Nitrogen Utilization in N-limited Barley during Vegetative and Generative Growth

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Growth and nitrate uptake kinetics in vegetatively growing barley (Hordeum vulgare L., cvs Laevigatum, Golf, and Mette) were investigated in solution culture under long-term limitations of external nitrogen availability. Nitrate was fed to the cultures at relative addition rates (RA) ranging from 0.02 to 0.2 d−1. The relative growth rate (RG, calculated for total plant dry weight) correlated well with RA in the range 0.02 to 0.07 d−1. In the RA range from 0.07 to 0.2 d−1RG continued to increase, but an increasing fraction of nitrogen, added and absorbed, was apparently stored rather than used for structural growth. The RG of the roots was less affected by RA. Vmax, for net nitrate uptake increased with RA up to 0.11 d−1, but decreased at higher RA. The decline in Vmax coincided with a build-up of nitrate stores in both roots and shoots. Vmax, expressed per unit nitrogen in the plants (the relative Vmax, was higher than required for maintenance of growth (up to 30-fold) at low RA, whereas at higher RA the relative Vmax decreased. Kinetic predictions of steady-state external nitrate concentrations during N-limited growth ranged from 0.2 to 5.0 mmol m−3 over the RG range 0.02 to 0.11 d−1. It is suggested that the nitrate uptake system is not under specific regulation at low RA, but co-ordinated with root protein synthesis and growth in general. At RA higher than 0.11 d−1, however, specific regulation of nitrate uptake, possibly via root nitrate pools, become important. The three cultivars showed very similar growth and nitrate uptake characteristics.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: