Ammonium and nitrate uptake by soybean during recovery from nitrogen deprivation

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] plants that had been subjectedto 15 d of nitrogen deprivation were resupplied for 10 d with1.0 mol m^–3 nitrogen provided as NO₃^–, NH₄⁺, orNH₄⁺+NO₃^– in flowing hydroponic culture. Plants in a fourthhydroponic system received 1.0 mol m^–3 NO₃^– duringboth stress and resupply periods. Concentrations of solublecarbohydrates and organic acids in roots increased 210 and 370%,respectively, during stress. For the first day of resupply,however, specific uptake rates of nitrogen, determined by ionchromatography as depletion from solution, were lower for stressedthan for non-stressed plants by 43% for NO₃^- resupply, by 32%for NH₄⁺ + NO₃^– resupply, and 86% for NH₄⁺ resupply. Whenspecific uptake of nitrogen for stressed plants recovered torates for non-stressed plants at 6 to 8 d after nitrogen resupply,carbohydrates and organic acids in their roots had declinedto concentrations lower than those of non-stressed plants. Recoveryof nitrogen uptake capacity of roots thus does not appear tobe regulated simply by the content of soluble carbon compoundswithin roots. Solution concentrations of NH₄⁺ and NO₃^– were monitoredat 62.5 min intervals during the first 3 d of resupply. Intermittent‘hourly’ intervals of net influx and net effluxoccurred. Rates of uptake during influx intervals were greaterfor the NH₄⁺ -resupplied than for the NO₃^– -resuppliedplants. For NH₄⁺ -resupplied plants, however, the hourly intervalsof efflux were more numerous than for NO₃^– -resuppliedplants. It thus is possible that, instead of repressing NH₄⁺influx, increased accumulation of amino acids and NH₄⁺ in NH₄⁺-resupplled plants inhibited net uptake by stimulation of effluxof NH₄⁺ absorbed in excess of availability of carbon skeletonsfor assimilation. Entry of NH₄⁺ into root cytoplasm appearedto be less restricted than translocation of amino acids fromthe cytoplasm into the xylem. Key words: Ammonium, nitrate, nitrogen-nutrition, nitrogen-stress, soybean     

Variation in nitrogen-15 natural abundance and nitrogen uptake traits among co-occurring alpine species: do species partition by nitrogen form?

In the N-limited alpine tundra, plants may utilize a diversity of N sources (organic and inorganic N) in order to meet their nutritional requirements. To characterize species-level differences in traits related to N acquisition, we analyzed foliar '¹⁵N, nitrate reductase activity (NRA) and mycorrhizal infection in co-occurring alpine species during the first half of the growing season and compared these traits to patterns of N uptake using a ¹⁵N (¹⁵N-NH₄⁺, ¹⁵N-NO₃^-) or ¹³C,¹⁵N ([1]-¹³C-¹⁵N-glycine) tracer addition in the greenhouse. ¹³C enrichment in belowground tissue indicated that all species were capable of taking up labeled glycine, although only one species showed uptake of glycine potentially exceeding that of inorganic N. Species showing the most depleted foliar '¹⁵N and elevated NRA in the field also tended to show relatively high rates of NO₃^- uptake in the greenhouse. Likewise, species showing the most enriched foliar '¹⁵N also showed high rates of NH₄⁺ uptake. The ratio of NO₃^-:NH₄⁺ uptake rates and growth rate explained 64% and 72% of the variance in foliar '¹⁵N, respectively, suggesting that species differ in the ability to take up NO₃^- and NH₄⁺ in the field and that such differences may enable species to partition soil N on the basis of N form.     

氮肥施用时期及基追比例对土壤矿质氮含量时空变化及小麦产量和品质的影响

采用田间试验方法,研究了不同氮肥施用时期和基追比例对土壤硝态氮和铵态氮含量变化及小麦产量和品质的影响.结果表明：土壤硝态氮和铵态氮含量随着土层深度的增加而降低,不同氮肥施用时期和基追比例对0～20 cm土层土壤硝态氮和铵态氮含量均有显著影响;与氮肥全部基施处理相比,氮肥施用时期后移和基追比例的增加,明显提高了氮肥吸收利用率,减少了小麦全生育期土壤氮素的表观盈余量,同时显著改善了小麦籽粒品质;但对籽粒产量影响不显著,孕穗期追施比例过大导致产量显著降低.在本试验条件下,综合考虑产量、品质和生态效益,以基肥∶拔节肥∶孕穗肥为5∶3∶2为最佳氮肥运筹方式.     

A link between plant diversity, elevated CO2 and soil nitrate

Interactive effects of reductions in plant species diversity and increases in atmospheric CO₂ were investigated in a long-term study in nutrient-poor calcareous grassland. Throughout the experiment, soil nitrate was persistently increased at low plant species diversity, and CO₂ enrichment reduced soil [NO₃^-] at all levels of plant species diversity. In our study, soil [NO₃^-] was unrelated to root length density, microbial biomass N, community legume contents, and experimental plant communities differed only little in total N pools. However, potential nitrification revealed exactly the same treatment effects as soil [NO₃^-], providing circumstantial evidence that nitrification rates drove the observed changes in [NO₃^-]. One possible explanation for plant diversity effects on nitrification lies in spatial and temporal interspecific differences in plant N uptake, which would more often allow accumulation of NH₄⁺ in part of the soil profile at low diversity than in more species-rich plant communities. Consequently, nitrification rates and soil [NO₃^-] would increase. Elevated CO₂ increased soil water contents, which may have improved NO₃^- diffusion to the root surface thereby reducing soil [NO₃^-]. Higher soil moisture at elevated CO₂ might also reduce nitrification rates due to less aerobic conditions. The accordance of the diversity effect on soil [NO₃^-] with previous experiments suggests that increased soil [NO₃^-] at low species diversity is a fairly general phenomenon, although the mechanisms causing high [NO₃^-] may vary. In contrast, experimental evidence for effects of CO₂ enrichment on soil [NO₃^-] is ambiguous, and the antagonistic interaction of plant species reductions and elevated CO₂ we have observed is thus probably less universal.     

长期施肥及撂荒对土壤氮素矿化特性及外源硝态氮转化的影响

以黄土高原南部17年长期定位试验不同处理土壤为研究对象,研究了不同肥料处理及撂荒条件下土壤氮素矿化特性、灭菌与不灭菌条件下不同肥力土壤对施入外源硝态氮转化的影响.结果表明：氮磷钾化肥和有机肥配施（MNPK）及长期撂荒处理显著提高了土壤有机质和全氮含量以及土壤氮素矿化量和矿化率;氮磷钾化肥（NPK）处理虽然提高了土壤无机氮含量,但对土壤有机质、全氮、土壤氮素矿化量和矿化率的影响相对较小.高温高压灭菌显著增加了土壤铵态氮含量,但对不同处理土壤硝态氮含量无明显影响;在灭菌土壤培养过程中,土壤铵态氮含量呈显著增加趋势.同一土壤类型,不论灭菌与否,培养过程中施入土壤的硝态氮含量保持相对稳定,说明在本研究培养条件下,生物因素和非生物因素对外源硝态氮在土壤中的转化无明显影响.     

Inorganic nitrogen uptake and regeneration in perennially icecovered Lakes Fryxell and Vanda, Antarctica

The isotope ¹⁵N was used to examine nitrogen dynamics in LakesFryxell and Vanda, two permanently ice-covered Antarctic lakes.Half-saturation constants for NH₄⁺. uptake in the shallow watersof both lakes were <10 µg N l^–1; uptake kineticexperiments on populations forming the deep-chlorophyll layersof these lakes showed zero-order kinetics and could not be fittedwith the Michaelis-Menten equation. Elevated uptake within thefirst few minutes following pulses of NH₄⁺. and NO₃^– occurredin both lakes. NH₄⁺ regeneration, determined from isotope dilutionexperiments, exceeded uptake at 4.6 m in Lake Fryxell, was lessthan uptake at 9 m in Lake Fryxell and was equal to uptake at10 m in Lake Vanda under the experimental conditions. NO₃^–uptake was suppressed by NH₄⁺ levels as low as 2 µg NH₄⁺-N l^–1 in Lake Fryxell; the suppression was strongestin the near-surface populations. Substrate-saturated C:N uptakeratios (g:g) in Lake Fryxell decreased from 8.4 near the surfaceto 1.8 at the bottom of the trophogenic zone. Overall, the nitrogendynamics in these lakes are similar to other lakes and the openocean in that biological productivity during the austral summeris supported by regenerated nutrients.     

Metabolism of Glycollate by Lemna minor L. Grown on Nitrate or Ammonium as Nitrogen Source

Marques, I. A., Oberholzer, M. J. and Erismann, K. H. 1985.Metabolism of glycollate by Lemna minor L. grown on nitrateor ammonium as nitrogen source.—J. exp. Bot. 36: 1685–1697. Duckweed, Lemna minor L., grown on inorganic nutrient solutionscontaining either NH₄⁺ or NO₃^– as nitrogen source wasallowed to assimilate [1-¹⁴C]- or [2-¹⁴C]glycollate during a20 min period in darkness or in light. The incorporation ofradioactivity into water-soluble metabolites, the insolublefraction, and into the CO₂ released was measured. In additionthe extractable activity of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylasewas determined. During the metabolism of [2-¹⁴C]glycollate in darkness, as wellas in the light, NH₄⁺ grown plants evolved more ¹⁴CO₂ than NO₃^–grown plants. Formate was labelled only from [2-¹⁴C]glycollateand in NH₄⁺ grown plants it was significantly less labelledin light than in darkness. In NO₃^– grown plants formateshowed similar radioactivity after dark and light labelling.The radioactivity in glycine was little influenced by the nitrogensource. Amounts of radioactivity in serine implied that thefurther metabolism of serine was reduced in darkness comparedwith its metabolism in the light under both nitrogen regimes.In illuminated NH₄⁺ plants, serine was labelled through a pathwaystarting from phosphoglycerate. After [1-¹⁴C]glycollate feedingNH₄⁺ grown plants contained markedly more radioactive aspartateand malate than NO₃^– plants indicating a stimulated phosphoenolpyruvatecarboxylation in plants grown on NH₄⁺. Key words: Photorespiration, glycollate, nitrogen, Lemna     

Nitrogen mineralization and phenol accumulation along a fire chronosequence in northern Sweden

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forests of northern Sweden are often considered to be N limited. This limitation may have been exacerbated by the elimination of wildfire as a natural disturbance factor in these boreal forests. Phenolic inhibition of N mineralization and nitrification (due to litter and exudates of ericaceous shrubs) has been proposed as a mechanism for N limitation of these forests, but this hypothesis remains largely untested. N mineralization rates, nitrification rates, and sorption of free phenolic compounds were assessed along a fire-induced chronosequence in northern Sweden. A total of 34 forest stands varying in age since the last fire were identified and characterized. Overstorey and understorey vegetative composition and depth of humus were analysed in replicated plots at all 34 sites. Eight of the forest stands aged 3-352 years since the last fire were selected for intensive investigation in which ten replicate ionic resin capsules (used to assess net N mineralization and nitrification) and non-ionic carbonaceous resin capsules (used to assess free phenolic compounds) were installed at the interface of humus and mineral soil. A highly significant correlation was observed between site age and net sorption of inorganic N to resin capsules. Net accumulation of NH₄⁺ and NO₃^- on resin capsules followed a linear decrease (R²=0.61, P<0.01) with time perhaps as a result of increased N immobilization with successional C loading. NO₃^- sorption to resin capsules followed a logarithmic decrease (R²=0.80, P<0.01) that may be related to a logarithmic increase in dwarf shrub cover and decreased soil charcoal sorption potential along this chronosequence. A replicated field study was conducted at one of the late successional field sites to assess the influence of charcoal and an added labile N source on N turnover. Three rates of charcoal (0, 100, and 1,000 g M^-2) and two rates of glycine (0 and 50 g N as glycine M^-2) were applied in a factorial design to microplots in a randomized complete block pattern. Net ammonification (as assessed by NH₄⁺ sorption to resins) was readily increased by the addition of a labile N source, but this increase in NH₄⁺ did not stimulate nitrification. Nitrification was stimulated slightly by the addition of charcoal resulting in similar levels of resin-sorbed NO₃^- as those found in early successional sites. Resin-sorbed polyphenol concentrations were decreased with charcoal amendments, but were actually increased with N amendments (likely due to decomposition of polyphenols). Net N mineralization appears to be limited by rapid NH₄⁺ immobilization whereas nitrification is limited by the lack of an appropriate environment or by the presence of inhibitory compounds in late successional forests of northern Sweden.     

Determination of Levels of NO-3, NO-2 and NH+4 Ions in Leaves of Various Plants by Capillary Electrophoresis

Levels of NO^-₃, NO^-₂ and NH⁺₄ ions in leaves of six plant specieswere determined by capillary electrophoresis. Levels of NO^-₃ions differed by a factor of more than 350 in the six species.NO^-₂ and NH⁺₄ ions were detected in all species examined butat lower and more similar respective levels than NO^-₃ ions. (Received March 8, 1996; Accepted June 24, 1996)     

Nitrate Stimulation of Mobilization of Seed Reserves in Temperate Cereals: Importance of Water Uptake

Relationships between nitrate (NO^-₃) supply, uptake and assimilation,water uptake and the rate of mobilization of seed reserves wereexamined for the five main temperate cereals prior to emergencefrom the substrate. For all species, 21 d after sowing (DAS),residual seed dry weight (d.wt) decreased while shoot plus rootd.wt increased (15–30%) with increased applied NO^-₃concentrationfrom 0 to 5–20 mM . Nitrogen (N) uptake and assimilationwere as great with addition of 5 mM ammonium (NH⁺₄) or 5 mMNO^-₃but NH⁺₄did not affect the rate of mobilization of seedreserves. Chloride (Cl^-) was similar to NO^-₃in its effect onmobilization of seed reserves of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.).Increased rate of mobilization of seed reserves with additionalNO^-₃or Cl^-was associated with increases in shoot, root and residualseed anion content, total seedling water and residual seed watercontent (% water) 21 DAS. Addition of NH⁺₄did not affect totalseedling water or residual seed water content. For barley suppliedwith different concentrations of NO^-₃or mannitol, the rate ofmobilization of seed reserves was positively correlated (r >0.95)with total seedling water and residual seed water content. Therate of mobilization of seed reserves of barley was greaterfor high N content seed than for low N content seed. Seed watercontent was greater for high N seed than for low N seed, 2 DAS.Additional NO^-₃did not affect total seedling water or residualseed water content until 10–14 DAS. The effects of seedN and NO^-₃on mobilization of seed reserves were detected 10and 14 DAS, respectively. It is proposed that the increasedrate of mobilization of seed reserves of temperate cereals withadditional NO^-₃is due to increased water uptake by the seedlingwhile the seed N effect is due to increased water uptake bythe seed directly. Avena sativa L.; oat; Hordeum vulgare L.; barley; Secale cereale L.; rye; xTriticosecale Wittm.; triticale; Triticum aestivum L.; wheat; nitrate; seed; germination; seed reserve mobilization     

Promotion of Assimilation of Ammonium Ions by Simultaneous Application of Nitrate and Ammonium Ions in Radish Plants

When radish plants were grown in nutrient solutions that containedammonium ions (NH₄⁺) as the sole source of nitrogen, they grewpoorly and accumulated high levels of NH₄⁺ in their leaves.However, radish plants cultured in 5 mM NH₄⁺ plus 1 mM NO₃^–(a ratio of 5 : 1 in forms of nitrogen; referred to as 5:lmix-N)grew well and accumulated very low levels of NH₄⁺ in their leaves.After radish plants were cultured in solutions that containedNO₃^–, or NH₄⁺, or 5: lmix-N for a week, they were thensupplied with the same nitrogen source labeled with ¹⁵N forone day. The uptake of ¹⁵N from labeled NH₄⁺ into total nitrogenwas the highest in plants supplied with 5:1mix-N. These plantsconverted far fewer labeled NH₄⁺ into free NH₄⁺ than did NH₄⁺-fedplants, but converted many more labeled NH₄⁺ into the insolublefraction than did NH₄⁺- or NO₃^–-fed plants. The presence of a small amount of nitrate was shown to stimulatethe assimilation of ammonium ions and the synthesis of proteins. (Received October 26, 1988; Accepted January 24, 1989)     

Plant Characteristics and Nutrient Composition and Mobility of Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) Supplied with NH4+, NO3"" or NH4NO3

Shelp, B. J. 1987. Plant characteristics and nutrient compositionand mobility of broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) suppliedwith NH⁺₄, NO₃ or NH₄NO₃.—J. exp. Bot. 38: 1603–1618. The effects of varying NH⁺₄, NO₃ or NH₄NO₃ concentration onthe final plant characteristics, element composition, and accumulationof NO₃-N, NH⁺₄-N and organic-N were evaluated in broccoli (Brassicaoleracea var. italicacv. Futura and Premium Crop) plants culturedin vermiculite under greenhouse conditions supplemented withlight. NH⁺₄-grown plants were stunted and exhibited signs ofmarginal necrosis on the old leaves, accompanied by an accumulationof NH4. The tissue levels of N, P, Mn, Cu, Zn and B were generallyincreased by NH⁺₄ versus NO₃ nutrition whereas the reverse wastrue for Ca; Mg and K were only slightly affected, if at all.These results are attributed to: changes in element availabilityresulting from reduced rhizosphere pH due to NH⁺₄uptake ratherthan NO ₃uptake; competition of Ca uptake by NH⁺₄; and dilutionof N by increased vegetative growth with NO₃-nutrition. Theelement concentrations of N, P or K were similar in all tissueswhereas Ca, B and Mn were markedly less in the florets and youngleaves compared to mature leaves; this supports literature indicatingthat the former elements are phloem-mobile whereas the latterare not. Assuming that the nutrient supply for mature leavesis delivered principally via the xylem stream, the data suggestthat nutrients for developing leaves and florets are suppliedpredominantly in the phloem. If so, under our experimental conditions.Zn and Cu were also readily mobile in the phloem whereas Mgmovement was restricted. NH₄⁺ versus NO₄⁺ J nutrition alteredthe distribution of these elements. The two broccoli cultivarstested under the greenhouse environment differed in NH⁺₄ toleranceand in the distribution of K and Cu suggesting there was a geneticbasis for cultivar variation in mineral acquisition and redistribution. Key words: Plant nutrition, phloem mobility, elemental composition.     

A comparison of nitrate transport in four different rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars

As rice can use both nitrate (NO₃^-) and ammonium (NH₄⁺), we have tested the hypothesis that the shift in the pattern of cultivars grown in Jiangsu Province reflects the ability of the plants to exploit NO₃^- as a nitrogen (N) source. Four rice cultivars were grown in solution culture for comparison of their growth on NO₃^- and NH₄⁺ nitrogen sources. All four types of rice, Xian You 63 (XY63), Yang Dao 6 (YD), Nong Keng 57 (NK) and Si You 917 (SY917), grew well and produced similar amounts of shoot biomass with 1 mmol/L NH₄⁺ as the only N source. However, the roots of NK were significantly smaller in comparison with the other cultivars. When supplied with 1 mmol/L NO₃^-, YD produced the greatest biomass; while NK achieved the lowest growth among the four cultivars. Electrophysiological measurements on root rhizodermal cells showed that the NO₃^--elicited changes in membrane potential (ΔE_m) of these four rice cultivars were significantly different when exposed to low external NO₃^- (<1 mmol/L); while they were very similar at high external NO₃^- (10 mmol/L). The root cell membrane potentials of YD and XY63 were more responsive to low external NO₃^- than those of NK and SY917. The ΔE_m values for YD and XY63 rhizodermal cells were almost the same at both 0.1 mmol/L and 1 mmol/L NO₃^-; while for the NK and SY917 the values became larger as the external NO₃^- increased. For YD cultivar, ΔE_m was measured over a range of NO₃^- concentrations and a Michaelis-Menten fit to the data gave a K_m value of 0.17 mmol/L. Net NO₃^- uptake depletion kinetics were also compared and for some cultivars (YD and XY63) a single-phase uptake system with first order kinetics best fitted the data; while other cultivars (ND and SY917) showed a better fit to two uptake systems. These uptake systems had two affinity ranges: one had a similar K_m in all the cultivars (0.2 mmol/L); the other much higher affinity system (0.03 mmol/L) was only present in NK and SY917. The expression pattern of twelve different NO₃^- transporter genes was tested using specific primers, but only OsNRT1.1 and OsNRT2.1 expression could be detected showing significant differences between the four rice cultivars. The results from both the physiological and molecular experiments do provide some support for the hypothesis that the more popular rice cultivars grown in Jiangsu Province may be better at using NO₃^- as an N source.     

Nitrogen utilization by plant species from acid heathland soils: II. Growth and shoot/root partitioning of NO3- assimilation at constant low pH and varying NO3-/NH4+ ratio

The growth of four heathland species, two grasses (D. flexuosa,M. caerulea) and two dwarf shrubs (C. vulgaris, E. tetralix),was tested in solution culture at pH 4.0 with 2 mol m^–3N, varying the N0₃^–/NH₄⁺ ratio up to 40% nitrate. In addition,measurements of NRA, plant chemical composition, and biomassallocation were carried out on a complete N0₃^–/NH₄⁺ replacementseries up to 100% nitrate. With the exception of M. caerulea, the partial replacement ofNH₄⁺ by NO₃^– tended to enhance the plant's growth ratewhen compared to NH₄⁺ only. In contrast to the other species,D. flexuosa showed a very flexible response in biomass allocation:a gradual increase in the root weight ratio (RWR) with NO₃^–increasing from 0 to 100%. In the presence of NH₄⁺, grassesreduced nitrate in the shoot only; roots did not become involvedin the reduction of nitrate until zero ambient NH₄⁺. The dwarfshrubs, being species that assimilate N exclusively in theirroots, displayed an enhanced root NRA in the presence of nitrate;in contrast to the steady increase with increasing NO₃^–in Calluna roots, enzyme activity in Erica roots followed arather irregular pattern. Free nitrate accumulated in the tissuesof grasses only, and particularly in D. flexuosa. The relative uptake ratio for NO₃^– [(proportion of nitratein N uptake)/(proportion of nitrate in N supply)] was lowestin M. caerulea and highest in D. flexuosa. Whereas M. caeruleaand the dwarf shrubs always absorbed ammonium highly preferentially(relative uptake ratio for NO₃^– <0.20), D. flexuosashowed a strong preference for NO₃^– at low external nitrate(the relative uptake ratio for N0₃^– reaching a value of2.0 at 10% NO₃^–). The ecological significance of thisprominent high preference for NO₃^– at low NO₃^–/NH₄⁺ratio by D. flexuosa and its consequences for soil acidificationare briefly discussed. Key words: Ammonium, heathland lants, N0₃^–/NH₄⁺ ratio, nitrate, nitrate reductase activity, soil acidification, specific absorption rate     

Nitrogen utilization by plant species from acid heathland soils: I. Comparison between nitrate and ammonium nutrition at constant low pH

Seven heathland species, four herbaceous plants and three dwarfshrubs, were tested for their capacity to utilize NH₄⁺ or NO₃^–. When cultured in solution at pH 4.0 with 2mol m^–3 N,all species showed similar growth responses with respect toN source. Nitrate was assimilated almost equally well as ammonium,with relative growth rate generally averaging 5–8% lowerfor NO₃^– grown plants, albeit not always significantly.However, N source was significantly and consistently correlatedwith biomass partitioning, as NH₄⁺-fed plants allocated moredry matter to shoots and less to roots when compared to NO₃^–-fed plants. The strong difference in biomass partitioning mayrelate to the relative surplus of carbon per unit plant N (or,alternatively, the relatively suboptimal rate of N assimilationper unit plantC) in NO₃^–-fed plants Inherently slow-growing dwarf shrubs accumulated virtually nofree nitrate in their tissues and reduction of nitrate was strictlyroot-based. Faster-growing herbaceous plants, however, partitionedthe assimilation of nitrate over both shoots and roots, therebyaccumulating relatively high tissue NO₃^– levels. Ion uptakerates depended clearly on the ‘relative shoot demand’.At similar shoot demands, especially in the herbaceous species,specific uptake rates for N and total inorganic (non-N) anionswere higher in NH₄⁺ -fed plants, whereas the uptake rate fortotal (non-N) cations was higher in NO₃^–-fed plants. Rateof P uptake was enhanced with increasing plant demand, but wasindependent of the N source. Net H⁺ extrusions ranged from 1.00to 1.34 H⁺ per NH₄⁺, and from –0.48 to –0.77 H⁺per NO₃^– taken up. Key words: Ammonium, biomass partitioning, heathland plants, low pH, nitrate, nitrate reductase activity, relative shoot demand, specific absorption rate     

Growth and Preferences for Ammonium or Nitrate Uptake by Barley in Relation to Root Termperature

Barley plants (Hordewn vulgare L. cv. Atem) were grown fromseed for 28 d in flowing solution culture, during which timeroot temperature was lowered decrementally to 5?C. Plants werethen subjected to root temperatures of 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 17or 25 ?C, with common air temperature of 25/15 ?C (day/night).Changes in growth, plant total N, and NO₃^– levels, andnet uptake of NH₄⁺ and NO₃^– from a maintained concentrationof 10 mmol m^–3 NH₄NO₃ were measured over 14 d. Dry matterproduction increased 6-fold with increasing root temperaturebetween 3–25 ?C. The growth response was biphasic followingan increase in root temperature. Phase I, lasting about 5 d,was characterized by high root specific growth rates relativeto those of the shoot, particularly on a fresh weight basis.During Phase I the shoot dry weight specific growth rates wereinversely related to root temperature between 3–13 ?C.Phase 2, from 5–14 d, was characterized by the approachtowards, and/or attainment of, balanced exponential growth betweenshoots and roots. Concentrations of total N in plant dry matterincreased with root temperature between 3–25 ?C, moreso in the shoots than roots and most acutely in the youngestfully expanded leaf (2?l–6?9% N). When N contents wereexpressed on a tissue fresh weight basis the variation withtemperature lessened and the highest concentration in the shootwas at 11 ?C. Uptake of N increased with root temperature, andat all temperatures uptake of NH₄⁺, exceeded that of NO₃^–,irrespective of time. The proportions of total N uptake over14 d absorbed in the form of NH₄⁺ were (%): 86, 91, 75, 77,76, 73, 77, and 80, respectively, at 3, 5, 7, 9, Il, 13, 17,and 25 ?C. At all temperatures the preference for NH₄⁺ overNO₃^– uptake increased with time. An inverse relationshipbetween root temperature (3–11 ?C) and the uptake of NH₄⁺as a proportion of total N uptake was apparent during PhaseI. The possible mechanisms by which root temperature limitsgrowth and influences N uptake are discussed. Key words: Hordeum vulgare, root temperature, ammonium, nitrate, ion uptake, growth rate     

A comparison of the impacts of various nitrogen sources on acid-base balance in C3 Triticum aestivum L. and C4 Zea mays L. plants

This work aimed to study the impacts of acquisition and assimilationof various nitrogen sources, i.e. NO₃^–, NH₄⁺ or NH₄NO₃,in combination with gaseous NH₃ on plant growth and acid-basebalance in higher plants. Plants of C₃ Triticum aestivum L.and C₄ Zea mays L. grown with shoots in ambient air in hydroponicculture solutions with 2 mol m^–3 of nitrogen source asNO₃^–, NH₄⁺ or NH₄NO₃ for 21 d and 18 d, respectively,had their shoots exposed either to 320 µg m^–3 NH₃or to ambient air for 7 d. Variations in plant growth (leaves,stubble and roots), and OH^– and H⁺ extrusions as wellas the relative increases in nitrogen, carbon and carboxylatewere determined. These data were computed as H⁺/N, H⁺/C, (C-A)/N,and (C-A)/C to analyse influences of different nitrogen sourceson acid-base balance in C₃ Triticum aestivum and C₄ Zea maysplants. Root growth in dry weight gain was significantly reduced bytreatment with 320 µg m^–3 NH₃ in Triticum aestivumand Zea mays growing with different N-forms, whereas leaf growthwas not significantly affected by NH₃. In comparison with C₃Triticum aestivum, non-fumigated C₄ Zea mays had low ratiosof OH^–/N in NO₃^–3-grown plants and of H⁺/N in NH₄⁺- and NH ₄NO₃-grown plants. Utilization of NH₃ from the atmospherereduced both the OH^–N ratios in NO₃^– -grown plantsand the H⁺/N ratio in NH₄⁺ - and NH₄NO₃ -grown plants of bothspecies. Furthermore, Zea mays had higher ratios of (C-A)/Nin NH₄⁺ - and NH₄NO₃-grown plants than Triticum aestivum. Thismeans that C₄ Zea mays had synthesized more organic anion perunit increase in organic N than C₃ Triticum aestivum plants.Within both species, different nitrogen sources altered theratios of (C-A)/N in the order: NH₄NO₃>NH₄⁺>NO₃^–.Fumigation with NH₃ increased organic acid synthesis in NO₃^–- and NH₄⁺ - grown plants of Triticum aestivum, whereas it decreasedorganic acid synthesis in Zea mays plants under the same conditions.Furthermore, these differences in acid-base regulation betweenC₃ Triticum aestivum and C₄ Zea mays plants growing with differentnitrogen sources are discussed. Key words: Acid-base balance, ammonia, ammonium, nitrate, ammonium nitrate, C₃ Triticum aestivum L., C₄ Zea mays L.     

Cortical Cell Fluxes of Ammonium and Nitrate in Excised Root Segments ofAllium cepa L; Studies using15N

From compartmental analysis of ¹⁵N elution measurements, concentrationsand fluxes of NH⁺₄ and NO₃^– were estimated for corticalcells in excised root segments, when bathed in a complete nutrientsolution, in which 20 mol m^–3 NH₄⁺ or NO₃^– werethe single N sources. The results were compared with those fornutrient solution containing 20 mol m^–3 NH₄NO₃. No nitratereductase activity was detected in the roots but rapid assimilationof NH₄⁺ occurred, due to glutamine synthetase activity. Theefflux curves for NH₄⁺, on a 'µg ¹⁵N remaining againsttime' basis, deviated from the criteria determining conformityto first order kinetics, since the slowest rate constant wasan order of magnitude lower than that exhibited by the curvefor efflux versus time. The data were transformed to conformto the appropriate criteria, revealing a large slowly exchangingpool equated with assimilated NH₄⁺. The presence of NO₃^–had little effect on NH₄⁺ uptake and exchange, but NH₄⁺ suppressedNOj uptake and reduced exchange across plasmalemma and tonoplast.It was established that NH₄⁺ absorption was an active process.However, NH₄⁺ entering and leaving the vacuole was overestimated,since the flux equation used did not differentiate between total¹⁵NH₄ influx at the plasmalemma and that at the tonoplast, afterassimilation. The only active NO₃^– transfer was influxat the plasmalemma. The results were compared with those ofothers using¹³N and ³⁶C1O₃ analogues to measure NH₄⁺ and NO₃^–fluxes in cereal roots. Key words: Ammonium, nitrate, compartmental analysis, ¹⁵N, active transport     

The Influence of NO-3 and NH+4 Nutrition on the Gas Exchange Characteristics of the Roots of Wheat (Triticum aestivum) and Maize (Zea mays) Plants

Respiratory oxygen consumption by roots was 1·4- and1·6-fold larger in NH⁺₄-fed than in NO^-₃-fed wheat (Triticumaestivum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) plants respectively. Higherroot oxygen consumption in NH⁺₄-fed plants than in NO^-₃-fedplants was associated with higher total nitrogen contents inNH⁺4-fed plants. Root oxygen consumption was, however, not correlatedwith growth rates or shoot:root ratios. Carbon dioxide releasewas 1·4- and 1·2-fold larger in NO⁺3-fed thanin NH⁺₄-fed wheat and maize plants respectively. Differencesin oxygen and carbon dioxide gas exchange rates resulted inthe gas exchange quotients of NH^-₄-fed plants (wheat, 0·5;maize, 0·6) being greatly reduced compared with thoseof NO^-₃-fed plants (wheat, 1·0; maize, 1·1). Measuredrates of HCO^-₃ assimilation by PEPc in roots were considerablylarger in 4 mM NH⁺₄-fed than in 4 NO^-₃ plants (wheat, 2·6-fold;maize, 8·3-fold). These differences were, however, insufficientto account for the observed differences in root carbon dioxideflux and it is probable that HCO^-₃ uptake is also importantin determining carbon dioxide fluxes. Thus reduced root extension in NH⁺₄-fed compared with NO^-₃-fedwheat plants could not be ascribed to differences in carbondioxide losses from roots.Copyright 1993, 1999 Academic Press Triticum aestivum, wheat, Zea mays, maize assimilation, ammonium assimilation, root respiration     

Influence of nitrate on uptake of ammonium by nitrogen-depleted soybean: is the effect located in roots or shoots?

In non-nodulated soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill cv. Ransom]plants that were subjected to 15 d of nitrogen deprivation inflowing hydroponic culture, concentrations of nitrogen declinedto 1.0 and 1.4mmol Ng^–1 dry weight in shoots and roots,respectively, and the concentration of soluble amino acids (determinedas primary amines) declined to 40µmol g^–1 dry weightin both shoots and roots. In one experiment, nitrogen was resuppliedfor 10 d to one set of nitrogen-depleted plants as 1.0 mol m^–3NH₄⁺ to the whole root system, to a second set as 0.5 mol m^–3NH₄⁺ plus 0.5 mol m^–3 NO₃^– to the whole root system,and to a third set as 1.0 mol m^–3 NH₄⁺ to one-half ofa split-root system and 1.0 mol m^–3 NO₃^– to theother half. In a second experiment, 1.0 mol m^–3 of nitrogenwas resupplied for 4 d to whole root systems in NH₄⁺ : NO₃^–ratios of 1:0, 9:1, and 1:1. Nutrient solutions were maintainedat pH 6.0. When NH₄⁺ was resupplied in combination with NO₃^– to thewhole root system in Experiment I, cumulative uptake of NH₄⁺for the 10 d of resupply was about twice as great as when NH₄⁺was resupplied alone. Also, about twice as much NH₄⁺ as NO₃^–was taken up when both ions were resupplied to the whole rootsystem. When NH₄⁺ and NO₃^– were resupplied to separatehalves of a split-root system, however, cumulative uptake ofNH₄⁺ was about half that of NO₃^–. The uptake of NH₄⁺,which is inhibited in nitrogen-depleted plants, thus is facilitatedby the presence of exogenous NO₃^–, and the stimulatingeffect of NO₃^– on uptake of NH₄⁺ appears to be confinedto processes within root tissues. In Experiment II, resupplyof nitrogen as both NH₄⁺ and NO₃^– in a ratio of either1:1 or 9:1 enhanced the uptake of NH₄⁺. The enhancement of NH₄⁺uptake was 1.8-fold greater when the NH₄⁺: NO₃^–-resupplyratio was 1:1 than when it was 9:1; however, only 1.3 timesas much NO₃^– was taken up by plants resupplied with the1 :1 exogenous ratio. The effect of NO₃^– on enhancementof uptake of NH₄⁺ apparently involves more than net uptake ofNO₃^– itself and perhaps entails an effect of NO₃^–uptake on maintenance of K⁺ availability within the plant. Theconcentration of K⁺ in plants declined slightly during nitrogendeprivation and continued to decline following resupply of nitrogen.The greatest decline in K⁺ concentration occurred when nitrogenwas resupplied as NH₄⁺ alone. It is proposed that decreasedavailability of K⁺ within the NH₄⁺-resup-plied plants inhibitedNH₄⁺ uptake through restricted transfer of amino acids fromthe root symplasm into the xylem. Key words: Ammonium, Glycine max, nitrate, nitrogen-nutrition, nitrogen stress, split-root cultures