To decipher the biochemical bases of nitrogen (N) utilization and metabolism of silage maize inrelation to growth and productivity, an untargeted metabolomic (proton NMR- and LC-QTOF-MSbased) and proteomic approach was conducted on leaves of 29 hybrids cultivated in the field underoptimal and reduced N fertilization. The corresponding biochemical data were analyzed eitherindividually (PCA, ANOVA), or integrated with that of eco-physiological, developmental and yield-related traits (multi-block sparse PLS-DA). Such integrated analysis was conducted to interpret theunderlying physiology concerning the plant response to a mild N deficit often occurring underagronomic conditions. The genetic diversity of the core panel of 29 European dent hybrids crossed toa flint tester was exploited to highlight common N-responsive metabolites and proteins in order toidentify putative biological markers that could be used to pilot and rationalize N fertilization. Theresponses of metabolites, proteins, and yield-related traits to the reduced N treatment were alsoexploited to identify biochemical markers representative of a maize ideotype exhibiting betteragronomic performances when N fertilization is limited. These markers could be used to select high-yielding commercial maize hybrids used for silage production requiring less N fertilizer inputs.< Leer menos