Relationships of Nitrate Reductase Activity to Protein Content in Related Nodulating and Nonnodulating Soybeans1

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Abstract
Every 2 weeks over a 2‐month period we measured nitrate reductase (NR) activity and nitrate nitrogen content in leaves of soybean plants (Glycine max L. Merrill) from eight pairs of lines differing in ability to nodulate. Six of the pairs were F3 lines derived by crossing six nodulating P.I. lines to either the ‘Clark’ or the ‘Harosoy’ variety and to corresponding nonnodulating backcrossderived versions of these varieties. Two of the pairs were Clark and Harosoy and their respective (near isogenic) nonnodulating versions. NR activity of nodulating F3 and parental lines was significantly higher than that of corresponding nonnodulating lines, especially in the late stage of the growing season. A greater difference in NR activity was found between members of late‐maturing pairs than between members of early‐maturing lines. Nitrate content was higher in nodulating than in nonnodulating lines, and higher in late maturing than in early maturing lines. A significant positive correlation was observed between NR level and nitrate content and between stem protein and seed protein. NR activity was strongly associated with vegetative growth and plant maturity.

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