硫和6-苄氨基腺嘌呤对水稻幼苗硝酸还原酶活性的影响

缺硫培养6天的水稻幼苗,其叶片和根中的硝酸还原酶(NR)活性明显下降。用1pPm 的6-苄氨基腺嘌呤(6-BA)处理培养了10天的水稻幼苗根系,24小时后缺硫培养的水稻幼苗叶片和根系的 NR 活性升高,加硫培养的水稻幼苗叶片和根中的 NR 活性下降。用~(35)S示踪发现,6-BA 可降低加硫幼苗对~(35)S 的吸收和转化,但促进缺硫幼苗对~(35)S 的转化。     

2种黄芪幼苗对缺硫胁迫的生理响应机制

以药用植物膜荚黄芪（Astragalus membranaceus（Fisch.）Bge.）及其变种蒙古黄芪（Astragalus membranaceus Bge.var.mongholicus Hsiao）幼苗为材料，在水培条件下研究了两种黄芪幼苗在不同程度缺硫条件下的生物量积累、光合参数、次生代谢产物积累等的变化规律。结果显示：与供应Hoagland全营养液相比，低硫和无硫供应处理均显著抑制了两种黄芪幼苗根系和地上部的伸长生长以及生物量的累积，并且引起了植株叶片失绿变黄、根系褐变等一系列缺硫症状。此外，缺硫还导致了两种黄芪幼苗叶片叶绿素含量降低以及光合参数下降、全株各部位细胞膜脂过氧化程度增加。相对膜荚黄芪而言，不同程度缺硫对蒙古黄芪生长发育的影响较小。进一步研究发现，在低硫或无硫条件下，膜荚黄芪植株各部位总酚含量出现了明显下降，而蒙古黄芪根系和叶片总酚含量却因缺硫处理而显著升高。同时我们还发现，硫营养缺乏诱导了蒙古黄芪叶片非光化学能量耗散的升高以及植株各部位主要异黄酮物质的大量积累。我们推断，营养液中硫元素供应的减少引起了黄芪幼苗硫营养不良，影响了植株叶绿素合成，降低了植株的光合能力，并同时引起了全株的氧化胁迫，最终使得黄芪幼苗生长发育受到抑制；蒙古黄芪在缺硫胁迫下提高了光保护能力，合成了较多的异黄酮类物质，有效缓解了缺硫胁迫对其生长的影响，从而在面对缺硫胁迫时比膜荚黄芪表现出了更强的耐性。     

PP333对黑麦草生长和某些物质含量变化的影响

盆栽黑麦草施用PP333后,叶色深绿,株高降低．单株分蘖数及叶片数增多,根／冠比升高;植株地上部中的蛋白质含量增加,而根系中则有所降低;地上部光合产物向根系的运输加强。     

硫营养对重金属胁迫下玉米和小麦根系导水率的影响

以‘秦单4号’玉米和‘小偃22’小麦为供试材料,通过室内玉米水堵和小麦盆栽试验,采用静态压力室法测定了不同硫营养水平与不同重金属胁迫处理下根系导水率（Lpr）的变化。结果表明：玉米Lpr经100μmol／LHg^2＋、Zn^2＋、Cu^2＋胁迫处理后分别降低到CK的13％、79％和45％,Cu^2＋、Zn^2＋对其Lpr的抑制效应分别为同浓度Hg^2＋的62．9％及24．3％;施硫处理的玉米Lpr在无Cu^2＋胁迫条件下都极显著高于无硫处理,且低硫处理显著较高,在Cu^2＋胁迫条件下亦都极显著高于无硫处理,并且Cu^2＋胁迫对其Lpr的抑制效应随着硫浓度增大而逐渐减小;不施硫和施硫处理的小麦Lpr在500mg／kgZn^2＋胁迫下分别比相应CK降低36．89％和37．71％,在400mg／kgCu^2＋胁迫下则分别比相应CK降低了34．61％和12．29％。研究发现,重金属Cu^2＋、Zn^2＋对玉米和小麦根系导水率具有显著的抑制作用且Cu^2＋〉Zn^2＋,施硫对Cu^2＋胁迫下的玉米和小麦根系导水率都具有显著的保护作用,并随硫浓度增加而增强。     

西藏高原高寒草原生态系统植被C／N值的分布特征及其影响因素

以西藏高原高寒草原生态系统的4个自然地带（高山草原、高山灌丛草甸、山地半荒漠与荒漠以及山地灌丛草原）的19个草地型植被为研究对象,采用野外调查与室内分析相结合的方法,对高寒草原生态系统植被C／N值的分布特征及其影响因素进行了研究。结果表明：西藏高原高寒草原植被C／N值总体上呈现出东西部低而中间高的态势以及斑块状交错分布的格局。不同自然地带间和不同草地型间植被地上部分和根系的C／N值有明显差异,且地上部分的C／N值均大于根系。19个草地型植被地上部分的平均C／N值为34．17,变异系数为35．87％;根系的平均C／N值为29．58,变异系数为40．02％。4个自然地带植被地上部分的平均C／N值为31．98,变异系数为13．82％;根系的平均C／N值为31．86,变异系数为16．92％。回归分析结果显示：植被地上部分C／N值与地上部生物量以及土壤全N和全K含量呈显著正相关、与植被高度呈显著负相关;根系C／N值与海拔和20～30em土壤容重呈显著正相关、与年均降水量和年均蒸发量呈显著负相关,这些因子均为影响西藏高原高寒草原植被C／N值的关键环境因子。总体上看,地理因子、气候因子和土壤物理因子对西藏高原高寒草原生态系统植被C／N值的影响不显著,而植被因子和土壤化学因子则对其有显著影响。     

部分根系供磷对黄瓜根系和幼苗生长及根系酸性磷酸酶活性影响

通过分根处理研究了部分根系供磷对黄瓜幼苗生长、植株体内的含磷量及根系酸性磷酸酶活性的影响。结果表明 ,2 0 %根系缺磷 (1条根缺磷 ,4条根供磷 )可以促进根系及植株地上部的生长 ,其根系及地上部的生物量分别是正常生长植株的 1.39倍和 1.2 1倍。2 0 %根系缺磷 ,还可以促进其它供磷根系对磷的吸收。分根处理后 ,2 0 %根系缺磷不影响植物对磷营养的需要 ,但却表现出了R/S比增大的典型缺磷反应 ,说明植物感应缺磷根系起着比地上部更为重要的作用。分根处理后不供磷根系的酸性磷酸酶活性显著高于供磷根系的酸性磷酸酶活性 ,并且根系的酸性磷酸酶活性只与根系的含磷量显著相关 ,与地上部的磷营养状况关系不明显。这说明 ,缺磷条件下 ,黄瓜植株根系分泌酸性磷酸酶活性的增高 ,是黄瓜根系对低磷胁迫的适应性机理 ,而不是地上部改善体内磷营养的调控机理。     

外源Spd对盐碱胁迫下番茄幼苗氮代谢及主要矿质元素含量的影响

采用水培方法,研究了盐碱与Spd处理对两品种番茄(中杂9号和金棚朝冠)幼苗氮代谢及主要矿质元素含量的影响.结果表明:盐碱胁迫下,番茄幼苗干生物量显著减少,植株生长受到抑制;叶片和根系硝酸还原酶(NR)、谷氨酰胺合成酶(GS)、谷氨酸合成酶(GOGAT)活性及硝态氮(NO3--N)、全N、全K、Ca2+、Mg2+含量显著降低,铵态氮(NH4+-N)、Na+含量显著增加;两品种叶片及中杂9号根系谷氨酸脱氢酶(GDH)活性显著升高,金棚朝冠根系GDH活性变化不显著;叶片全P含量显著降低,根系全P含量显著升高(金棚朝冠)或无显著变化(中杂9号).Spd处理通过增强NR、GS、GOGAT活性提高了植株对NH4+的同化利用率,有效缓解了盐碱胁迫导致的氮代谢紊乱,进而促进不同器官对P、K、Ca、Mg、Na的吸收、释放或转运,在一定程度上维持了各元素之间的相对平衡,从而增强植株对逆境的适应能力.此外,盐碱对中杂9号的抑制作用及外源Spd对其氮代谢紊乱和营养失衡的缓解作用高于金棚朝冠.     

不同氮素水平下施硫对高产小麦碳氮运转和产量的影响

在大田栽培条件下,以2个不同穗型的高产冬小麦品种为试验材料,在施240 kg·hm-2(N240)和330 kg·hm-2(N330)纯氮水平下,分别施纯硫60 kg·hm-2(S60)和0 kg·hm-2(S0),研究了施硫对小麦不同器官碳氮运转及其对籽粒产量和蛋白质产量的影响.结果显示:(1)2个供氮水平下,施硫(S60)均比对照(S0)增加了2个小麦品种的叶片、茎、鞘、颖壳和穗轴等营养器官花前贮藏干物质、氮素的运转量和运转率以及总运转量和总运转率,提高了转运干物质、氮素对籽粒重和籽粒氮素的贡献率,极显著提高了籽粒和蛋白质产量.(2)施硫对豫农949品种籽粒和蛋白质产量提高幅度显著高于兰考矮早八;与对照(S0)相比,豫农949的N240S60和N330S60处理使籽粒产量分别增加12.74%和16.41%,蛋白质产量分别增加16.84%和16.14%.结果表明,中氮和高氮水平下施硫均可明显促进高产小麦植株的C-N运转,提高植株对氮的吸收利用和碳物质的积累,从而增加籽粒产量,但不同品种间的施硫效应存在差异.     

高油、高淀粉玉米吸硫特性及施硫对其产量、品质的影响

研究了高油、高淀粉玉米硫素的吸收分配及施硫对籽粒产量、品质的作用。结果表明：在11250kg/hm^2的产量水平下,开花前硫素吸收量占总吸收量的百分比平均为57.53%,花后对硫的吸收较强;高油1号、长单26、掖单13每公顷吸硫量分别为：32.46kg、34.94kg,34.20kg。施硫能增加穗粒数和粒重（高油玉米粒重增加不显著）,并显著提高其产量,施硫22.5kg/hm^2（S1）能使籽粒含油率和蛋白质含量分别比对照提高9.05%和6.88%,蛋白质中清蛋白、球蛋白和谷蛋白含量提高,品质改善;施硫量增至90kg/hm^2(S2)时,籽粒含油率和蛋白质含量仍有提高,但蛋白质中醇溶蛋白含量增加,蛋白质品质降低。     

外源Spd对盐碱胁迫下番茄幼苗氮代谢及主要矿质元素含量的影响

采用水培方法,研究了盐碱与Spd处理对两品种番茄（中杂9号和金棚朝冠）幼苗氮代谢及主要矿质元素含量的影响.结果表明： 盐碱胁迫下,番茄幼苗干生物量显著减少,植株生长受到抑制;叶片和根系硝酸还原酶（NR）、谷氨酰胺合成酶（GS）、谷氨酸合成酶（GOGAT）活性及硝态氮（NO₃^--N）、全N、全K、Ca²⁺、Mg²⁺含量显著降低,铵态氮（NH₄⁺-N）、Na⁺含量显著增加;两品种叶片及中杂9号根系谷氨酸脱氢酶（GDH）活性显著升高,金棚朝冠根系GDH活性变化不显著;叶片全P含量显著降低,根系全P含量显著升高（金棚朝冠）或无显著变化（中杂9号）.Spd处理通过增强NR、GS、GOGAT活性提高了植株对NH₄⁺的同化利用率,有效缓解了盐碱胁迫导致的氮代谢紊乱,进而促进不同器官对P、K、Ca、Mg、Na的吸收、释放或转运,在一定程度上维持了各元素之间的相对平衡,从而增强植株对逆境的适应能力.此外,盐碱对中杂9号的抑制作用及外源Spd对其氮代谢紊乱和营养失衡的缓解作用高于金棚朝冠.     

Influence of soil oxygen and soil water on the accumulation of nutrients in avocado seedlings (Persea Americana mill.)

Summary This experiment was conducted in a greenhouse to study the influence of 2 soil-oxygen levels and 4 irrigation levels on the plant response, root decay, concentrations of 12 nutrients, as well as on total amounts of nutrients per avocado seedling (Persea americana Mill.).Reduced soil-oxygen supply to the roots significantly reduced the amount of dry weight per seedling, increased percentage of root decay, and reduced the concentrations of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and B in the tops, while Na and Fe were increased. Concentrations of K, Mg, Na, and Cl in the roots were decreased, while N and Ca were increased with decreased soil oxygen supply to the roots. Total amounts of N, P, Ca, Mg, Na, and Cl per seedling were decreased with the low soil-oxygen supply to the roots.Only slight differences in dry weight of the tops of seedlings were found. The highest degree of root decay was caused by the irrigation treatment where a water table was present. In the tops, concentrations of N, P, K, Mg, Na, Zn, Cu, Mn, B, and Fe were significantly influenced by differential irrigation treatments; in the roots, concentrations of P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, and Cl were also significantly influenced; and total amounts of N, P, Mg, and Cl the whole seedling were likewise significantly influenced.Significant interactions were noted between the soil-oxygen and irrigation treatments on the dry weight of tops, roots, and total amounts of dry weight produced per seedling. The lowest amount of dry weight of roots and the highest degree of root decay were found in the avocado seedlings grown under low soil-oxygen supply and the irrigation treatment where a water table was present. Several significant interactions between soil oxygen and irrigation on the concentrations of N, P, K, Ca, Zn, and Mn are discussed.University of California, Citrus Research Center and Agricultural Experiment Station, Riverside, California. The research reported in this paper was supported in part by NSF Grant GB-5753x.     

Effects of varied soil nitrogen supply on Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.)

During a seven-month period the effect of different nitrogen (N) availability in soil on growth and nutrient uptake was studied in three-year-old Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) trees. The plants were grown in pots on N-poor forest soil supplied with various amounts and forms (inorganic and organic) of N. Increasing supply of inorganic N (as NH₄NO₃) increased the formation of new shoots and shoot dry weight. The root/shoot dry weight ratio of new growth was drastically decreased from 1.6 in plants without N supply to 0.5 in plants supplied with high levels of NH₄NO₃. This decrease in root/shoot dry weight ratio was associated with distinct changes in root morphology in favour of shorter and thicker roots. The addition of keratin as organic N source did neither affect growth nor root morphology of the trees. The amount of N taken up by plants was closely related to the supply of inorganic N, and trees supplied with highest levels of NH₄NO₃ also had the highest N contents in the dry matter of needles and roots. In contrast, N contents in needles of trees grown without additional N, or with keratin supply, were in the deficiency range. Supply of NH₄NO₃ decreased the contents of phosphate (P) and potassium (K) and therefore markedly increased N/P and N/K ratios in the needles. On the other hand, the contents of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and manganese (Mn) in the needles were increased in the plants supplied with inorganic N, suggesting high soil availability and promotion of uptake of these divalent cations by high nitrate uptake. The observed effects on root/shoot dry weight ratio, root morphology, and mineral nutrient composition of the needles indicated that high inorganic N supply may increase above-ground productivity but at the same time decrease the tolerance of trees against soil-borne (e.g. deficiency of other mineral nutrients) stress factors. Deceased 21 September 1996 Deceased 21 September 1996     

缺氮和复氮对菘蓝幼苗生长及氮代谢的影响

对基质育苗后水培的菘蓝进行缺氮与复氮处理,分析其生长情况及氮代谢产物含量的变化,探讨缺氮和复氮对菘蓝幼苗生长及氮代谢的影响,以提高菘蓝产量和品质以及栽培过程中的氮素利用效率。结果显示:(1)正常供氮条件下,菘蓝幼苗的叶绿素含量、谷氨酰胺合成酶(GS)活性、硝态氮含量、靛玉红含量为最高,而其株高、主根直径、根的鲜重与干重、叶的鲜重与干重、根系活力均最小。(2)缺氮处理增加了菘蓝幼苗的主根直径和根干重,提高其根系活力和硝酸还原酶(NR)活性,促进游离氨基酸在叶中的积累;但降低了GS的活性,也降低了叶中硝态氮、可溶性蛋白、靛玉红及根中游离氨基酸的含量;缺氮对叶中靛蓝的含量无明显影响。(3)复氮处理增加了菘蓝幼苗的株高、主根长、根鲜重、叶鲜重、叶干重,提高了其根系活力,降低了NR和GS的活性;与对照相比,复氮降低了叶中硝态氮含量,提高了叶中可溶性蛋白、靛蓝及根中游离氨基酸的含量,但对叶中游离氨基酸和靛玉红含量影响较小。研究表明,缺氮后再复氮有利于菘蓝幼苗叶的生长,同时有利于增加其叶内靛蓝含量,从而提高其产量和品质。     

Characterisation of magnesium nutrition and interaction of magnesium and potassium in rice

Magnesium (Mg) is known as one of the essential nutrients for higher plants; yet, the preliminary physiological responses of field crops to its deficiency or excess, particularly to its interaction with potassium (K), remain largely unknown. In this study, we observed that Mg deficiency in rice (Oryza sativa) [less than 1.1 mg g^?1 dry weight (DW) in the shoot] resulted in significant reduction in shoot biomass, decrease in total chlorophyll concentration and net photosynthetic rate and reduction in activities of both nitrate reductase [NR; enzyme classification (EC) 1.6.6.1] and glutamine synthetase (EC 6.3.1.2) in the leaves. However, the Mg‐deficient plant contained higher starch in the leaves, and partitioned larger biomass into roots. Excess of Mg (more than 3.0 mg g^?1 DW in the shoot), together with low K supply, suppressed NR activity and decreased concentration of soluble sugar in the leaves. There were great antagonistic and moderately synergistic effects between K and Mg, but the effects of K were much more significant than those of Mg on their uptake and translocation, NR activity and net photosynthetic rate in the leaves. The optimum weight ratio of K to Mg ranged between 22 and 25 in the leaves at tillering stage. Mg deficiency was not compensated for by moderate supply of K but was aggravated by excess supply of K, suggesting specific roles of Mg in both dry matter production and partition of carbon assimilates in rice.     

Effect of seedling treatment on growth and yield of sugar beet in the field

Sugar-beet seeds were germinated (1) in a growth cabinet at 20°C lit continuously by fluorescent tubes (L), (2) in a cabinet at 20°C lit by fluorescent tubes for 16 h/day (S), (3) in a cage with glass roof and open sides with natural illumination (N), or (4) in the open ground (D). The seedlings from the cabinets and cage were transplanted to the field when they had two true leaves. Samples were taken on six occasions during growth, and leaf areas and dry weights determined. There were no differences between treatments in total number of leaves produced or leaf area duration. Leaf area per plant increased fastest on L plants at first, but from mid-June until end of July drilled plants had the largest leaf surface. From August onwards S plants had the largest area. Although treatment had little effect on growth of the tops, roots grew fastest throughout the season on the plants raised in growth cabinets and the final mean root dry weight of L and S plants was 39% greater than of N and D plants. Throughout the season L and S plants had a larger root:top ratio than plants raised in the cage or drilled directly in the field. The larger roots of plants raised in the cabinets evidently provided a larger sink for carbohydrate and increased the mean photosynthetic efficiency of the leaves over the whole season by 11 % and increased yield of roots by 6 tons/acre.     

Rapid modulation of nitrate reductase in leaves and roots: Indirect evidence for the involvement of protein phosphorylation/dephosphorylation

Nitrate reductase activity (NRA; NADH-nitrate reductase, E. C. 1.6.6.1) has been measured in extracts from leaves of spinach ( Spinacia oleracea L.) in response to rapid changes in illumination, or supply of CO₂ or oxygen. Measured in buffers containing magnesium, NRA from leaves decreased in the dark and increased again upon illumination. It decreased also, when CO₂ was removed in continuous light, and was reactivated when CO₂ was added. Nitrate reductase (NR) from roots of pea ( Pisum sativum L.) was also rapidly modulated in vivo. It increased under anaerobiosis and decreased in air or pure oxygen. The half time for inactivation or reactivation in roots and leaves was 5 to 30 min.
When spinach leaves were harvested during a normal day/night cycle, extractable NRA was low during the night, and high during daytime. However, at any point of the diurnal cycle, NR could be brought to a similar maximum activity by preincubation of the desalted leaf extract with AMP and/or EDTA. Thus, the observed diurnal changes appeared to be mainly a consequence of enzyme modulation, not of protein turnover. In vivo, the reactivation of the inactivated enzyme from both leaves and roots was prevented by okadaic acid, and inhibitor of certain protein phosphatases. Artificial lowering of the ATP-levels in leaf or root tissues by anaerobiosis (dark), mannose or the uncoupler carbonyl cyanide m -chlorophenyl hydrazon (CCCP), always brought about full activation of NR.
By preincubating crude leaf or root extracts with MgATP, NR was inactivated in vitro. Partial purification from spinach leaves of two enzymes with molecular masses in the 67 kD and 100 kD range, respectively, is reported. Both participate in the ATP-dependent inactivation of NR.
Alltogether these data indicate that NR can be rapidly modulated by reversible protein phosphorylation/dephosphorylation, both in shoots and in roots.     

氮、磷、钾营养对膜荚黄芪幼苗根系活力和游离氨基酸含量的影响

运用水培试验法研究不同营养水平对黄芪幼苗根系活力和游离氨基酸组成及含量的影响。结果表明:缺素显著降低黄芪根系活力,不同营养处理游离氨基酸含量差异显著,游离氨基酸总量的变化规律为叶片>根,各处理游离氨基酸总量为-K>-P>NPK>-N。全素处理与缺素处理相比,能提高根系活力、协调根冠比。黄芪幼苗通过提高体内游离氨基酸含量以增强对营养胁迫逆境的适应能力。     

外源NO对缺镁胁迫下玉米幼苗生长和离子平衡的影响

研究了在缺镁胁迫下,外源NO对缺镁玉米幼苗生长、根系活力和离子含量的影响。结果表明,缺镁胁迫使玉米幼苗株高、根长和干鲜重下降,根系活力降低,N元素在地上部和根部分配失调,新叶和老叶中Mg2＋、Cu2＋、Fe3＋、Mn2＋等离子含量下降,Ca2＋、K＋、Zn2＋等离子含量上升。根中Mg2＋离子含量下降,Ca2＋、K＋、Zn2＋、Cu2＋、Fe3＋、Mn2＋等离子含量上升。用100μmol·L-1一氧化氮供体硝普钠（SNP）处理后,玉米幼苗株高、根长、干重和鲜重均提高,根系活力增强,改善了N代谢,新叶中Ca2＋、K＋和Zn2＋等离子含量下降,Mg2＋、Cu2＋、Fe3＋和Mn2＋等离子含量提高,老叶中Mg2＋、Ca2＋、K＋和Zn2＋等离子含量下降,Cu2＋、Fe3＋和Mn2＋等离子含量提高,根中Mg2＋、Ca2＋、K＋、Cu2＋、Zn2＋、Fe3＋和Mn2＋离子含量均下降。实验结果表明,NO保护玉米幼苗免受缺镁胁迫的影响。     

Responses of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) to drought and nutrient deficiency stress

The responses of two sugar beet genotypes, 24367 (putative droughttolerant) and N6 (putative drought intolerant), to drought and nutrientdeficiency stress were investigated in an attempt to identify reliable andsensitive indicators of stress tolerance. In glasshouse-grown plants of bothgenotypes, relative water content (RWC) of the leaves decreased and leaftemperature increased in response to drought stress. Genotype differences inresponse to drought included leaf RWC, glycine betaine accumulation, alterationof shoot/root ratio and production of fibrous roots. Thus, in comparison to N6,genotype 24367 lost less water from leaves, produced more fibrous roots,produced more glycine betaine in shoots and tap roots and had a much reducedshoot/root ratio in response to withholding water for up to 215 h.The hydraulic conductance and sap flow of sugar beet seedlings grown innutrientculture decreased when subjected to nitrogen deficiency stress. Under nitrogensufficient conditions sap flow was greater in 24367 than in N6. The resultsindicate that genotype 24367 is more tolerant to stresses induced by water andnitrogen deficiency and that increased fibrous root development may be a majorfactor in increasing sap flow via a concomitant enhancement of aquaporinactivity.     

Rapid modulation of nitrate reductase in pea roots

The regulatory properties of nitrate reductase (NR; EC 1.6.6.1) in root extracts from hydroponically grown pea (Pisum sativum L. cv. Kleine Rheinländerin) plants were examined and compared with known properties of NR from spinach and pea leaves. Nitrate-reductase activity (NRA) extracted from pea roots decreased slowly when plants were kept in the dark, or when illuminated plants were detopped, with a half-time of about 4 h (= slow modulation in vivo). In contrast, the half-time for the dark-inactivation of NR from pea leaves was only 10 min. However, when root tip segments were transferred from aerobic to anaerobic conditions or vice versa, changes in NRA were as rapid as in leaves (= rapid modulation in vivo). Nitrate-reductase activity was low when extracted from roots kept in solutions flushed with air or pure oxygen, and high in nitrogen. Okadaic acid, a specific inhibitor of type-1 and type-2A protein phosphatases, totally prevented the in vivo activation by anaerobiosis of NR, indicating that rapid activation of root NR involved protein dephosphorylation. Under aerobic conditions, the low NRA in roots was also rapidly increased by incubating the roots with either uncouplers or mannose. Under these conditions, and also under anaerobiosis, ATP levels in roots were much lower than in aerated control roots. Thus, whenever ATP levels in roots were artificially decreased, NRA increased rapidly. The highly active NR extracted from anaerobic roots could be partially inactivated in vitro by preincubation of desalted root extracts with MgATP (2 mM), with a half-time of about 20 min. It was reactivated by subsequently incubating the extracts with excess AMP (2 mM). Thus, pea root NR shares many of the previously described properties of NR from spinach leaves, suggesting that the root enzyme, like the leaf enzyme, can be rapidly modulated, probably by reversible protein phosphorylation/ dephosphorylation.