Effect of Exogenous Nitrate on Anaerobic Metabolism in Excised Rice Roots: I. NITRATE REDUCTION AND PYRIDINE NUCLEOTIDE POOLS

Reggiani, R., Brambilla, I. and Bertani, A. 1985. Effect ofexogenous nitrate on anaerobic metabolism in excised rice roots.I. Nitrate reduction and pyridine nucleotide pools.— J.exp.Bot 36:1193-1199. In apical segments of sterile rice roots, reduction of nitratein the absence of oxygen is promoted by the presence of exogenousnitrate in the growth medium in the first 3 h of oxygen deficiency.Anaerobic treatment also increased the concentration of NADH.When nitrate was made available for reduction, smaller accumulationsof NADH were observed. Oxidation of reduced nudeotides associatedwith the conversion of nitrate to nitrite is suggested as beingresponsible for this behaviour. Key words: Anaerobiosis, nitrate, pyridine nucleotides