| Abstract: | The assimilation of nitrate and nitrite under dark and lightconditions in Zea mays L. leaves was investigated. Nitrate wasassimilated under dark-aerobic conditions. Anaerobiosis stimulatednitrate reduction and nitrite accumulation under dark conditions.Vacuum infiltration of inhibitors of respiratory electron transport,antimycin A and rotenone, stimulated nitrate reduction and nitriteaccumulation under dark-aerobic conditions. Vacuum infiltrationof low concentrations of PCP, DNP and mCCCP depressed nitratereduction and nitrite accumulation under dark-aerobic conditions,whereas, infiltration of higher concentrations stimulated nitratereduction and nitrite accumulation. The greatest level of nitrateand nitrite reduction occurred under light conditions. The inhibitorof photosynthetic electron transport, DCMU, stimulated the accumulationof nitrite in the light, but decreased nitrate reduction. Whenthe inhibitors of respiratory electron transport antimycin Aand rotenone, were supplied together with DCMU in the light,nitrite accumulation was enhanced. Low concentrations of mCCCPdecreased both nitrate reduction and nitrite accumulation underlight conditions when supplied with DCMU. Key words: Nitrate reduction, Nitrite accumulation, Leaves |
