Abstract
The combined effects of NaCl and N nutrition (NO3 and NH4 ++NO3 ) on nitrate reductase activity (NRA) in intact tomato (Lvcopersicum esculentum) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus) seedlings were studied. NRA decreased in leaves of both plant species as salinity increased. Within each salinity level, NRA increased with the external NO3 concentration. An interference of C1 on NO3 uptake was observed. Based on these results, it appears that the NRA was affected directly by the presence of excessive NaCl in the root media at least in two ways, by either interfering with the uptake of NO3 by roots, or by inhibiting the transport of NO3 from vacuole to cytosol. The effects were accentuated by the presence of NH4 + as N source.