Inhibition of Flowering in the Long-Day Plant Lemna gibba G3 by Hutner's Medium and its Reversal by Medium Modification

The long-day plant Lemna gibba G3 flowers normally in E medium(Hoagland-type medium plus 30 µM EDTA) but in 0.5 H mediumthere is no flowering. Ammonium is present in 0.5 H medium andis known to inhibit flowering in L. gibba G3, but even in NH₄⁺-free0.5 H medium there is virtually no flowering under continuouslight. Increasing the phosphate concentration of the NH₄⁺-free0.5 H medium from 1.15 ITIM to 12 or 16 mM results in substantialflowering. Decreasing the EDTA concentration from 850 µIMto 250 µM, or raising the nitrate concentration from 4mM to 12 mM, results in only a small increase in flowering.If the decrease in EDTA and increase in nitrate are combinedwith the increase in phosphate, however, the flowering responseis nearly as good as that obtained using E medium. Thus, withthese three changes the inhibitory effect of NH₄⁺free 0.5 Hmedium for flowering in L. gibba G3 is almost completely reversed In the above studies flowering was not limited by daylength.When plants were grown on E medium under an 11 hour daylengthwhere flowering is limited by daylength, decreasing the phosphateconcentration in the medium reduced flowering, but increasingthe phosphate concentration in the medium did not stimulateflowering. Thus, when flowering is limited by daylength, highphosphate will not cause flowering, but a certain level of phosphateappears to be necessary for the expression of photoinductionunder long days. (Received January 14, 1986; Accepted June 24, 1986)     

Ion Efflux during a Single Action Potential of Nitella axilliformis in Medium Lacking Ca2-

Ion efflux during excitation of Nitella axilliformis was measuredconductometrically. In medium lacking Ca²⁺ but with 0.1 mM MgCl₂,the duration of the action potential and the total efflux weremuch larger than those in APW, while the efflux rate, givenas the total efflux divided by the duration, was about halfof that in APW. (Received September 4, 1986; Accepted November 25, 1986)     

Nitrate Uptake and Reduction of Aseptically Cultivated Spruce Seedlings, Picea abies (L.) Karst

Spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) seedlings were asepticallycultivated and the effects of different N-nutrition on net uptakeand reduction of nitrate were investigated. The characteristicsof nitrate uptake were calculated, K_s as 0?2 mol m^–3 andV_max as 18 µmol g^–1 d^–1. Low pH, and Al³⁺ in the medium caused adecrease in nitrate uptake rate. An in vivo assay was set upwhich allowed the measurement of NRA in both roots and needlesof spruce seedlings. The in vivo nitrate reductase activitywas repressed by ammonium and stimulated by nitrate. Nitratereduction was similar to nitrate uptake, negatively affectedby low pH and ammonium. Therefore, a limited N-supply to spruceseemed to occur when pH was low in the rhizosphere combinedwith the presence of Al³⁺ and . Key words: Spruce, nitrate uptake, nitrate reduction     

Apical electrolyte concentration modulates barrier function and tight junction protein localization in bovine mammary epithelium

In vitro mammary epithelial cell models typically fail to form a consistently tight barrier that can effectively separate blood from milk. Our hypothesis was that mammary epithelial barrier function would be affected by changes in luminal ion concentration and inflammatory cytokines. Bovine mammary epithelial (BME-UV cell line) cells were grown to confluence on permeable supports with a standard basolateral medium and either high-electrolyte (H-elec) or low-electrolyte (L-elec) apical medium for 14 days. Apical media were changed to/from H-elec medium at predetermined times prior to assay. Transepithelial electrical resistance (R_te) was highest in monolayers continuously exposed to apical L-elec. A time-dependent decline in R_te began within 24 h of H-elec medium exposure. Change from H-elec medium to L-elec medium time-dependently increased R_te. Permeation by FITC-conjugated dextran was elevated across monolayers exposed to H-elec, suggesting compromise of a paracellular pathway. Significant alteration in occludin distribution was evident, concomitant with the changes in R_te, although total occludin was unchanged. Neither substitution of Na⁺ with N-methyl-D-glucosamine (NMDG⁺) nor pharmacological inhibition of transcellular Na⁺ transport pathways abrogated the effects of apical H-elec medium on R_te. Tumor necrosis factor alpha, but not interleukin-1 nor interleukin-6, in the apical compartment caused a significant decrease in R_te within 8 h. These results indicate that mammary epithelium is a dynamic barrier whose cell-cell contacts are acutely modulated by cytokines and luminal electrolyte environment. Results not only demonstrate that BME-UV cells are a model system representative of mammary epithelium but also provide critical information that can be applied to other mammary model systems to improve their physiological relevance. transepithelial electrical resistance; apical cation concentration; paracellular permeability; mastitis; inflammatory cytokines; occludin     

不同种群棉铃虫三龄幼虫酯酶活性频率分布与抗药性的关系

选用室内饲养的棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera偃师和湖北2个敏感品系、对辛硫磷高抗的PCP20品系、对氰戊菊酯高抗的YG45品系及1999或2000年采自山东阳谷、河北邯郸和河南安阳的田间高抗种群,江苏徐州、湖北武汉的田间中等抗性水平种群和新疆沙湾的田间敏感种群,采用酶标板酶动力学法测定了各品系（种群）的3龄幼虫个体酯酶活性频率分布和平均酯酶活性。结果表明,偃师敏感品系、湖北敏感品系和新疆沙湾田间敏感种群的酯酶活性个体频率分布相似,三个品系（种群）的平均酯酶活性相近,分别为991、1 138、1 055 mOD·min^-1·larva^-1。室内选育的PCP20抗性品系、YG45抗性品系及山东阳谷、河北邯郸 、河南安阳田间高抗种群的高酯酶活性（活性在1 800 mOD·min^-1·larva^-1以上）个体频率明显高于三个敏感品系（种群）,平均酯酶活性在1 510～2 482 mOD·min^-1·larva^-1之间。江苏徐州、湖北武汉的田间中抗水平种群高酯酶活性个体频率及平均酯酶活性都介于敏感和高抗品系（种群）之间,平均酯酶活性为1 258～1.404 mOD·min^-1·larva^-1。棉铃虫各品系（种群）平均酯酶活性与对拟除虫菊酯类杀虫剂抗性个体频率的相关性要比对有机磷类的高,相关系数分别为0.82和0.42。分析各品系（种群）高酯酶活性个体频率与棉铃虫对拟除虫菊酯类、有机磷类杀虫剂抗性个体频率的相关性,得到相似的结果。考虑到酯酶并不是棉铃虫对拟除虫菊酯抗性的主要机理,建议酯酶活性可作为棉铃虫抗药性生化检测的一个参考指标。本文还讨论了酯酶与棉铃虫对拟除虫菊酯类杀虫剂及有机磷类杀虫剂抗性的关系。     

Comparisons of the Respiratory Effluxes of Nodules and Roots in Six Temperate Legumes

The specific respiration rates of nodulated root systems, ofnodules and of roots were determined during active nitrogenfixation in soya bean, navy bean, pea, lucerne, red clover andwhite clover, by measurements on whole plants before and afterthe removal of nodule populations. Similar measurements weremade on comparable populations of the six legumes, lacking nodulesbut receiving abundant nitrate-nitrogen, to determine the specificrespiration of their roots. All plants were grown in a controlled-environmentclimate which fostered rapid growth. The specific respiration rates of nodulated root systems ofthe three grain and three forage legumes during a 7–14-dayperiod of vegetative growth varied between 10 and 17 mg CO₂g^–1 (dry weight) h^–1. This mean value consistedof two components: a specific root respiration rate of 6–9mg CO₂ g^–1 h^–1 and a specific nodule respirationrate of 22–46 mg CO₂ g^–1 h^–1. Nodule respirationaccounted for 42–70 per cent of nodulated root respiration;nodule weight accounted for 12–40 per cent of nodulatedroot weight. The specific respiration rates of roots lackingnodules and utilizing nitrate nitrogen were generally 20–30per cent greater than the equivalent rates of roots from nodulatedplants. The measured respiratory effluxes are discussed in thecontext of nitrogen nitrogen fixation, nitrate assimilation. Glycine max, Phaseolus vulgaris, Pisum sativum, Medicago sativa, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, soya bean, navy bean, pea, lucerne, red clover, white clover, nodule respiration, root respiration, fixation, nitrate assimilation     

A Nitrate-Inducible Plasma Membrane Protein of a Marine Alga, Heterosigma akashiwo

The rate of nitrate uptake by Heterosigma akashiwo cells thathad been cultured in medium with nitrate or ammonium ions asthe source of nitrogen was measured using¹⁵NO_3– The ratioof ¹⁵N/¹⁴N increased dramatically in nitrate-grown cells. Inammonium-grown cells, the ratio of ¹⁵N/¹⁴N did not increasefor 3 h but then it began to increase. Even when nitrate reductaseactivity was inhibited by tungstate, nitrate-grown cells couldtake up nitrate. Plasma membranes from nitrate-grown and ammonium-grown cellswere purified by the silica-microbead method, and polypeptidesassociated with the membranes were analyzed by SDS-PAGE andimmunostaining. A major polypeptide with a molecular mass of26 kDa appeared 3 h after the transfer of ammonium-grown cellsto nitrate-containing medium, and it disappeared 2 d after thetransfer of nitrate-grown cells to ammonium-containing medium.The 26 kDa polypeptide also appeared when cell growth shiftedfrom the logarithmic phase to the stationary phase and the ammoniumcontent of the medium decreased, even when the cells were culturedin ammonium-containing medium. (Received April 10, 1992; Accepted July 30, 1992)     

Tonoplast Action Potential of Characeae

The plasmalemma action potential was found to be indispensableto the production of the tonoplast action potential. In a solutionlacking Ca²⁺ and containing other divalent cations such as Ba²⁺,Mg²⁺ or Mn²⁺, the plasmalemma excited in Nitella but did notin Chara. In Nitella, however, both the tonoplast action potentialand EC-coupling were abolished due to depletion of Ca²⁺ fromthe external medium. Ca²⁺ ions injected into the cytoplasmiclayer caused a transient change in both plasmalemma and tonoplastpotentials. These results suggest that a transient rise in Ca²⁺concentration during excitation of the plasmalemma may triggerthe tonoplast action potential. (Received February 14, 1986; Accepted August 29, 1986)     

Nitrate Reduction and Partitioning of Nitrogen in Komatsuna (Brassica campestris L. var. rapa) Plants: Compartmental Analysis in Combination with 15N Tracer Experiments

Komatsuna (Brassica campestris L. var. rapa cv. Misugi) is aleafy vegetable that readily accumulates nitrate in its tissues.Plants grown hydroponically with 2 mM nitrate in a greenhousewere fed ¹⁵N-labeled nitrate for 2 h, followed with nonlabelednitrate for 8 h. At intervals of 2 h, the plants were sampledand analyzed for the distribution of 15N in the nitrate, aminoacids, and proteins in the tissues of roots, petioles plus midribs,and leaves. Nitrate reduction and nitrogen fluxes were examinedusing a compartmental analysis with 19 compartments and 28 transferrate constants. Nitrate existed in the three types of tissues as a large storagepool and a small metabolic pool. Nitrogen reduction was observedin these tissues, but mainly in the leaf tissue. Nitrate uptakeand reduction rates were smaller in the dark than in light,and particularly nitrate reduction in the shoot was less inthe dark. The rate of protein synthesis was much greater inthe light. The simulation, using compartment models and ¹⁵Ndistribution data, may be useful for estimating actual ratesof nitrogen transport and metabolism in the whole plant system. (Received October 15, 1986; Accepted March 26, 1987)     

Post-transcriptional Control of Nitrate Reductase Formation in Green Algae

Cycloheximide (2·0 µg ml^–1) inhibits theincorporation of [¹⁴C]phenylalanine and [¹⁴C]adenine into insolublecompounds in Ankistrodesmus braunii. 6-Methylpurine (1·0mM) inhibits only the incorporation of [14C]adenine and it isconcluded that it inhibits RNA synthesis. When ammonium-growncells of Ankistrodesmus or Chlorella are nitrogen-starved orwhen ammonium-grown cells of Dunalitlla are resuspended in nitratemedium, the appearance of nitrate reductase in these organismsis not inhibited by 6-methylpurine. The appearance of nitratereductase activity in Ankistrodesmus or Chlorella is inhibitedby 6-methylpurine when ammonium-grown organisms are preincubatedwith this substance for 1-2 h before nitrogen starvation. Itis concluded that cells growing with ammonium and lacking nitratereductase activity nevertheless contain preformed mRNA for nitratereductase synthesis.     

Flowering responses of Lemna perpusilla and L. gibba in relation to nitrate concentration in the culture medium

Flowering responses of Lemna perpusilla strain 6746, a short-dayplant, and L. gibba strain G3, a long-day plant, to nitrateconcentration in Hoagland's type medium with or without EDTA,were compared. Maximum flowering of L. perpusilla under SD occurredat higher nitrate concentrations than did colony proliferation.Even under CL, L. perpusilla grown at sub-optimal nitrate concentrationsfor colony proliferation, flowered irrespective of the presenceof EDTA which reduces flowering. Unlike L. perpusilla, L. gibba failed to flower under SD atany nitrate concentration whether or not EDTA was added. UnderCL, however, L. gibba flowered at almost any nitrate concentrationwith or without EDTA. Double optima for nitrate concentrationwas exhibited in the presence of EDTA; optimal concentrationfor colony proliferation came between the two optima for flowering. We concluded that the nitrogen level of the medium is importantin regulating flowering of duckweeds, and that the effect ofEDTA, if any, may primarily be on colony proliferation and onlysecondarily or antagonistically on flowering. ¹ Present address: Institute for Agricultural Research, TohokuUniversity, Sendai 980, Japan. (Received September 25, 1971; )     

Variations in the Natural Abundance of 15N in Nitrogenous Fractions of Komatsuna Plants Supplied with Nitrate

Komatsuna (Brassica campestris L. var. rapa) plants were grownhydroponically under various conditions with respect to thesupply of nitrate, and the variations in levels of natural ¹⁵Nabundance (¹⁵N) in nitrogenous fractions of leaf blades, petiolesplus midribs, and roots in these plants were analyzed. The fractionation of nitrogen isotopes during uptake of nitratewas null irrespective of the concentrations of nitrate in theculture medium. The roots had lower ¹⁵N values than that inthe nitrate applied to plants. The nitrate in the three tissuesexamined had higher ¹⁵N values than that in the nitrate applied:the values were highest in the leaf blades which were presumedto have highest activities in terms of reduction of nitrate.In contrast, the amino acids and residual fractions had lower¹⁵N values than those in the nitrate applied. These resultssuggest that reduction of nitrate is a critical step in thefractionation of nitrogen isotopes in plant tissues in vivo. ¹Permanent address: Fukuoka Agricultural Experiment Station,Yoshiki 587, Chikushino, 818 Japan. (Received March 10, 1989; Accepted July 10, 1989)     

Nitrogen Utilization in N-limited Barley during Vegetative and Generative Growth: I. GROWTH AND NITRATE UPTAKE KINETICS IN VEGETATIVE CULTURES GROWN AT DIFFERENT RELATIVE ADDITION RATES OF NITRATE-N

Growth and nitrate uptake kinetics in vegetatively growing barley(Hordeum vulgare L., cvs Laevigatum, Golf, and Mette) were investigatedin solution culture under long-term limitations of externalnitrogen availability. Nitrate was fed to the cultures at relativeaddition rates (RA) ranging from 0.02 to 0.2 d^–1. Therelative growth rate (RG, calculated for total plant dry weight)correlated well with RA in the range 0.02 to 0.07 d^–1.In the RA range from 0.07 to 0.2 d^–1 RG continued to increase,but an increasing fraction of nitrogen, added and absorbed,was apparently stored rather than used for structural growth.The RG of the roots was less affected by RA. V_max, for net nitrateuptake increased with RA up to 0.11 d^–1, but decreasedat higher RA. The decline in V_max coincided with a build-upof nitrate stores in both roots and shoots. V_max, expressedper unit nitrogen in the plants (the relative V_max, was higherthan required for maintenance of growth (up to 30-fold) at lowRA, whereas at higher RA the relative V_max decreased. Kineticpredictions of steady-state external nitrate concentrationsduring N-limited growth ranged from 0.2 to 5.0 mmol m^–3over the RG range 0.02 to 0.11 d_–1. It is suggested thatthe nitrate uptake system is not under specific regulation atlow RA, but co-ordinated with root protein synthesis and growthin general. At RA higher than 0.11 d_–1, however, specificregulation of nitrate uptake, possibly via root nitrate pools,become important. The three cultivars showed very similar growthand nitrate uptake characteristics. Key words: Barley, growth, nitrogen limitation, nitrate uptake, kinetics     

Nudeotide Pools and Purine Metabolism in Tissue Cultures of Wild-Type Datura innoxia and Adenine-Requiring Auxotroph

Cells of the auxotrophic mutant, Ad1, of Datura innoxia requiredadenine, adenosine, or inosine for their growth on solid agarmedium which contained Murashige-Skoog salts, 2,4-dichloro-phenoxyaceticacid, and sucrose. Thirteen purine and pyrimidine nucleotidesin extracts of wild-type and Ad1 cells were separated and quantifiedby HPLC. Levels of ADP-glucose and UMP were significantly higherin Ad1 than in wild-type cells, but those of other nucleotideswas found when Ad1 cells were transferred to fresh medium withoutadenine. The rate of the biosynthesis de novo of purines, asestimated from the rate of incorporation of ¹⁴C from [2-¹⁴C]-glycine and [¹⁴C]formate into adenine nucleotides, was reducedin Ad1 cells to 21 and 13% of the wild-type rate, respectively.The activities involved in the salvage of adenine and adenosinein Ad1 cells were similar to those in wild-type cells. Ad1 cellshad the capability to convert adenine to guanine nucleotidesand guanine to adenine nucleotides. ¹ Part 27 of the series, "Metabolic Regulation in Plant CellCulture". (Received March 7, 1988; Accepted August 3, 1988)     

NITRATE REDUCTASE IN PHOTOSYNTHETIC BACTERIUM, RHODOSPIRILLUM RUBRUM. ADAPTIVE FORMATION OF NITRATE REDUCTASE

1. A method was discovered for adapting the cells of Rhodospirillumrubrum to grow on a nitrate medium, a capacity initially lackingin the organism. The adapted cells were able to grow with nitrateas the sole source of nitrogen. The growth responses of theadapted cells towards various nitrogenous sources were investigatedunder various conditions of incubation (aero- and anaerobiosis,light and dark).
2. The adapted cells were found to have simultaneouslyacquiredthe capacity for reducing nitrite and hydroxylamineas wellas nitrate. The path of nitrogen in the adapted cellswas assumedto be as follows: NO₃^– NO₂^– NH₂OH CellularNitrogen.
3. Nitrate metabolism of the adapted cells was investigatedundervarious conditions. In the light, nitrate was reducedand furtherassimilated, leaving insignificant amounts of nitritein themedium. In this case, consumption of nitrate was markedlyinhibitedby other forms of nitrogen (e.g., nitrite, hydroxylamine,aminoacids and ammonium salts). In the dark, nitrate was reducedas the terminal hydrogen acceptor in the oxidative breakdownof organic substances (e.g., malate) in the medium (i.e., nitraterespiration). More nitrite was accumulated in this case thanin the light. Molecular oxygen inhibited the reduction of, aswell as the growth on, nitrate in any of the above cases.
4. Theeffects on the rate of nitrate reduction (and respiratoryoxygenuptake) caused by various experimental factors (pH, nitrateconcentration, electron donors, and addition of hydroxylamine)were investigated, using the resting cells of the adapted organism.

¹ This paper was submitted to the University of Tokyo to fulfillthe requirement for the author's doctorate. ² Present Address: Botanical Institute, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku,Kyoto. (Received February 14, 1963; )     

Determination of a Critical Nitrogen Dilution Curve for Winter Wheat Crops

A set of N-fertilization field experiments was used to determinethe 'critical nitrogen concentration', i.e, the minimal concentrationof total N in shoots that produced the maximum aerial dry matter,at a given time and field situation. A unique 'critical nitrogendilution curve' was obtained by plotting these concentrationsN_ct (% DM) vs. accumulated shoot biomass DM (t ha^-1). It couldbe described by the equation: N_ct = 5·35DM^-0·442 when shoot biomass was between 1·55 and 12 t ha^-1. Anexcellent fit was obtained between model and data (r² = 0·98,15 d.f.). A very close relationship was found using reducedN instead of total N, because the nitrate concentrations inshoots corresponding to critical points were small. The criticalcurve was rather close to those reported by Greenwood et al.(1990) for C₃ plants. However, this equation did not apply whenshoot biomass was less than 1·55 t ha^-1. In this case,the critical N concentration was independent of shoot biomass:the constant critical value N_ct = 4·4% is suggested forreduced-N. The model was validated in all the experimental situations,in spite of large differences in growth rate, cultivar, soiland climatic conditions; shoot biomass varying from 0·2to 14 t ha^-1. Plant N concentration was found to vary by a factor of fourat a given shoot biomass level. In the heavily fertilized treatments,shoot N concentration could be 60% higher than the criticalconcentration. Most (on average 80%) of the extra N accumulatedwas in the form of reduced N. The proportion of nitrate to totalN in shoot mainly depended on the crop stage of development.It was independent of the nitrogen nutrition level.Copyright1994, 1999 Academic Press Winter wheat, Triticum aestivum, arable crops, plant N concentration, aerial biomass, critical nitrogen, dilution curve, fertilization, reduced N, nitrate     

Mating reaction in Saccharomyces cerevisiae VI. Effect of 2-deoxyglucose on conjugation

The effect of 2-deoxyglucose (2-dG) on the mating reaction ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae was investigated and the followingresults were obtained. 1) The cell fusion process of the mating reaction was completelyinhibited by 0.05% 2-dG added to a culture medium containing2% D-glucose. This inhibition was partially reversed by raisingthe glucose concentration in the medium. 2) Sexual cell agglutination was hardly affected by 2-dG. 3) 2-dG at concentrations inhibiting cell fusion considerablysuppressed the incorporation of ¹⁴C-glucose into the cell wallpolysaccharides, glucan and mannan. 4) Glucose uptake and protein synthesis were only slightly inhibitedby 2-dG. 5) No enhancement of bulk polysaccharide synthesis was detectedduring mating. ¹Present address: Biological Institute, Faculty of Science,Nagoya University, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464, Japan. (Received April 20, 1974; )     

The Long-Term Effects of Nitrate on the Growth and Nodule Structure of the Caesalpinioid Herbaceous Legume Chamaecrista fasciculata Michaux.

Various nitrate concentrations (0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 20, 50 mol m^–3)were applied at weekly intervals for 10 weeks to the caesalpinioidlegume Chamaecrista fasciculata. Microscopic techniques andgeneral growth studies showed that nitrate affected both theplant and its rhizobial symbiosis. As the nitrate concentrationwas increased, nodule structure became increasingly disruptedeven though nitrate remained limiting to plant growth until8 mol m^–3. Poly-ß-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) was observedusing transmission electron microscopy; as nitrate increasedfrom 0 to 2 mol m^–3, the PHB stores were utilized Key words: Chamaecrista fasciculata, poly-ß-hydroxybutyrate, nitrogen fixation     

The Uptake of Gaseous Ammonia by the Leaves of Italian Ryegrass

Lockyer, D. R. and Whitehead, D. C. 1986. The uptake of gaseousammonia by the leaves of Italian ryegrass.—J. exp. Bot.37: 919–927. Plants of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) grown insoil with two rates of added ¹⁵N-labelled nitrate were exposed,in chambers, for 40 d to NH₃ in the air at concentrations of16, 118 and 520 µg m^–3. At the highest concentrationof NH₃, this source provided 47?3% of the total nitrogen inplants grown with the lower rate of nitrate addition (100mgN kg^–1 dry soil) and 35?2% with the higher rate (200mgN kg^–1 dry soil) At the intermediate concentration ofNH₃, the contributions to total plant N were 19?6% and 10?8%,respectively, at low and high nitrate while, at the lowest concentrationof NH₃, they were 5?1% and 32%. Most of the N derived from theNH₃ remained in the leaves, but some was transported to theroots. The amount of N derived from the NH³ that was presentin the leaves was not reduced by washing the leaves in waterat pH 5?0 before harvesting, indicating that the N was assimilatedby the plant and not adsorbed superficially. Rates of uptakeof NH₃ per unit leaf area ranged from 1?7 µg dm^–2h^–1 at a concentration of 16 µg m^–3 to 29?0µg dm^–2 h^–1 at a concentration of 520 µgm^–3 and with the lower rate of nitrate addition. Increasingthe supply of nitrate to the roots slightly reduced the rateof uptake of NH₃ per unit leaf area. Uptake of N from the higherrate of nitrate was reduced at the highest concentration ofNH₃ in the air. Key words: Ammonia, nitrogen, leaf sorption, Lolium multiflorum     

The Uptake of Nitrite by the Diatom Phaeodactylum: Interactions between Nitrite and Nitrate

Freshly harvested ammonium-grown cells of the diatom Phaeodactylumtricornutum cannot take up nitrite but they acquire the abilityto do so after a period (about 3 h) of nitrogen deprivationunder conditions that allow photosynthesis. Addition of cycloheximide(1.0 µg ml^–1) prevents development as does incubationin Na⁺ or K⁺-free medium. Nitrite uptake is dependent on thepresence of Na⁺ in the medium and is inhibited by ammonium andnitrite uptake but it is concluded that the inhibition of nitriteuptake by nitrate is not of the competitive type.