The response ofPlantago lanceolata L. andP. major L. spp.major to nitrate depletion |
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Authors: | Tjeerd Blacquière Carolien Koetsier |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Plant Physiology, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 14, 9750 AA Haren, The Netherlands;(2) Department of Dune Research ‘Weevers Duin’, Institute for Ecological Research, Duinzoom 20A, 3233 EG Oostvoorne, The Netherlands;(3) Present address: Research Station for Floriculture, Linnaeuslaan 2A, 1431 JV Aalsmeer, The Netherlands |
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Abstract: | To study aspects of the ecology of grassland species, in a comparative experiment, plants ofP. lanceolata andP. major were grown in pots in a greenhouse, and subjected to a gradual nitrate depletion for several weeks. Control plants were weekly
supplied with nitrate. Growth, leaf appearance and disappearance, concentrations of cations and inorganic anions, soluble
and insoluble reduced nitrogen concentrations,in vivo nitrate reductase activity (NRA) and the concentration of non-structural carbohydrates in several parts of the plants were
followed. Depletion of nitrate caused a reduction of shoot growth, both in biomass and number of leaves. Withering of leaves
increased. Accumulation of root dry matter was little (P. lanceolata), or not (P. major) affected. The concentration of reduced nitrogen in all tissues also decreased, both that of the soluble and that of the
insoluble fraction. As a result, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE, g dry matter produced per mmol N incorporated) increased by
nitrate depletion. NRA was higher in the roots than in the leaves, and decreased with increasing nitrate depletion.
In control plants, nitrate became also limiting. This resulted in decreasing nitrate concentrations in leaves and roots. In
the leaves, the decrease in nitrate concentration was preceded by a decrease in NRA. The decrease of the nitrate concentration
was parallelled by an increase in the concentration of soluble sugar.
No major differences in the response towards nitrate depletion were observed between the two species.
Grassland Species Research Group, publication no. 129 |
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Keywords: | nitrate nitrate reductase activity nitrogen nitrogen use efficiency osmotic solutes Plantago lanceolata Plantago major redistribution sugars |
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