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NO3 −/NH4 + ratios affect plant growth, chlorophyll content, respiration rate, and morphological structure in Malus hupehensis seedlings

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Abstract

Malus hupehensis (Pamp.) Rehd. is a widely cultivated rootstock in China. We studied the effect of three NO3 −/NH4 + ratios (100/0, 50/50, and 0/100, molar basis) at total nitrogen (N) concentration of 8 mmoL L−1 in a nutrient solution on M. hupehensis seedlings. Plant biomass, NO3 − and NH4 +concentration, chlorophyll content, respiratory rate, and cellular structure were investigated. M. hupehensis seedlings at the NO3 −/NH4 + ratio of 50/50 had the highest level of fresh weight, dry weight, shoot length, and chlorophyll (a, b, and a + b) content, but the lowest respiration rate in the leaves and roots. In addition, thickness and numbers of palisade and spongy tissue cells of the leaves were greater with this treatment than with other treatments. At the NO3 −/NH4 + ratio of 100/0, the leaves and roots had higher NO3 − concentration and lower NH4 + concentration. However, the opposite trend occurred at the NO3 −/NH4 + ratio of 0/100. Chlorophyll (a, b, and a + b) content was lowest at the NO3 −/NH4 + ratio of 100/0 than at the other ratios. At the NO3 −/NH4 + ratio of 0/100, oxygen (O2) consumption increased in the leaves and roots, and irregular epidermis and cortex cells were observed in the root apical meristematic and mature region. Our results indicated that the NO3 −/NH4 + ratio at 50/50 was suitable for growth of M. hupehensis seedling to achieve the highest biomass production and efficiency.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Genetic Engineering Center of Hebei Province, Institute of Genetics and Physiology, Hebei Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Shijiazhuang, 050051, People’s Republic of China

    Yu Dong, Qian Zhao & Jun-feng Guan

  2. School of Food and Bioengineering, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou, 450002, People’s Republic of China

    Yu Dong, Huan-huan Zhi & Qian Zhao

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  1. Yu Dong
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  2. Huan-huan Zhi
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  3. Qian Zhao
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  4. Jun-feng Guan
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Correspondence to Jun-feng Guan.

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Project funding: This work was supported by the Agricultural Comprehensive Development Project of Hebei Province (No. 2012ACDPHP01).

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Corresponding editor: Zhu Hong

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Dong, Y., Zhi, Hh., Zhao, Q. et al. NO3 −/NH4 + ratios affect plant growth, chlorophyll content, respiration rate, and morphological structure in Malus hupehensis seedlings. J. For. Res. 26, 983–991 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-015-0117-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-015-0117-x

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