Abstract
Cadmium and Ni (1, 2.5, and 5 ppm) and Cu and Zn (1, 5, and 10 ppm) applications inhibited N2 fixation by soybeans in sand culture. In general, the degree of toxicity was Cd > Ni > Cu > Zn. Cadmium greatly reduced nodule number, dry weight and N2 fixation. Although nodulation on Ni-treated plants was adequate, N2 fixation was very low. Copper reduced nodulation, but inhibited N2 fixation directly at only 5 and 10 ppm. Zinc reduced nodulation, but only slightly inhibited N2 fixation.
Very low levels of leghemoglobin (LHb) were found in the Cd- and Ni-treated nodules, but the Cu- and Zn-treated ones had LHb levels much closer to those of the control. Ammonia accumulated in most cases, paralleling the concomitant decrease in N2 fixation. Ammonia, a repressor of nitrogenase synthesis, could be important in limiting N2 fixation in soybean nodules when plants are grown in the presence of relatively high levels of heavy metals.
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Vesper, S.J., Craig Weidensaul, T. Effects of cadmium, nickel, copper, and zinc on nitrogen fixation by soybeans. Water Air Soil Pollut 9, 413–422 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00213536
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00213536