Chemical defense production in Lotus corniculatus L. I. The effects of nitrogen source on growth,reproduction and defense |
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Authors: | Michelle A Briggs |
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Institution: | (1) Pesticide Research Laboratory, Pennsylvania State University, 16802 University Park, PA, USA;(2) Present address: Boyce Thompson Institute, Cornell University, 14853 Ithaca, NY, USA |
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Abstract: | Summary The carbon to nitrogen balance theory was examined for a legume, Lotus corniculatus L., which allocates carbon to nitrogen fixation. N-fixation can influence the ratio of carbon to nitrogen in legumes by providing nitrogen in nutrient-poor habitats, and by consuming carbon for support of symbiotic N-fixation. L. corniculatus clones (genotypes) were grown under two levels of nitrogen fertilization: a treatment which suppressed nodulation with fertilization and a treatment which received no additional fertilization. These plants relied solely on symbiotic N-fixation. Plants which supported symbionts had lower biomass and lower tannin concentrations than fertilized plants; this appears to be a result of the large carbon demand on N-fixation. Plants supporting symbionts often had relatively lower protein concentrations than fertilized plants. Cyanide concentration was influenced by plant genotype but not by nitrogen source. Although symbiotic N-fixing plants were smaller, they had three times the reproductive output of fertilized plants. |
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Keywords: | Nitrogen-fixation Tannins Cyanide Growth Lotus corniculatus |
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