The rice coleoptile: an example of anaerobic nitrate assimilation |
| |
Authors: | Remo Reggiani Monica Mattana Nicoletta Aurisano Alcide Bertani |
| |
Institution: | Istituto Biosintesi Vegetali, C. N. R., via bassini 15, I-20133 Milano, Italy. |
| |
Abstract: | Nitrate present in rice caryopses can be reduced to ammonium and the ammonium subsequently assimilated by the coleoptile during anaerobic germination. All the enzymes of nitrate reduction and ammonia assimilation are present in the coleoptile. The supply of 15NO3 confirms that the nitrate nitrogen is anaerobically incorporated into amino acids. Under anoxia, nitrate and nitrite reductase activities are increased in the coleoptile by exogenous nitrate. The importance of nitrate utilization during the anaerobic germination of rice caryopses is discussed. |
| |
Keywords: | Anoxia coleoptile germination nitrate Oryza sativa rice |
|