An integrated analysis of transcriptome and metabolome provides insights into the responses of maize (Zea mays L.) roots to different straw and fertilizer conditions

ABSTRACT Returning straw back to the field with an appropriate amount of fertilizer has been proven to be beneficial in the promotion of soil fertility, crop yield, and the sustainability of an agricultural system. However, little is known regarding the molecular and metabolic understandings of enhanced crop growth in a straw return system. By performing an integrated transcriptomic and metabolomics analysis, we investigated the effects of straw removal and straw return with two chemical fertilizer rates on root morphology in a mesh bag field experiment on maize in northwest China. Our results showed that straw return played a role in root thickening (bigger root diameter), while fertilization enhanced root branching (more root number). Different from straw return alone, straw return with fertilizer significantly decreased the root/shoot ratio (p