Expression of characteristics of ammonium nutrition as affected by pH of the root medium

To study the effect of root-zone pH on characteristic responses of NH4+ -fed plants, soybeans (Glycine max?L.? Merr. cv. Ransom) were grown in flowing solution culture for 21 d on four sources of N (1.0 mol m-3 NO3-, 0.67 mol m-3 NO3- plus 0.33 mol m-3 NH4+, 0.33 mol m-3 NO3- plus 0.67 mol m-3 NH4+, and 1.0 mol m-3 NH4+) with nutrient solutions maintained at pH 6.0, 5.5, 5.0, and 4.5. Amino acid concentration increased in plants grown with NH4+ as the sole source of N at all pH levels. Total amino acid concentration in the roots of NH4+ -fed plants was 8 to 10 times higher than in NO3(-)-fed plants, with asparagine accounting for more than 70% of the total in the roots of these plants. The concentration of soluble carbohydrates in the leaves of NH4+ -fed plants was greater than that of NO3(-)-fed plants, but was lower in roots of NH4+ -fed plants, regardless of pH. Starch concentration was only slightly affected by N source or root-zone pH. At all levels of pH tested, organic acid concentration in leaves was much lower when NH4+ was the sole N source than when all or part of the N was supplied as NO3-. Plants grown with mixed NO3- plus NH4+ N sources were generally intermediate between NO3(-)- and NH4+ -fed plants. Thus, changes in tissue composition characteristic of NH4+ nutrition when root-zone pH was maintained at 4.5 and growth was reduced, still occurred when pH was maintained at 5.0 or above, where growth was not affected. The changes were slightly greater at pH 4.5 than at higher pH levels.     

Effect of nitrogen form and root-zone pH on growth and nitrogen uptake of tea (Camellia sinensis) plants

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Tea (Camellia sinensis) is considered to be acid tolerant and prefers ammonium nutrition, but the interaction between root zone acidity and N form is not properly understood. The present study was performed to characterize their interaction with respect to growth and mineral nutrition. METHODS: Tea plants were hydroponically cultured with NH4+, NO3- and NH(4+) + NO3-, at pH 4.0, 5.0 and 6.0, which were maintained by pH stat systems. KEY RESULTS: Plants supplied with NO3- showed yellowish leaves resembling nitrogen deficiency and grew much slower than those receiving NH4+ or NH(4+) + NO3- irrespective of root-zone pH. Absorption of NH4+ was 2- to 3.4-fold faster than NO3- when supplied separately, and 6- to 16-fold faster when supplied simultaneously. Nitrate-grown plants had significantly reduced glutamine synthetase activity, and lower concentrations of total N, free amino acids and glucose in the roots, but higher concentrations of cations and carboxylates (mainly oxalate) than those grown with NH4+ or NH(4+) + NO3-. Biomass production was largest at pH 5.0 regardless of N form, and was drastically reduced by a combination of high root-zone pH and NO3-. Low root-zone pH reduced root growth only in NO(3-)-fed plants. Absorption of N followed a similar pattern as root-zone pH changed, showing highest uptake rates at pH 5.0. The concentrations of total N, free amino acids, sugars and the activity of GS were generally not influenced by pH, whereas the concentrations of cations and carboxylates were generally increased with increasing root-zone pH. CONCLUSIONS: Tea plants are well-adapted to NH(4+)-rich environments by exhibiting a high capacity for NH4+ assimilation in their roots, reflected in strongly increased key enzyme activities and improved carbohydrate status. The poor plant growth with NO3- was largely associated with inefficient absorption of this N source. Decreased growth caused by inappropriate external pH corresponded well with the declining absorption of nitrogen.     

Responses of soybean to oxygen deficiency and elevated root-zone carbon dioxide concentration

Root flooding is damaging to the growth of crop plants such as soybean (Glycine max L.). Field flooding for 3 d often results in leaf chlorosis, defoliation, cessation of growth and plant death. These effects have been widely attributed solely to a lack of oxygen in the root-zone. However, an additional damaging factor may be CO(2), which attains levels of 30 % (v/v) of total dissolved gases. Accordingly, the effects of root-zone CO(2) on oxygen-deficient soybean plants were investigated in hydroponic culture. Soybean plants are shown to be very tolerant of excess water and anaerobiosis. No oxygen (100 % N(2) gas) and low oxygen (non-aerated) treatments for 14 d had no effect on soybean survival or leaf greenness, but plants became severely chlorotic and stunted when the roots were exposed to no oxygen together with CO(2) concentrations similar to those in flooded fields (equilibrium concentrations of 30 %). When root-zone CO(2) was increased to 50 %, a quarter of soybean plants died. Those plants that survived showed severe symptoms of chlorosis, necrosis and root death. In contrast, rice (Oryza sativa L.) plants were not affected by the combination of no oxygen and elevated root-zone CO(2.) A concentration of 50 % CO(2) did not affect rice plant survival or leaf colour. These results suggest that the high susceptibility of soybean to soil flooding, compared with that of rice, is an outcome of its greater sensitivity to CO(2).     

Leaf-atmosphere NH(3) exchange of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) in relation to mineral N nutrition and symbiotic N(2) fixation.

Plant-atmosphere NH(3) exchange was studied in white clover (Trifolium repens L. cv. Seminole) growing in nutrient solution containing 0 (N(2) based), 0.5 (low N) or 4.5 (high N) mM NO(3)(-). The aim was to show whether the NH(3) exchange potential is influenced by the proportion of N(2) fixation relative to NO(3)(-) supply. During the treatment, inhibition of N(2) fixation by NO(3)(-) was followed by in situ determination of total nitrogenase activity (TNA), and stomatal NH(3) compensation points (chi(NH(3))) were calculated on the basis of apoplastic NH4(+) concentration ([NH4(+)]) and pH. Whole-plant NH(3) exchange, transpiration and net CO(2) exchange were continuously recorded with a controlled cuvette system. Although shoot total N concentration increased with the level of mineral N application, tissue and apoplastic [NH4(+)] as well as chi(NH(3)) were equal in the three treatments. In NH(3)-free air, net NH(3) emission rates of <1 nmol m(-2) s(-1) were observed in both high-N and N(2)-based plants. When plants were supplied with air containing 40 nmol mol(-1) NH(3), the resulting net NH(3) uptake was higher in plants which acquired N exclusively from symbiotic N(2) fixation, compared to NO(3)(-) grown plants. The results indicate that symbiotic N(2) fixation and mineral N acquisition in white clover are balanced with respect to the NH4(+) pool leading to equal chi(NH(3)) in plants growing with or without NO(3)(-). At atmospheric NH(3) concentrations exceeding chi(NH(3)), the NH(3) uptake rate is controlled by the N demand of the plants.     

Root-zone acidity and nitrogen source affects Typha latifolia L. growth and uptake kinetics of ammonium and nitrate

The NH(4)(+) and NO(3)(-) uptake kinetics by Typha latifolia L. were studied after prolonged hydroponics growth at constant pH 3.5, 5.0, 6.5 or 7.0 and with NH(4)(+) or NO(3)(-) as the sole N-source. In addition, the effects of pH and N source on H(+) extrusion and adenine nucleotide content were examined. Typha latifolia was able to grow with both N sources at near neutral pH levels, but the plants had higher relative growth rates, higher tissue concentrations of the major nutrients, higher contents of adenine nucleotides, and higher affinity for uptake of inorganic nitrogen when grown on NH(4)(+). Growth almost completely stopped at pH 3.5, irrespective of N source, probably as a consequence of pH effects on plasma membrane integrity and H(+) influx into the root cells. Tissue concentrations of the major nutrients and adenine nucleotides were severely reduced at low pH, and the uptake capacity for inorganic nitrogen was low, and more so for NO(3)(-)-fed than for NH(4)(+)-fed plants. The maximum uptake rate, V(max), was highest for NH(4)(+) at pH 6.5 (30.9 micro mol h(-1) g(-1) root dry weight) and for NO(3)(-) at pH 5.0 (31.7 micro mol h(-1) g(-1) root dry weight), and less than 10% of these values at pH 3.5. The affinity for uptake as estimated by the half saturation constant, K((1/2)), was lowest at low pH for NH(4)(+) and at high pH for NO(3)(-). The changes in V(max) and K((1/2)) were thus consistent with the theory of increasing competition between cations and H(+) at low pH and between anions and OH(-) at high pH. C(min) was independent of pH, but slightly higher for NO(3)(-) than for NH(4)(+) (C(min)(NH(4)(+)) approximately 0.8 mmol m(-3); C(min)(NO(3)(-)) approximately 2.8 mmol m(-3)). The growth inhibition at low pH was probably due to a reduced nutrient uptake and a consequential limitation of growth by nutrient stress. Typha latifolia seems to be well adapted to growth in wetland soils where NH(4)(+) is the prevailing nitrogen compound, but very low pH levels around the roots are very stressful for the plant. The common occurrence of T. latifolia in very acidic areas is probably only possible because of the plant's ability to modify pH-conditions in the rhizosphere.     

The influence of elevated rhizosphere dissolved inorganic carbon concentrations on respiratory O2 and CO2 flux in tomato roots

Respiratory CO2 and O2 flux were measured in hydroponically grown Lycopersicon esculentum (L.) Mill. cv. F144 plants at either low (O mol mol^-1) or elevated CO2 concentrations (>2000 mol mol^-1) supplied to the roots. In NO3^- fed plants the consumption of O2 and the engagement of the alternative pathway were increased by elevated dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC = CO2 + HCO3^-) concentrations. This was ascribed to the influence of organic acids on the TCA cycle and electron transport pathways. Inhibition of O2 consumption by elevated DIC in NH4^--fed plants may be due to the reduction requirements of anaplerotic carbon entering the TCA cycle or the removal of carbon from the TCA cycle for amino acid synthesis. In both NO3^- and NH4⁺-fed plants elevated DIC inhibited CO2 release due to high rates of DIC incorporation by phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPc) activity. Transient net CO2 consumption due to the inhibition of respiration by salicylhydroxamic acid and KCN, together with high respiratory quotients after the addition of inhibitors of carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity, were also ascribed to high rates of DIC incorporation at elevated DIC concentrations. Ethoxyzolamide, an inhibitor of CA activity, inhibited both DI¹⁴C incorporation into organic products and NO3^- uptake by 81% and 40%, respectively. This, together with a 32% increase in DI¹⁴C accumulation and inhibition of NO3^- uptake upon inhibition of anion transport by diisothiocyanato-stilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid (DIDS) may indicate the exchange of HCO3^- for NO3^- across the root plasmalemma. It was concluded that dark incorporation of HCO3^- by PEPc increased at elevated rhizosphere DIC concentrations and that the products of DIC incorporation may stimulate respiratory electron transport. Additional reducing energy and carbon skeletons from the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle would therefore be available for respiration and the reduction and incorporation of NO3^- into amino acids.Key words: Tomato, PEPc, respiration, carbon dioxide nitrate.      

Growth, nitrogen uptake, and metabolism in two semiarid shrubs grown at ambient and elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations: effects of nitrogen supply and source

The effect of differences in nitrogen (N) availability and source on growth and nitrogen metabolism at different atmospheric CO(2) concentrations in Prosopis glandulosa and Prosopis flexuosa (native to semiarid regions of North and South America, respectively) was examined. Total biomass, allocation, N uptake, and metabolites (e.g., free NO(3)(-), soluble proteins, organic acids) were measured in seedlings grown in controlled environment chambers for 48 d at ambient (350 ppm) and elevated (650 ppm) CO(2) and fertilized with high (8.0 mmol/L) or low (0.8 mmol/L) N (N(level)), supplied at either 1 : 1 or 3 : 1 NO(3)(-) : NH(4)(+) ratios (N(source)). Responses to elevated CO(2) depended on both N(level) and N(source), with the largest effects evident at high N(level). A high NO(3)(-) : NH(4)(+) ratio stimulated growth responses to elevated CO(2) in both species when N was limiting and increased the responses of P. flexuosa at high N(level). Significant differences in N uptake and metabolites were found between species. Seedlings of both species are highly responsive to N availability and will benefit from increases in CO(2), provided that a high proportion of NO(3)- to NH(4)-N is present in the soil solution. This enhancement, in combination with responses that increase N acquisition and increases in water use efficiency typically found at elevated CO(2), may indicate that these semiarid species will be better able to cope with both nutrient and water deficits as CO(2) levels rise.     

Ammonium and nitrate uptake by soybean during recovery from nitrogen deprivation

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] plants that had been subjected to 15 d of nitrogen deprivation were resupplied for 10 d with 1.0 mol m-3 nitrogen provided as NO3-, NH4+, or NH4(+) + NO3- in flowing hydroponic culture. Plants in a fourth hydroponic system received 1.0 mol m-3 NO3- during both stress and resupply periods. Concentrations of soluble carbohydrates 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 ion chromatography as depletion from solution, were lower for stressed than for non-stressed plants by 43% for NO3- resupply, by 32% for NH4(+) + NO3- resupply, and 86% for NH4+ resupply. When specific uptake of nitrogen for stressed plants recovered to rates for non-stressed plants at 6 to 8 d after nitrogen resupply, carbohydrates and organic acids in their roots had declined to concentrations lower than those of non-stressed plants. Recovery of nitrogen uptake capacity of roots thus does not appear to be regulated simply by the content of soluble carbon compounds within roots. Solution concentrations of NH4+ and NO3- were monitored at 62.5 min intervals during the first 3 d of resupply. Intermittent 'hourly' intervals of net influx and net efflux occurred. Rates of uptake during influx intervals were greater for the NH4(+)-resupplied than for the NO3(-)-resupplied plants. For NH4(+)-resupplied plants, however, the hourly intervals of efflux were more numerous than for NO3(-)-resupplied plants. It thus is possible that, instead of repressing NH4+ influx, increased accumulation of amino acids and NH4+ in NH4(+)-resupplied plants inhibited net uptake by stimulation of efflux on NH4+ absorbed in excess of availability of carbon skeletons for assimilation. Entry of NH4+ into root cytoplasm appeared to be less restricted than translocation of amino acids from the cytoplasm into the xylem.     

Physiological responses of bryophytes Thuidium tamariscinum and Hylocomium splendens to increased nitrogen deposition

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Increased levels of nitrogen (N) deposition lead to enhanced N contents and reduced productivity of many bryophyte species. This study aimed at elucidating the mechanisms by which enhanced N uptake may cause growth reduction of bryophytes, focusing on the effects of N addition on carbon (C) metabolism of bryophytes. METHODS: Plantlets of Thuidium tamariscinum and Hylocomium splendens were fertilized with NH(4)NO(3) (N load equalling 30 kg ha(-1) year(-1)) for 80 d, including a pulse labelling experiment with (13)CO(2) to dissect the partitioning of carbon in response to N addition. KEY RESULTS: Growth of T. tamariscinum was not affected by N addition, while H. splendens showed a trend towards growth reduction. Total N concentration was significantly increased by N addition in H. splendens, a significant increase in amino acid-N was found in T. tamariscinum only. In both bryophyte species, a reduction in concentration of lipids, the greatest C storage pool, as well as markedly enhanced turnover rates of C storage pools in fertilized plants were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that growth reduction of H. splendens under high levels of N deposition may be caused by enhanced synthesis of N-containing organic compounds, most probably of cell wall proteins. Disturbance of cellular C metabolism, as indicated by enhanced C pool turnover, may further contribute to the decline in productivity of H. splendens.     

Quantification of N2-fixation and survival of inoculated diazotrophs associated with roots of Kallar grass

White clover plants were grown for 97 days under two temperature regimes (20/15°C and 8/5°C day/night temperatures) and were supplied with either small amounts (a total of 80 mg N pot^–1) of ammonium (NH ₄ ⁺ ) or nitrate (NO ₃ ^– ) nitrogen, or received no mineral N and relied on N₂ fixation. Greatest growth and total leaf area of clover plants occurred in N₂ fixing and NO ₃ ^– -fed plants grown at 20/15°C and poorest growth occurred in NH ₄ ⁺ -fed plants grown at 8/5°C. Nodule mass per plant was greater at 8/5°C due to increased nodule numbers rather than increased dry weight per nodule. This compensated to some extent for the reduced N₂-fixing activity per unit dry weight of nodule tissue found at the low growth temperature up to 116 d after sowing, but thereafter both activity per nodule dry weight and activity per plant were greater at the low temperature. Highest nitrate reductase activity (NRA) per g fresh weight and total activity per leaf, petiole or root occurred in NO ₃ ^– -fed plants at 8/5°C. Low growth temperature resulted in a greater partitioning of total plant NRA to the roots of NO ₃ ^– -fed plants. The results are considered in relation to the use of N fertiliser in the spring under field conditions.     

Juvenile nitrogen uptake capacities and root architecture of two open-pollinated families of Picea abies. Effects of nitrogen source and ectomycorrhizal symbiosis

This study was carried out to find early physiological differences occurring in young seedlings between two contrasting Picea abies open-pollinated families (OPF), one with high- and one with low-growth performance in the field by, determining their N uptake capacities and their root architecture. We used three potential N-sources in forest soil solution, NO3-, NH4+ and amino acids, to establish N uptake rates by the plants, whether or not associated with a fungus isolated from the field and identified as Paxillus involutus. NO3- fluxes were determined locally at the root surface using NO3(-)-selective microelectrodes whereas NH4+ and amino acid (L-glutamate and L-aspartate) uptake rates were calculated from their depletion of the incubation solution by the whole root system. Root systems were digitised in order to determine the number and the length of different root types. In non-mycorrhizal plants, the results showed that the most distinguishing parameters between OPF were NO3- uptake rates measured in the white tip of the secondary roots and the root architecture, with higher values determined in high-growth than in low-growth field performance OPF. The presence of the mycorrhizal fungus decreased NO3- uptake rates in both OPF and had an opposite effect on root architecture by increasing it in low-growth and decreasing it in high-growth field performance OPF, respectively. In non-mycorrhizal plants, NH4+ and amino-acid uptake rates were not different between OPF. Mycorrhizal symbiosis did not change NH4+ uptake rates whereas it increased that of amino acids, specifically that of L-aspartate in the low-growth field performance OPF. Taken together these results suggest that the measurement of local fluxes in roots of young plants could be a good potential tool for the early evaluating of growth capacity of Picea abies OPF.     

Transpiration, potassium uptake and flow in tobacco as affected by nitrogen forms and nutrient levels

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Ammonium can result in toxicity symptoms in many plants when it is supplied as the sole source of N. In this work, influences of different nitrogen forms at two levels (2 and 15 mm N) on growth, water relations and uptake and flow of potassium were studied in plants of Nicotiana tabacum 'K 326'. METHODS: Xylem sap from different leaves was collected from 106-d-old tobacco plants cultured in quartz sand by application of pressure to the root system. Whole-shoot transpiration for each of the treatments was measured on a daily basis by weight determination. KEY RESULTS: Total replacement of NO(3)(-)N by NH(4)(+)-N caused a substantial decrease in dry weight gain, even when plants grew under nutrient deficiency. Increasing nutrient concentration resulted in a greater net dry weight gain when nitrogen was supplied as NO(3)(-) or NH(4)NO(3), but resulted in little change when nitrogen was supplied as NH(4)(+). NH(4)(+)-N as the sole N-source also caused reduction in transpiration rate, changes in plant WUE (which depended on the nutrient levels) and a decrease in potassium uptake. However, the amount of xylem-transported potassium in the plants fed with NH(4)(+) was not reduced: it was 457 % or 596 % of the potassium currently taken up at low or high nutrient level, respectively, indicating a massive export from leaves and cycling of potassium in the phloem. CONCLUSIONS: Ammonium reduces leaf stomatal conductance of tobacco plants. The flow and partitioning of potassium in tobacco plants can be changed, depending on the nitrogen forms and nutrient levels.     

Regulation of amino acid uptake in conifers by exogenous and endogenous nitrogen

Although an accumulating amount of research clearly indicates that plants are capable of taking up exogenous amino acids, the actual importance of such organic N sources for plant N nutrition is under debate. In this study, we show that amino acid uptake by Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is significantly decreased by elevated internal NH(4)(+) levels, while it increases following exposure to exogenous amino acids. Furthermore, amino acid uptake is larger in N-deficient plants than in plants grown with a large access of N. The regulatory pattern of amino acid uptake shows important similarities to the regulation of NO(3)(-) and NH(4)(+) transport as well as to the regulation of yeast amino acid transporters. In addition, our data suggest that uptake may be regulated by factors not originating from N metabolism. The up-regulation of uptake in response to N deficiency suggests that amino acid uptake may be a significant contributor to the N economy of P. sylvestris.     

空气NH3增高情况下不同形式氮源对荫香光合作用和氮利用的影响

 生长在供给NO-3 N、NH+4 N和NH4NO3 N氮源下的荫香（Cinnamomum burmanni）幼树暴露在增高空气NH3浓度下30 d。利用气体交换测定和氮分析研究了植株的光合作用、氮利用和氮在光合过程一些组分中的分配,根据Farquhar-von Caemmerer模式得出相关光合参数。结果表明在增高空气NH3下生长于NO-3 N的植株Rubisco最大羧化速率（Vcmax）和最大光合电子传递速率（Jmax）较正常空气下的高,但生长于NH+4 N和NH4NO3 N的植株则较正常空气下的低。无论生长于何种形式氮下的植株,在空气NH3增高下以单位叶面积为基准的叶氮含量（Na）显著增高（p<0.05）。在增高空气NH3下,生长于NO-3 N下的植株,其类囊体氮量（NT）、Rubisco氮（NR）和结合于光合电子传递链的氮（NE）的含量较正常空气下的增高（p<0.05）;而生长于NH+4 N和NH4NO3 N下的植株则较正常空气下的低。表明在空气NH3增高下生长于NO－3 N的植株能有效地利用氮合成光合过程必要的组份,而生长于NH+4 N和NH4NO－3 N的植株氮在NT、NR和NE的分配受到部分限制。在空气NH3增高下生长于NO－3 N和NH4NO3 N的植株,其以单位干重为基准的有机氮量较正常空气下的高,但生长于NH+4 N的植株则较正常空气下的低,此外在空气NH3增高下生长于NO－3 N的植株的可溶性蛋白氮较正常空气下增高,而生长在NH+4 N的植株亦见降低。结果表明空气NH3增高可能有利于NO－3 N下生长的荫香植株利用空气中的氮,促进叶片光合速率提高,而空气NH3增高能抑制NH+4 N或NH4NO3 N下生长的荫香植株光合作用和氮的利用和再分配。     

红豆草与土壤氮含量对大气二氧化碳浓度升高的响应

在封闭的植物培养箱中,通过盆栽实验,研究了红豆草和土壤氮含量对CO₂浓度增加的响应.结果表明,与正常CO₂浓度(355～370 μmol·mol^-1)相比,CO₂浓度升高(700 μmol·mol^-1),植物生物量增加25.1%(P＜0.01),但植物体氮浓度降低25.3%(P＜0.001),植物全氮没有显著的变化.经3个月盆栽实验后,与原始土壤相比,两种CO₂浓度处理土壤全N、NO₃^--N和NH₄⁺-N都有所降低,而土壤微生物氮则显著增加,这可能与植物生长有关.不同CO₂浓度处理土壤NH₄⁺-N浓度基本一致,但在高CO₂浓度下,土壤NO₃^--N浓度显著降低,而微生物生物氮显著增加.对整个土壤-植物系统而言,盆栽实验后,整个系统全氮有少量增加,但变化不显著,特别是在高CO₂浓度条件下,土壤-植物系统全氮最大,这可能与培养材料红豆草为豆科植物,而且在高CO₂浓度下生物量增加,导致氮的固定量增加有关.     

Carbohydrate and free amino acid contents in tomato plants grown in media with bicarbonate and nitrate or ammonium

Tomato plants were cultivated (from 2 to 23 days after germination) in media with NO ₃ ⁻ , NH ₄ ⁺ , or a mixture of both forms in different proportions used as the N source given with or without 5 mol dm⁻³ HCO ₃ ⁻ . The accumulation of soluble sugars (reducing sugars and sucrose) and free amino acids was higher in the roots and leaves of NH ₄ ⁺ -fed plants than in NO ₃ ⁻ -fed plants. Starch accumulation in NH ₄ ⁺ -fed plants was higher in leaves (about 28%) and lower in roots (about 37%) in comparison with that of NO ₃ ⁻ -fed plants. Plants cultivated in media containing a mixture of NO ₃ ⁻ /NH ₄ ⁺ were characterized by a lower content of sugars and amino acids accumulation in comparison with that in plants fed with NO ₃ ⁻ or NH ₄ ⁺ . An elevated HCO ₃ ⁻ concentration in the rhizosphere stimulated the accumulation of soluble sugars and free amino acids in all the experimental variants. There were only small differences in the starch content.     

莴笋对不同形态氮素的反应

探讨了不同形态氮素对莴笋生长发育的影响及其营养特性。结果表明,莴笋幼苗根系对NH4^+ -N的亲和力稍大于NO3^- -N的亲和力;分别供给NO3^- -N+NO3^- -N及NH4^+ -N,莴笋的生物学产量和吸N量均依次递减（分别为100：56.9：12.4,100：48.9：8.6）,因此在水培条件下,NO3^- -N是最适合莴笋生长发育的氮源,NH4^+ -N与NO3^- -N各占50％时对莴笋的生长发育已有一定的抑制作用,仅以NH4^+ -N作氮源则莴笋很难生长;NH4^+ -N与NO3^- -N各占50％时,莴笋倾向于吸收较多的NH4^+ -N,而且在培养不同阶段NH4^+/NO3^-吸收比例均大于1,莴笋表现出喜铵性,但NH4^+ -N并非莴笋很适合的氮源;营养液中NO3^- -N不足,主要影响莴笋茎叶的生长,而NH4^+ -N所占比例达50％时,莴笋根系生长受到抑制,且有明显的受害症状;以NO3^- -N作氮源预培养两周,以含微量NO3^- -N的自来水为水源,再单独以NH4^+ -N为氮源,对莴笋生长有极大的促进作用,同时还大幅度降低了体内硝酸盐的含量。尿素作氮源莴笋未出现受害症状,但莴笋的生长发育状况明显劣于其它氮源。     

Uptake, metabolism and distribution of organic and inorganic nitrogen sources by Pinus sylvestris

Although an increasing number of studies show that many plant species have the capacity to take up amino acids from exogenous sources, the importance of such uptake for plant nitrogen nutrition is largely unknown. Moreover, little is known regarding metabolism and distribution of amino acid-N following uptake or of the regulation of these processes in response to plant nitrogen status. Here results are presented from a study following uptake, metabolism, and distribution of nitrogen from NO(3)(-) NH(4)(+), Glu, or Ala in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L). In a parallel experiment, Ala uptake, processing, and shoot allocation were also monitored following a range of pretreatments intended to alter plant C- and N-status. Uptake data, metabolite profiles, N fluxes through metabolite pools and tissues, as well as alanine aminotransferase activity are presented. The results show that uptake of the organic N sources was equal to or larger than NH(4)(+) uptake, while NO(3)(-) uptake was comparatively low. Down-regulation of Ala uptake in response to pretreatments with NH(4)NO(3) or methionine sulphoximine (MSX) indicates similarities between amino acid and inorganic N uptake regulation. N derived from amino acid uptake exhibited a rapid flux through the amino acid pool following uptake. Relative shoot allocation of amino acid-N was equal to that of NH(4)(+) but smaller than for NO(3)(-) Increased N status as well as MSX treatment significantly increased relative shoot allocation of Ala-N suggesting that NH(4)(+) may have a role in the regulation of shoot allocation of amino acid-N.     

较长时间内~(15)N标记的氨态氮和硝态氮在小嵩草草甸中的运移规律(英文)

运用15N稳定性同位素技术,对15N标记的硝酸盐和铵盐在输入小嵩草(KobresiapygaeaC.B.Clarke)草甸11~13个月后的运移规律进行了研究。在经历11~13个月后,进入无机氮库中的15N很少,一般不超过所输入氮素的1%,而较多的15N为土壤有机质、土壤微生物和植物所固持。NO3--15N和NH4 -15N在小嵩草草甸中的运移规律差异很大。在11、12和13个月后,NO3--15N的总恢复率分别为92.83%、92.64%和79.96%;而NH4 -15N的则分别为49.6%、63.33%和66.22%。两者的差异在土壤有机质、土壤微生物和植物等库之间的分配中更加明显。输入NO3--15N时在11、12个月后植物所固持的15N最多,而土壤微生物和土壤有机质所固持的15N比较接近,而在13个月后,土壤有机质和植物所固持的15N接近,而土壤微生物所固持的15N下降许多;当输入NH4 -15N,土壤有机质所固持的15N比植物和土壤微生物所固持的都多,而且植物所固持的15N比较稳定,而土壤微生物所固持的15N则有较大变化。这表明在较长的时间内嵩草草甸对NO3-和NH4 的固持能力是不一样的。     

Cloning and expression of a cDNA encoding betanidin 5-O-glucosyltransferase, a betanidin- and flavonoid-specific enzyme with high homology to inducible glucosyltransferases from the Solanaceae

Root NO3- uptake and expression of two root NO3- transporter genes (Nrt2;1 and Nrt1) were investigated in response to changes in the N- or C-status of hydroponically grown Arabidopsis thaliana plants. Expression of Nrt2;1 is up-regulated by NO3 - starvation in wild-type plants and by N-limitation in a nitrate reductase (NR) deficient mutant transferred to NO3- as sole N source. These observations show that expression of Nrt2;1 is under feedback repression by N-metabolites resulting from NO3- reduction. Expression of Nrt1 is not subject to such a repression. However, Nrt1 is over-expressed in the NR mutant even under N-sufficient conditions (growth on NH4NO3 medium), suggesting that expression of this gene is affected by the presence of active NR, but not by N-status of the plant. Root 15NO3- influx is markedly increased in the NR mutant as compared to the wild-type. Nevertheless, both genotypes have similar net 15NO3- uptake rates due to a much larger 14NO3- efflux in the mutant than in the wild-type. Expressions of Nrt2;1 and Nrt1 are diurnally regulated in photosynthetically active A. thaliana plants. Both increase during the light period and decrease in the first hours of the dark period. Sucrose supply prevents the inhibition of Nrt2;1 and Nrt1 expressions in the dark. In all conditions investigated, Nrt2;1 expression is strongly correlated with root 15NO3- influx at 0.2 mM external concentration. In contrast, changes in the Nrt1 mRNA level are not always associated with similar changes in the activities of high- or low-affinity NO3- transport systems.