Influence of mitochondrial genome rearrangement on cucumber leaf carbon and nitrogen metabolism

The MSC16 cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) mitochondrial mutant was used to study the effect of mitochondrial dysfunction and disturbed subcellular redox state on leaf day/night carbon and nitrogen metabolism. We have shown that the mitochondrial dysfunction in MSC16 plants had no effect on photosynthetic CO₂ assimilation, but the concentration of soluble carbohydrates and starch was higher in leaves of MSC16 plants. Impaired mitochondrial respiratory chain activity was associated with the perturbation of mitochondrial TCA cycle manifested, e.g., by lowered decarboxylation rate. Mitochondrial dysfunction in MSC16 plants had different influence on leaf cell metabolism under dark or light conditions. In the dark, when the main mitochondrial function is the energy production, the altered activity of TCA cycle in mutated plants was connected with the accumulation of pyruvate and TCA cycle intermediates (citrate and 2-OG). In the light, when TCA activity is needed for synthesis of carbon skeletons required as the acceptors for NH₄ ⁺ assimilation, the concentration of pyruvate and TCA intermediates was tightly coupled with nitrate metabolism. Enhanced incorporation of ammonium group into amino acids structures in mutated plants has resulted in decreased concentration of organic acids and accumulation of Glu.     

Effects of elevated ozone and nitrogen addition on leaf nitrogen metabolism in poplar

臭氧和氮添加对杨树叶片氮代谢的影响臭氧(O₃)污染和氮(N)沉降/施肥都能同时影响植物的生长。然而,几乎没有研究探究O₃和N添加对植物叶片N代谢过程的复合影响。本研究在开顶式气室(OTC)中对杨树进行了为期95 d的熏蒸实验,包括两个O₃水平(NF,环境O₃水平;NF60,NF + 60 ppb O₃)和4个N处理(N0,没有N添加;N50,N0 + 50 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹;N100,N0 + 100 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹;N200,N0 + 200 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹)。测定了与叶片N代谢相关的一些指标,包括叶片N代谢酶的活性、总叶片N浓度、NO₃⁻-N浓度、NH₄⁺-N浓度、总氨基酸浓度(TAA)、总可溶性糖的浓度(TSP)。研究结果表明,相对于NF,在8月份NF60处理显著刺激了硝酸还原酶(NR)的活性,使其升高了47.2%。当平均所有的N处理和两次取样时间时,NF60处理下谷氨酰胺酶(GS)的活性比NF处理下的高57.3%。但是O₃处理并没有显著影响TSP浓度,并且在8月也没有降低TAA的浓度。相对N0,高的N添加处理(N200)显著增加了杨树叶片的饱和光合速率(A_sat) 24%,并且分 别在8和9月增加了总叶片N浓度70.3%和43.3%。但是在8月份,N200处理下光合N利用效率比N0的低26.1%。这表明N添加导致的A_sat和叶片总的N浓度的升高是不匹配的,高N处理下,叶片中一些剩余的N没有被用于优化植物碳的同化。同时,也发现高N添加显著刺激了叶片N代谢过程,叶片中的NO₃⁻-N浓度、NH₄⁺-N浓度、TAA浓度、NR和GS活性都显著升高。然而,O₃和N添加对杨树叶片所有N代谢相关的指标都没有交互影响。这些结果将有助于更好地了解在高O₃污染和N沉降/施肥下植物的N代谢过程以及生物地球化学循环过程。     

The role of mitochondria in leaf nitrogen metabolism

For optimal plant growth and development, cellular nitrogen (N) metabolism must be closely coordinated with other metabolic pathways, and mitochondria are thought to play a central role in this process. Recent studies using genetically modified plants have provided insight into the role of mitochondria in N metabolism. Mitochondrial metabolism is linked with N assimilation by amino acid, carbon (C) and redox metabolism. Mitochondria are not only an important source of C skeletons for N incorporation, they also produce other necessary metabolites and energy used in N remobilization processes. Nitric oxide of mitochondrial origin regulates respiration and influences primary N metabolism. Here, we discuss the changes in mitochondrial metabolism during ammonium or nitrate nutrition and under low N conditions. We also describe the involvement of mitochondria in the redistribution of N during senescence. The aim of this review was to demonstrate the role of mitochondria as an integration point of N cellular metabolism.     

Response of nitrogen metabolism to boron toxicity in tomato plants

Boron (B) toxicity has become important in areas close to the Mediterranean Sea where intensive agriculture has been developed. The objective of this research was to study the effects of B toxicity (0.5 m m and 2.0 m m B) on nitrogen (N) assimilation of two tomato cultivars that are often used in these areas. Leaf biomass, relative leaf growth rate (RGR_L), concentration of B, nitrate (NO₃⁻), ammonium (NH₄⁺), organic N, amino acids and soluble proteins, as well as nitrate reductase (NR), nitrite reductase (NiR), glutamine synthase (GS), glutamate synthetase (GOGAT) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) activities were analysed in leaves. Boron toxicity significantly decreased leaf biomass, RGR_L, organic N, soluble proteins, and NR and NiR activities. The lowest NO₃⁻ and NH₄⁺ concentration in leaves was recorded when plants were supplied with 2.0 m m B in the root medium. Total B, amino acids, activities of GS, GOGAT and GDH increased under B toxicity. Data from the present study prove that B toxicity causes inhibition of NO₃⁻ reduction and increases NH₄⁺ assimilation in tomato plants.     

不同甘氨酸浓度对无菌水培番茄幼苗生长和氮代谢的影响

植物不但能吸收矿质氮(NH+4-N、NO-3-N),而且也能直接吸收有机态氮,如氨基酸、小分子蛋白质等.为探讨有机态氮浓度对番茄幼苗生长和氮代谢的影响,无菌水培条件下采用2个番茄品种(申粉918、沪樱932)设置4种不同浓度(0、1.5、3.0、6 0mmol·L-1)的甘氨酸态氮(Gly-N),研究了番茄幼苗干物质重、吸氮量、氮代谢相关产物和氮代谢关键酶活性.结果表明,无菌水培条件下,随营养液中Gly浓度的增加,番茄植株干物质重、总氮量、地上部和根系游离氨基酸、可溶性蛋白、地上部可溶性糖含量增加.与无氮对照相比,各处理均显著降低了番茄地上部淀粉含量(P<0.05),而Gly浓度对根系淀粉含量无显著影响.随营养液中Gly浓度的增加,番茄地上部和根系的硝酸还原酶(NR)、谷氨酸脱氢酶(NADH-GDH)、丙转氨酶(GPT)和谷草转氨酶(GOT)活性均提高.无氮对照的NR活性与1.5 mmol·L-1 Gly处理之间差异不显著,而与3.0 mmol·L-1和6.0 mmol·L-1 Gly两处理之间差异显著(P<0.05);1.5 mmol·L-1 Gly和3.0 mmol·L-1 Gly两个处理之间的地上部NADH-GDH、GPT和GOT活性差异不显著.Gly浓度与番茄植株干物质重、总氮量呈显著正相关(R2>0.905* *),这表明两个番茄品种均能直接吸收利用甘氨酸.沪樱932吸收Gly的能力显著大于申粉918(P<0.05).因此,Gly-N可以成为番茄生长的良好氮源,其生理效应受Gly浓度的影响;不同品种番茄对Gly的吸收利用能力不同.     

氮素形态对樱桃番茄果实发育中氮代谢的影响

以樱桃番茄为材料,采用基质 营养液共培养的方法,研究了全硝态氮(NO₃^-）、铵态氮和硝态氮配施（75%NO₃^-∶25%NH₄⁺）及全铵态氮（NH₄⁺）营养对樱桃番茄果实氮代谢及硝酸还原酶（NR）和谷氨酰胺合成酶（GS）基因表达的影响.结果表明： 铵态氮和硝态氮配施处理下樱桃番茄的单果质量比全硝态氮处理略有增加,且果实中NH₄⁺、总氨基酸、氮含量和氮素累积量均显著高于全硝态氮处理;全硝态氮及铵态氮和硝态氮配施处理下果实NR活性及其基因表达没有明显差异,但都显著高于全铵态氮处理;铵态氮和硝态氮配施处理下果实GS活性都高于全硝态氮处理.不同形态氮素及配施处理下,同工酶GS1（胞质型GS）和GS2（叶绿体型GS）的表达与GS的活性不一致,说明氮素对GS活性的影响主要发生在转录后水平.     

Relationships between leaf nitrogen and limitations of photosynthesis in canopies of Solidago altissima

Vertical distribution patterns of light, leaf nitrogen, and leaf gas exchange through canopies of the clonal perennial Solidago altissima were studied in response to mowing and fertilizer application in a field experiment. Consistent with the distribution of light, average leaf nitrogen content followed a `smooth' exponential decline along the fertilized stands both in control and mown plots. The nitrogen profile along the unfertilized stands in mown plots, however, was `disrupted' by high-nitrogen leaves at the top of shorter ramets that only reached intermediate strata of the canopies. Hence, in these stands leaf nitrogen was significantly increased in short ramets compared with tall ramets for a given light environment, suggesting suboptimal stand structure but not necessarily suboptimal single-ramet architecture. However, at least under the climatic conditions observed during measurements, such disrupture had no substantial effect on stand productivity: model calculations showed that vertical distribution patterns of leaf nitrogen along ramets only marginally influenced the photosynthetic performance of ramets and stands. This is explained by the observed photosynthesis-nitrogen relationship: the rate of photosynthesis per unit amount of leaf nitrogen did not increase with leaf nitrogen content even under saturating light levels indicating that leaf photosynthesis was not nitrogen limited during the measurement periods. Nevertheless, our study indicates that consideration of how architecture(s) of adjacent individual plants interact could be essential for a better understanding of the trade-offs between individual and canopy characteristics for maximizing carbon gain. Such trade-offs may end up in a suboptimal canopy structure, which could not be predicted and understood by classical canopy optimization models.     

Moderate water stress affects tomato leaf water relations in dependence on the nitrogen supply

The responses of water relations, stomatal conductance (g_s) and growth parameters of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Royesta) plants to nitrogen fertilisation and drought were studied. The plants were subjected to a long-term, moderate and progressive water stress by adding 80 % of the water evapotranspirated by the plant the preceding day. Well-watered plants received 100 % of the water evapotranspirated. Two weeks before starting the drought period, the plants were fertilised with Hoagland’s solution with 14, 60 and 110 mM NO₃ ⁻ (N14, N60 and N110, respectively). Plants of the N110 treatment had the highest leaf area. However, g_s was higher for N60 plants and lower for N110 plants. At the end of the drought period, N60 plants showed the lowest values of water potential (Ψ_w) and osmotic potential (Ψ_s), and the highest values of pressure potential (Ψ_p). N60 plants showed the highest Ψ_s at maximum Ψ_p and the highest bulk modulus of elasticity.     

Alterations in leaf carbohydrate metabolism in response to nitrogen stress

A series of experiments was conducted to characterize alterations in carbohydrate utilization in leaves of nitrogen stressed plants. Two-week-old, nonnodulated soybean plants (Glycine max [L.] Merrill, `Ransom'), grown previously on complete nutrient solutions with 1.0 millimolar NO₃⁻, were transferred to solutions without a nitrogen source at the beginning of a dark period. Daily changes in starch and sucrose levels of leaves were monitored over the following 5 to 8 days in three experiments. Starch accumulation increased relative to controls throughout the leaf canopy during the initial two light periods after plant exposure to N-free solutions, but not after that time as photosynthesis declined. The additional increments of carbon incorporated into starch appeared to be quantitatively similar to the amounts of carbon diverted from amino acid synthesis in the same tissues. Since additional accumulated starch was not degraded in darkness, starch levels at the beginning of light periods also were elevated. In contrast to the starch effects, leaf sucrose concentration was markedly higher than controls at the beginning of the first light period after the N-limitation was imposed. In the days which followed, diurnal turnover patterns were similar to controls. In source leaves, the activity of sucrose-P synthase did not decrease until after day 3 of the N-limitation treatment, whereas the concentration of fructose-2,6-bisphosphate was decreased on day 2. Restricted growth of sink leaves was evident with N-limited plants within 2 days, having been preceeded by a sharp decline in levels of fructose-2,6 bisphosphate on the first day of treatment. The results suggest that changes in photosynthate partitioning in source leaves of N-stressed plants resulted largely from a stable but limited capacity for sucrose formation, and that decreased sucrose utilization in sink leaves contributed to the whole-plant diversion of carbohydrate from the shoot to the root.     

Effect of leaf nitrogen content of tomato plants on preference and performance of a leafmining fly

Summary In a study on intraspecific host plant acceptability, Liriomyza trifolii females that had previously been exposed to plants of high nitrogen content, showed a feeding and oviposition preference for plants of high nitrogen (Minkenberg and Fredrix 1989). Females showed a preference to feed and oviposit on the high middle leaves within plants. It was hypothesized that the preference between plants was related to a better performance of females and offspring on high nitrogen plants compared to low nitrogen plants. Different nitrogen dosages were applied to tomato plants, resulting in plants containing 3.4, 3.9, 4.6 or 4.9% leaf nitrogen. L. trifolii females responded to increased leaf nitrogen with significantly increased feeding and fecundity, longer oviposition periods, and higher feeding and oviposition rates. Their offspring on the same plants showed reduced developmental time, lower mortality and increased pupal size. Consequently, intrinsic rate of increase was positively linearly related to leaf nitrogen. Size of L. trifolii females appeared to be independent of fecundity, longevity and developmental time. Pupal length of males increased with increasing developmental time. These results indicate that L. trifolii is well adapted in its intraspecific host plant selection, because the ability to distinguish between plants with differences in leaf nitrogen content will directly lead to an increase in their fecundity, longevity and overall fitness. The implications of leaf nitrogen as a significant factor in the behavior and population dynamics of L. trifolii are discussed.     

Reproductive organs regulate leaf nitrogen metabolism mediated by cytokinin signal

The metabolism of vegetative organs in plants changes during the development of the reproductive organs. The regulation of this metabolism is important in the control of crop productivity. However, the complexity of the regulatory systems makes it difficult to elucidate their mechanisms. To examine these mechanisms, we constructed model experiments using Arabidopsis to analyze metabolic and gene expression changes during leaf-stage progression and after removal of the reproductive organs. Leaf gene expression levels and content of major amino acids, both of which decreased during leaf-stage progression, increased after removal of the reproductive organs. In particular, the levels of expression of cytokinin biosynthesis genes and cytokinin-responsive genes and the cytokinin content increased after removal of the reproductive organs. Analysis of plants with knockout of a cytokinin-biosynthetic gene (AtIPT3) and a cytokinin receptor gene (AHK3) indicated that glutamate dehydrogenase genes (GDH3) were regulated by cytokinin signaling. These data suggest that cytokinins regulate communication between reproductive and vegetative organs, and that GDH3 is one target of the cytokinin-mediated regulation of nitrogen metabolism. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

短期氮、水添加对放牧背景下荒漠草原短花针茅叶片属性的影响

叶片属性是反映植物对环境变化敏感程度的重要特征,可在一定程度上预测植物对放牧干扰后的恢复能力。短花针茅（Stipa breviflora）是内蒙古荒漠草原的主要建群种。在不同放牧强度背景下的短花针茅草原开展了围封模拟放牧持续利用的实验,同时进行添加氮素和水分的恢复措施,测定了7月和9月中旬建群种短花针茅叶片的比叶面积、叶干物质含量,以及叶片全氮、叶片全磷和叶片全碳含量,分析水分和氮素添加对建群种短花针茅叶片的影响,探讨不同放牧强度下短花针茅可持续利用的氮水调控机制。结果显示,氮素和水分添加显著地增加了短花针茅叶片氮含量,降低了叶片碳氮比;放牧强度也显著地增加了叶片氮含量,且轻度放牧下的叶片氮含量（20.36 g/kg）显著高于对照（18.80 g/kg）;生长末期短花针茅的比叶面积、叶片碳含量、叶片碳氮比和叶片碳磷比显著高于生长盛期,叶片氮含量和磷含量显著低于生长盛期;在生长盛期和生长末期,不同放牧强度背景下对短花针茅所采取的氮素和水分的供给措施也不同。研究结果表明在放牧背景下短期氮、水添加提高了短花针茅的叶片氮含量,特别是在生长季后期水分添加增加了叶片氮和磷含量,可进一步促进短花针茅的生长。我们的结果也表明了资源供给水平的改善有助于短花针茅的迅速恢复。     

Interrelated responses of tomato plants and the leaf miner Tuta absoluta to nitrogen supply

Plant–insect interactions are strongly modified by environmental factors. This study evaluates the influence of nitrogen fertilisation on the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cv. Santa clara and the leafminer (Tuta absoluta (Meyrick), Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). Greenhouse‐grown tomato plants were fed hydroponically on a complete nutrient solution containing either a high nitrogen concentration (HN) sustaining maximum growth or a low nitrogen concentration (LN) limiting plant growth. Insect‐free plants were compared with plants attacked by T. absoluta. Seven and 14 days after artificial oviposition leading to efficacious hatching and larvae development, we measured total carbon, nitrogen and soluble protein as well as defence compounds (phenolics, glycoalkaloids, polyphenol oxidase activity) in the HN versus LN plants. Only in the HN treatment did T. absoluta infestation slightly impair leaf growth and induce polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity in the foliage. Neither the concentration of phenolic compounds and proteins nor the distribution of nitrogen within the plant was affected by T. absoluta infestation. In contrast, LN nutrition impaired T. absoluta‐induced PPO activity. It decreased protein and total nitrogen concentration of plant organs and enhanced the accumulation of constitutive phenolics and tomatine. Moreover, LN nutrition impaired T. absoluta development by notably decreasing pupal weight and lengthening the development period from egg to adult. Adjusting the level of nitrogen nutrition may thus be a means of altering the life cycle of T. absoluta. This study provides a comprehensive dataset concerning interrelated responses of tomato plants and T. absoluta to nitrogen nutrition.     

The nitrogen content of the tomato leaf apoplast increases during infection by Cladosporium fulvum

To address the problem of the nutritional requirements of phyto-pathogenic fungi growing in planta, the environment for the intercellular biotrophic pathogen, Cladosporium fulvum Cooke, of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) was analysed. Using a novel technique for infiltrating the intercellular space, we measured the concentrations of 21 amino acids, nitrate and ammonia in the apoplast of the tomato leaf during infection. The concentrations of most amino acids, and total nitrogen content, increased during infection. The levels of nearly all amino acids remained relatively unchanged during an incompatible interaction. All protein amino acids were detected during infection, except cysteine and tryptophan. Most amino acids were present at a concentration between 0.1-0.7 mM. The non-protein amino acid gamma-aminobutyric acid was detected at the highest concentration (up to 2.5 mM) during the compatible interaction. Preliminary investigations on the source of the amino acids revealed that protease activity within the apoplast increased during infection and that infection induced the expression of the pathogenicity-related extracellular serine protease P69B. The nitrogen status of the infecting fungus and sources for the additional amino acids are discussed.     

短期铵态氮与硝态氮配施对刨花楠幼苗生长及叶片性状的影响

林木对不同形态氮素具有选择性吸收特征,铵态氮和硝态氮是植物吸收的主要氮素形态.为了明确刨花楠对铵态氮和硝态氮的吸收差异,采用盆栽试验方法,以铵态氮和硝态氮为氮源,以1年生刨花楠实生苗为研究对象,以当地山地红壤为基质,设置了7种不同的铵硝比配施添加试验,研究氮素形态和配比对刨花楠幼苗生长和叶片性状的影响.结果 表明:不同...     

Perturbations in nitrogen metabolism of brain and liver of rat following repeated benthiocarb administration

Effects of repeated administration of benthiocarb on the nitrogen metabolism of hepatic and neuronal systems have been studied. Repeated benthiocarb treatment was associated with significant decrease in proteins with a concomitant increase in free amino acids (FAA) and specific activity levels of proteases suggesting impaired protein synthesis or elevated proteolysis. The glycogenic aminotransferases showed a significant elevation in both the tissues indicating high feeding of ketoacids into oxidative pathway for efficient operation of TCA cycle to combat energy crisis during induced benthiocarb stress. However, the activity levels of branched-chain aminotransferases decreased suggesting their reduced contribution of intermediates to TCA cycle. A comparative evaluation of the activity levels of ammonogenic enzymes, AMP deaminase, adenosine deaminase and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) indicated that ammonia was mostly contributed by nucleotide deamination rather than by oxidative deamination. GDH exhibited reduced activity due to low availability of glutamate. In accordance with increased levels of urea, the activity levels of arginase, a terminal enzyme of urea cycle was increased suggesting increased urea cycle operation in order to combat the increased ammonia content. As the presence of urea cycle in the brain is rather doubtful, the conversion of ammonia to glutamine for the synthesis of GABA is envisaged in brain whereas in liver, excess ammonia was converted to urea through ornithine-arginine reacting system. The increased glutaminase activity observed during benthiocarb intoxication is accounted for counteracting acidosis or maintenance of metabolic homeostasis. Arginase, a terminal enzyme of ornithine cycle showed increased activity denoting the efficient potentiality of tissues to avert ammonia toxicity. The changes observed in tissues of rat administered with benthiocarb reflects a shift in nitrogen metabolism for efficient mobilization of end products of protein catabolism.     

Influence of nitrogen supply and sink strength on changes in leaf nitrogen compounds during senescence in two wheat cultivars

Changes in various nitrogen compounds during senescence of the fourth leaf were studied in two cultivars of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). One of the cultivars (Yecora) was supplied with two N levels; the other (Tauro) was grown with the high N level and pruned above the fourth leaf, whereas the control was left intact. In both cultivars grown with high N supply, net nitrogen export from the fourth leaf did not occur until 35 days after sowing (DAS). Loss of leaf soluble proteins started earlier than that of chlorophylis, and coincided initially with an increase in insoluble protein. In N deficient plants the level of total N, soluble protein, and the activity of nitrate reductase (NRA. EC 1.6.6.1) started to decrease about 5 days earlier, and along with chlorophyll, continued to decrease at a faster rate, than in high N plants. Also, with low N supply, the large subunit (LSU, 58 kDa) of ribulose-1.5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco, EC 4.1.1.39) decreased in greater proportion than other soluble proteins, while with high N supply the decrease in Rubisco LSU was similar to that of other soluble proteins. Nitrogen deficiency caused a greater decrease in soluble proteins than in insoluble proteins, and NRA relative to soluble proteins. The faster senescing Tauro cultivar had lower levels of most parameters, especially NRA, soluble protein and, after 35 DAS. Rubisco LSU as a proportion of soluble protein. The decrease in sink strength due to shoot pruning did generally not affect the level of the various nitrogenous compounds until 35 DAS; thereafter the levels of most parameters, especially soluble protein, Rubisco LSU and, at late stages of senescence, insoluble protein, were higher in pruned than in control shoots. Thus, shoot pruning slows down senescence. The 56- and 78-kDa polypeptides increased, rather than decreased, with leaf age; the level of these two polypeptides showed a negative relationship with Rubisco LSU (r = -0.933 and r = -0.758, respectively).