Résumé
Maize is a cornerstone of the French forage system, with yield and silage feeding value being key criteria for the registration of maize hybrid varieties in the official French catalogue. Previous studies have demonstrated a direct correlation between silage feeding value and dry matter digestibility, which is primarily influenced by cell wall digestibility. Nitrogen, a critical factor for maize yield, is typically supplied in conventional agriculture through synthetic fertilisers, which are criticized for their environmental impact and rising costs. Consequently, investigating the beneficial effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the agronomic performance of maize under conditions of low nitrogen and water availability seems to be a promising approach. In particular, the deposition of cell wall compounds in roots regulates the transport of nutrients, including nitrogen. In this context, our study aims to examine how altered cell wall composition affects mycorrhizal symbiosis, root development and digestible yield under low-nitrogen and water deficit conditions, using maize mutants with modified lignin content or hemicellulose composition.Funding acknowledgement: This research is supported by a grant from the Plant2Pro Carnot Institute (ANR #20 CARN 002401) awarded to C.H. and has benefited from the IJPB’s Plant Observatory platform PO-Plants.