suggesting that Mo has more complementary effects to nitrate nutrition than sole ammonium. Interestingly, under Mo-deprivation environments, cultivar ‘97003’ recorded more pronounced alterations in Mo-dependent parameters than ‘97014’ cultivar. Moreover, Mo application significantly improved the chlorophyll contents and chloroplast configuration in all N sources showing that Mo has a key role in chlorophyll biosynthesis and chloroplast integrity. The results also highlighted that Mo-induced enhancements in total N contents and photosynthetic characteristics followed the same order as NH4NO3 > NO3− > NH4+, suggesting that Mo might affect Pn through N metabolism. In crux, our study findings imply that Mo supply increased Pn not only through chlorophyll synthesis and chloroplast configuration but also by N uptake and assimilation which may represent a strategy of Mo fertilizer to strengthen the photosynthetic machinery. •Molybdenum improved photosynthetic apparatus through efficient N assimilation.•Molybdenum shows more complementary effects to nitrate nutrition than sole ammonium.•Differential responses to photosynthesis of two wheat cultivars under Mo deficiency.