| Abstract: | Short-term effects of water deficit on nitrogenase activitywere investigated with hydroponically grown soybean plants (Glycinemax L. Merr. cv. Biloxi) by adding polyethylene glycol (PEG)to the hydroponic solution and measuring nitrogenase activity,nodule respiration, and permeability to oxygen diffusion (Po).These experiments showed a rapid decrease in acetylene reductionactivity (ARA) and nodule respiration. A consequence of thedecreased respiration rate was that Po calculated by Fick'sLaw also decreased. However, these results following PEG treatmentwere in direct conflict with a previous report of stabilityin Po determined by using an alternative technique. To resolvethis conflict, an hypothesis describing a sequence of responsesto the initial PEG treatment is presented. An important findingof this study was that the response to water deficit inducedby PEG occurred in two stages. The first stage of decreasednodule activity was O2-limited and could be reversed by exposingthe nodules to elevated pO2. The second stage which developedafter 24 h of exposure to PEG resulted in substantial loss innodule activity and this activity could not be recovered withincreased pO2. Severe water deficit treatments disrupt noduleactivity to such a degree that O2 is no longer the major limitation. Key words: Glycine max, N2 fixation, soybean, oxygen permeability, water deficit |
