UTILIZATION OF NITROGENOUS COMPOUNDS BY PLANTS

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Abstract
Clover, tobacco, and tomato plants were grown aseptically to an age of 4-8 weeks on a variety of nitrogenous compounds. Chlorella pyrenoidosa also was tested for its ability to use these substances. Clover and tomato showed considerable similarity in their response to organic N compounds, and a number of amino acids supported excellent growth. Tobacco was much more sensitive to amino acids, and several inhibited the plant''s growth. Organic N was not so effective as ammonia and nitrate in supporting growth of tobacco, but several amino acids supported more rapia growth of C. pyrenoidosa than did nitrate and ammonia. When ammonia labeled with N15 and a single amino acid were supplied together to tobacco and clover plants, all the cultures assimilated ammonia readily, but many of the amino acids also were used. Most of the amino acids that did not support good growth alone were not toxic, since plants supplied these amino acids plus ammonia grew rather well. Analysis for the N15 content of clover and tobacco plants simultaneously furnished N15H4 and single amino acids indicated that usually the plant initially uses its reserve of seed N, then uses ammonia, and finally uses the N from the amino acids.

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