Ontogenetic Changes in Root Nodule Subpopulations of Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.): II. PROTEIN CONTENT AND CARBOHYDRATE POOLS

Root nodules of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. GN 1140)show different ontogenetic patterns of nitrogen fixation indifferent parts of the root system. The objective of the presentstudy was to search for nodule physiological factors which couldexplain these differences. Plants were grown to maturity undercontrolled environment conditions. Root nodules were regularlyharvested from two zones of the root system, and assayed forsoluble cytosolic content and carbohydrate status. Nodule concentrationsof soluble carbohydrates, glucose, fructose or sucrose, didnot change significantly during the pod-filling decline in nitrogenaseactivity. Nodule concentrations of sucrose appeared more relatedto nodule ontogeny than to the ontogenetic stage of the shoot.Total soluble protein and leghaemoglobin concentrations werehighly correlated to nitrogenase activity. In the top zone ofthe root system proteolytic capacity increased during pod-filling,indicating a role in nodule senescence. Proteolytic capacityalso increased in the mid zone, but to a lesser extent, andwithout correlation to nitrogenase activity. The two nodulesubpopulations showed different nitrogenase activity in relationto their leghaemoglobin and carbohydrate status. We suggestthat physiological differences within the root nodule subpopulations,possibly in combination with the distance from the shoot, makesthe top zone more susceptible to a systemic increase in proteolyticcapacity during rapid pod-filling. Key words: Nitrogen fixation, protein, carbohydrate, ontogeny, Phaseolus vulgaris