Nitrate Uptake and Assimilation by Wheat Seedlings during Initial Exposure to Nitrate

Nitrate uptake, reduction, and translocation were examined in intact, 14-day-old, nitrogen-depleted wheat (Triticum vulgare var. Knox) seedlings during a 9-hour exposure to 0.2 mm Ca (NO(3))(2). The nitrate uptake rate was low during the initial 3-hour period, increased during the 3- to 6-hour period, and then declined. By the 3rd hour, 14% of the absorbed nitrate had been reduced, and this increased to 36% by the 9th hour. Shoots accumulated reduced (15)N more rapidly than roots and the ratio of reduced (15)N to (15)N-nitrate was higher in the shoots. A significant proportion of the total reduction occurred in the root system under these experimental conditions. Accumulation of (15)N in ethanol-insoluble forms was evident in both roots and shoots by the 3rd hour and, after 4.5 hours, increased more rapidly in shoots than in roots.An experiment in which a 3-hour exposure to 0.2 mm Ca ((15)NO(3))(2) was followed by a 12-hour exposure to 0.2 mm Ca ((14)NO(3))(2) revealed a half-time of depletion of root nitrate of about 2.5 hours. A large proportion of this depletion, however, was due to loss of (15)N-nitrate to the ambient (14)N-nitrate solution. The remaining pool of (15)N-nitrate was only slowly available for reduction. Total (15)N translocation to the shoot was relatively efficient during the first 3 hours after transfer to Ca ((14)NO(3))(2) but it essentially ceased after that time in spite of significant pools of (15)N-nitrate and alpha-amino-(15)N remaining in the root tissue.     

The Influence of Ambient Nitrate, Temperature, and Light on Nitrate Assimilation in Sudangrass Seedlings

Seedlings of Sundangrass (Sorghum Sudanese [Piper] Stapf.) were grown 10 to 13 days of age in a nutrient solution containing nitrate and then placed under treatment conditions for 24 h before assays of nitrate assimilation were begun. Nitrate uptake was determined by its disappearance from the ambient solution. In vivo reduction of nitrate was determined by the overall balance between the amount taken up and the change in tissue concentration of nitrate during the experiments. Nitrate reductase activity was determined from tissue slices. In vivo reduction was strongly regulated by uptake in response to time and ambient nitrate concentration, temperature and light. Nitrate reduction responded to the concentration of nitrate supplied by uptake and by a storage pool, since reduction often exceeded uptake. Nitrate reductase activity in tissue slices was exponential in initial response to increasing temperature. After a 24-h equilibration period at each temperature, the activity was lower at higher temperatures. In contrast, actual reduction of nitrate increased linearly with increasing temperature between 15 and 24°C in the plants equilibrated 24 h at each temperature. Nitrate uptake and reduction were greatly inhibited under low light conditions, with reduction inhibited more than uptake., The effect of ambient nitrate, temperature, and light on the nitrate assimilatory processes help to explain observations reported on nitrate accumulation by Sudangrass forage.     

Preferential Assimilation of Ammonium Ions from Ammonium Nitrate Solutions by Apple Seedlings

Apple seedlings, Pyrus malus L., were grown in complete nutrient solutions containing nitrate, ammonium, or ammonium plus nitrate as the nitrogen source. Uptake of nitrogen was calculated from depletion measurements of the nutrient solutions and by using ¹⁵N labelled nitrate and ammonium salts. If the plants received nitrogen as ammonium only or as nitrate only, the amounts of nitrogen taken up were similar. However, if the seedlings were supplied with ammonium nitrate, the amount of nitrate-nitrogen assimilated was only half that of ammonium. Nevertheless, if ammonium and nitrate were supplied to a plant with a split-root system, with each root half receiving a different ion, the uptakes were similar. The possibility of independent inhibition by ammonium of both nitrate uptake and reduction in the roots is discussed.     

The Response of Nitrate Reductase Activity and Nitrate Assimilation in Maize Roots to Growth Regulators at Acidic pH

Nitrate and total nitrogen contents, and nitrate reductase (NR) activity of the excised maize roots in buffered or unbuffered nitrate solution (at pH 6.5 or 4.5) as affected by putrescine (PUT), abscisic acid (ABA) and salicylic acid (SA) were investigated. In unbufferred solution, the NR activity was lower at pH 4.5 as compared to that at pH 6.5, but in bufferred solution the activity was higher at lower pH. Supply of 100 µM PUT or 500 µM SA, promoted NR activity and 50 µM ABA inhibited the activity at pH 6.5. However, at pH 4.5, PUT and SA inhibited NR activity and ABA had no effect. In most cases, the increase in NR activity was positively correlated with total organic nitrogen and a negatively with nitrate content. A reverse situation was found when NR activity was inhibited by the growth regulators.     

不同砧木黄瓜嫁接苗对温度胁迫的生理响应及其抗性评价

以4种砧木和‘春秋王2号’( Cucumis sativus ‘Chunqiuwang No.2’)黄瓜为嫁接试材,在人工气候箱内对嫁接苗和自根苗进行了连续3 d的低温(昼12 ℃/夜5 ℃)、高温(昼42 ℃/夜35 ℃)和常温(昼25 ℃/夜18 ℃)3组处理,分析温度胁迫对嫁接苗和自根苗的伤害指数、光合特性和抗氧化系统的影响,明确不同砧木嫁接苗对低温和高温抗性机制的异同,为黄瓜设施栽培生产中不同季节选择嫁接砧木提供依据。结果表明:(1)低温胁迫下,黑籽南瓜( Cucurbita ficifolia Bouché)砧嫁接苗冷害指数最低,其次为日本南瓜( Cucurbita moschata )砧嫁接苗,两者的相对叶绿素含量、净光合速率( P n)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)和可溶性蛋白含量比常温对照增加较多,且两者丙二醛(MDA)含量较低。(2)高温胁迫下,‘五叶香’丝瓜( Luffa cylindrica ‘Wuyexiang’)砧嫁接苗热害指数最低,同时叶绿素含量、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活性和可溶性蛋白含量均相对较高,MDA含量最低;‘甬砧8号’( Cucurbita maxima×Cucurbita moschata ‘Yongzhen No.8’)白籽南瓜砧和日本南瓜砧嫁接苗热害指数也较低,且SOD、CAT和APX活性较高。(3)不同嫁接组合的抗性综合评价结果显示,黑籽南瓜砧嫁接苗的耐寒性最强,丝瓜砧嫁接苗的耐热性最强,日本南瓜砧嫁接苗和‘甬砧8号’砧嫁接苗对高温和低温均具有一定的耐受性。研究发现,黑籽南瓜砧等嫁接组合可以通过维持光合性能,提高抗氧化酶活性,增加渗透调节物质含量来缓解高低温度胁迫造成的过氧化伤害,从而表现出对高低温胁迫的较强抵抗力。     

番茄幼苗盐胁迫响应蛋白质组分析

采用营养液栽培,以盐敏感型番茄品种M82为试材,利用双向电泳(2-DE)研究盐胁迫处理下幼苗叶片蛋白质的表达谱,并采用基质辅助激光解析飞行时间串联质谱(MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS)技术进行差异蛋白质的分离及质谱鉴定。结果表明:(1)盐胁迫处理下,利用2-DE获得差异显著蛋白点20个,其中17个蛋白质点丰度上调表达,3个蛋白质点丰度下调表达。(2)通过质谱分析和蛋白质NCBInr数据库检索,共鉴定出19个差异蛋白,分别为果糖-二磷酸醛缩酶、S-腺苷甲硫氨酸合成酶、甘油醛-3-磷酸脱氢酶等及3个功能未知蛋白;这些鉴定出的差异蛋白质与能量代谢、光合作用、蛋白合成、氧化还原平衡等过程相关,暗示所分离鉴定的蛋白可能参与了番茄的盐胁迫响应,为进一步研究番茄抗逆机制奠定基础。     

Ammonia Assimilation in Canavalia ensiformis Plants under Water and Salt Stress

Nitrogen fixation and ammonia assimilation in nodules have beenthoroughly studied under stress conditions, but the behaviorof enzymes involved in ammonia assimilation to organic compoundsin plants of the Leguminosae family subjected to stress stillremains to be conclusively established. We found that understress conditions, C. ensiformis plants can switch from theirusual pathway of assimilation to an alternative one dependingon the nature of the stress and the tissue in which the processtakes place. In roots, it switches from the glutamate dehydrogenase(GDH) pathway to the glutamine synthetase (GS)/glutamate synthase(GOGAT) cycle under water stress but not under salt stress.However, in leaves under salt stress, GDH activity is maintainedbut GS activity markedly decreases (Received March 24, 1987; Accepted March 4, 1988)     

Role of Grafting in Resistance to Water Stress in Tomato Plants: Ammonia Production and Assimilation

In general, drought depresses nutrient uptake by the root and transport to the shoot due to a restricted transpiration rate, which may contribute to growth limitation under water deprivation. Moreover, water stress may also restrict the ability of plants to reduce and assimilate nitrogen through the inhibition of enzymes implicated in nitrogen metabolism. The assimilation of nitrogen has marked effects on plant productivity, biomass, and crop yield, and nitrogen deficiency leads to a decrease in structural components. Plants produce significant quantities of NH₄ ⁺ through the reduction of NO₃ ^? and photorespiration, which must be rapidly assimilated into nontoxic organic nitrogen compounds. The aim of the present work was to determine the response of reciprocal grafts made between one tomato tolerant cultivar (Lycopersicon esculentum), Zarina, and a more sensitive cultivar, Josefina, to nitrogen reduction and ammonium assimilation under water stress conditions. Our results show that when cv. Zarina (tolerant cultivar) was used as rootstock grafted with cv. Josefina (ZarxJos), these plants showed an improved N uptake and NO₃ ^? assimilation, triggering a favorable physiological and growth response to water stress. On the other hand, when Zarina was used as the scion (JosxZar), these grafted plants showed an increase in the photorespiration cycle, which may generate amino acids and proteins and could explain their better growth under stress conditions. In conclusion, grafting improves N uptake or photorespiration, and increases leaf NO₃ ^? photoassimilation in water stress experiments in tomato plants.     

NO参与玉米幼苗对盐胁迫的应答

以玉米幼苗为材料,研究盐胁迫下其內源NO含量、NR和NOS活性的变化;NOS专一性抑制剂L-NAME和NR非专一性抑制剂NaN3对玉米幼苗內源NO含量的影响;利用激光共聚焦显微技术观测盐胁迫下玉米幼苗根部NO含量的变化及其分布特点。结果表明,盐胁迫下玉米幼苗根尖和叶片中NO含量有猝发现象,NOS活性也随之显著提高,NR活性则显著降低;L-NAME或NaN3均可降低盐胁迫所引起的玉米幼苗NO水平的增加,L-NAME对NO含量的影响比NaN3更显著。推测,NO参与玉米幼苗对盐胁迫的应答,NOS途径是盐胁迫下玉米幼苗內源NO合成的主要途径。     

The Effects of Irradiance on Uptake and Assimilation of Nitrate by Young Barley Seedlings

The nitrogen economy of barley plants growing in a range ofirradiances from full shade (less than 0·5 W m^–2)to 119 W ^m–2 has been examined by analysing levels oftotal, organic and nitrate nitrogen, and by determining nitratereductase activity in leaf extracts. It has been confirmed thatroot growth is reduced in low irradiances which are also associatedwith a lower level of total nitrogen in the plant, and hencewith a lower uptake of nitrate. In all parts of the plant thelevel of organic nitrogen is higher in high light intensitybut nitrate-nitrogen as a proportion of the total is greatestin low irradiances. In the first leaf accumulation of free nitrateis substantially greater in low irradiances. The data indicate a higher level of nitrate assimilation inhigh irradiances and nitrate reductase activity in leaf extractsis higher in such conditions. When the first leaf is shadednitrate reductase activity falls to undetectable levels afterabout 4 days, but in the case of the second leaf, where thisis shaded, some reductase activity is always found, althoughthis is substantially less than that in unshaded conditions. It is concluded that in vitro rates of nitrate reduction mayover-estimate nitrate assimilation determined as increase inorganic nitrogen.     

The Response of Cyclic Electron Flow around Photosystem I to Changes in Photorespiration and Nitrate Assimilation

Photosynthesis captures light energy to produce ATP and NADPH. These molecules are consumed in the conversion of CO₂ to sugar, photorespiration, and NO₃⁻ assimilation. The production and consumption of ATP and NADPH must be balanced to prevent photoinhibition or photodamage. This balancing may occur via cyclic electron flow around photosystem I (CEF), which increases ATP/NADPH production during photosynthetic electron transport; however, it is not clear under what conditions CEF changes with ATP/NADPH demand. Measurements of chlorophyll fluorescence and dark interval relaxation kinetics were used to determine the contribution of CEF in balancing ATP/NADPH in hydroponically grown Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) supplied different forms of nitrogen (nitrate versus ammonium) under changes in atmospheric CO₂ and oxygen. Measurements of CEF were made under low and high light and compared with ATP/NADPH demand estimated from CO₂ gas exchange. Under low light, contributions of CEF did not shift despite an up to 17% change in modeled ATP/NADPH demand. Under high light, CEF increased under photorespiratory conditions (high oxygen and low CO₂), consistent with a primary role in energy balancing. However, nitrogen form had little impact on rates of CEF under high or low light. We conclude that, according to modeled ATP/NADPH demand, CEF responded to energy demand under high light but not low light. These findings suggest that other mechanisms, such as the malate valve and the Mehler reaction, were able to maintain energy balance when electron flow was low but that CEF was required under higher flow.Photosynthesis must balance both the amount of energy harvested by the light reactions and how it is stored to match metabolic demands. Light energy is harvested by the photosynthetic antenna complexes and stored by the electron and proton transfer complexes as ATP and NADPH. It is used primarily to meet the energy demands for assimilating carbon (from CO₂) and nitrogen (from NO₃⁻ and NH₄⁺; Keeling et al., 1976; Edwards and Walker, 1983; Miller et al., 2007). These processes require different ratios of ATP and NADPH, requiring a finely balanced output of energy in these forms. For example, if ATP were to be consumed at a greater rate than NADPH, electron transport would rapidly become limiting by the lack of NADP⁺, decreasing rates of proton translocation and ATP regeneration. Alternatively, if NADPH were consumed faster than ATP, proton translocation through ATP synthase would be reduced due to limiting ADP and the difference in pH between lumen and stroma would increase, restricting plastoquinol oxidation at the cytochrome b₆f complex and initiating nonphotochemical quenching (Kanazawa and Kramer, 2002). The stoichiometric balancing of ATP and NADPH must occur rapidly, because pool sizes of ATP and NADPH are relatively small and fluxes through primary metabolism are large (Noctor and Foyer, 2000; Avenson et al., 2005; Cruz et al., 2005; Amthor, 2010).The balancing of ATP and NADPH supply is further complicated by the rigid nature of linear electron flow (LEF). In LEF, electrons are transferred from water to NADP⁺, oxidizing water to oxygen and reducing NADP⁺ to NADPH. This electron transfer is coupled to proton translocation and generates a proton motive force, which powers the regeneration of ATP. The stoichiometry of ATP/NADPH produced by these reactions is thought to be 1.29 based on the ratio of proton pumping and the requirement for ATP synthase in the thylakoid (Sacksteder et al., 2000; Seelert et al., 2000). However, under ambient CO₂, oxygen, and temperature, the ATP/NADPH required by CO₂ fixation, photorespiration, and NO₃⁻ assimilation is approximately 1.6 (Edwards and Walker, 1983). The ATP/NADPH demand from central metabolism changes significantly from 1.6 if the ratio of CO₂ or oxygen changes, driving different rates of photosynthesis and photorespiration (see “Theory”). Such changes in energy demand require a flexible mechanism to balance ATP/NADPH that responds to environmental conditions.The difference between ATP/NADPH supply from LEF and demand from primary metabolism could be balanced via cyclic electron flow around PSI (CEF; Avenson et al., 2005; Shikanai, 2007; Joliot and Johnson, 2011; Kramer and Evans, 2011). During CEF, electrons from either NADPH or ferredoxin are cycled around PSI into the plastoquinone pool and regenerate ATP without reducing NADP⁺ (Golbeck et al., 2006). Therefore, CEF has been suggested to be important for optimal photosynthesis and plant growth, but its physiological role in energy balancing is not clear (Munekage et al., 2002, 2004; Livingston et al., 2010). For example, there was no shift in CEF in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) measured under low light (less than 300 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) and different oxygen partial pressures, which would significantly change the ATP/NADPH demand of primary metabolism (Avenson et al., 2005). Similar results were seen under low light in leaves of barley (Hordeum vulgare) and Hedera helix (Genty et al., 1990). While CEF did not shift with energy demand in steady-state photosynthesis under low light, it did increase with photorespiration as expected at high light (Miyake et al., 2004, 2005). These observations could be explained if CEF becomes more important for energy balancing under high irradiances when other mechanisms become saturated.To determine under which conditions CEF responded to ATP/NADPH demand, we used biochemical models of leaf CO₂ fixation to model ATP and NADPH demand under a variety of conditions (see “Theory”). We then used in vivo spectroscopy to measure the relative response of CEF to modeled ATP/NADPH demand from CO₂ fixation and NO₃⁻ assimilation in hydroponically grown Arabidopsis. Our findings indicate that CEF responded to modeled ATP/NADPH demand under high light but not under low light or nitrate availability.     

Some Aspects of Nitrate Assimilation in the Seedlings of Normal and Opaque-2 Mutant of Maize

The effects of 10 mM nitrate on the growth and nitrogenous componentsof Zea mays L. var. W64A wild type (normal) were compared tothose on its opaque-2 (high lysine) mutant during the first10 d of seedling growth at a constant temperature of 26 °Cand with a 16 h photoperiod. Nitrate supply had no effect onthe growth of embryonic axes in both lines till day 6. Growthof both lines was enhanced slightly after that time, however.Increases in 80% (v/v) ethanolsoluble and protein nitrogen werealso observed only after day 4 when the supply of nitrogen fromthe storage proteins in the endosperm was limiting. Nitratehad no effect on the synthesis of chlorophyll during leaf developmentbut it did increase the total chlorophyll in mature and senescingprimary leaves. The increase in nitrogenous components or chlorophyllin opaque-2 was more pronounced than in the normal type. Itmight be related to the lower proline or higher lysine in themutant.     

The Effect of Exogenous ABA on the Resistance to the Chilling Stress in Cucumber Seedlings

In the cucumber seedlings pretreated with ABA under light and dark or additional photosynthetic inhibitor (DCMU) before chilling, the effect and the regulative role of ABA on the chilling resistance of cucumber seedlings were investigated. After the excised cotyledonary discs were floated on 10-6 mol/l ABA solution for 24 h and the seedlings were sprayed by 10-4 mol/1 ABA in light, it has been found that ABA has an effect of the protection against low temperature injury in cucumber seedlings. The results showed that the leakage of electrolytes in cucumber cotyledory discs was decreased. The content of glutathione and the accumulation of MDA content in cotyledon of cucumber seedlings were decreased, and decline of the photosynthesis of the leaves or the quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence were slowed, thus the rate of survival in cucumber seedlings was raised. The effect of these regulation was able to be limited by dark or DCMU.     

烟草幼苗响应弱光胁迫的转录组分析

为了研究烟草幼苗对弱光胁迫反应的分子机制,以'云烟87'为材料,构建全光照和弱光处理条件下大十字期烟苗cDNA文库,利用Illumina测序技术进行转录组测序,筛选差异表达基因.结果表明:借助RNA-seq技术共筛选到2 956个DEGs,其中弱光相对于全光照表达上调的DEGs有691个,表达下调的DEGs为2 265...     

苜蓿幼苗对铝胁迫的生理响应及综合评价

为探讨铝胁迫对苜蓿(Medicago sativa)幼苗生长和生理特性的影响,对铝胁迫下苜蓿地上和地下生物量、光合色素及根尖胼胝质含量进行测定,并对根尖结构进行观察,最后采用隶属函数分析法对苜蓿耐铝性进行评价。结果表明,随着铝胁迫的增加,苜蓿地上、地下部分生物量呈降低趋势,低浓度和高浓度铝胁迫使苜蓿生物量显著下降(P0.05);苜蓿的叶绿素含量呈下降趋势,胼胝质积累量增多;中、高浓度铝胁迫使根尖胼胝质含量显著上升。随铝胁迫浓度升高,根尖横切面细胞发生较大变化,尤其在高浓度时,细胞干瘪且排列紊乱。隶属函数分析结果表明,No. 12和No. 18苜蓿材料的耐铝性较好,可在南方酸性富铝化土壤中推广应用。     

翅果油树幼苗对NaCl胁迫的生理生化反应

研究了不同浓度NaCl处理对翅果油树幼苗高度、叶绿素含量、膜脂过氧化和保护酶活性的影响.结果表明,随着NaCl浓度的升高和胁迫时间的延长,幼苗高度明显受到抑制,叶绿素含量呈下降趋势.整个处理过程中,丙二醛(MDA)含量逐渐增加,但增加幅度不大,表明脂质过氧化反应水平不高.各处理浓度的叶片相对电导率、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)活性均呈上升趋势.研究表明,翅果油树幼苗在NaCl胁迫下有活性较高的膜保护酶系统,具有一定的抗盐能力.