Summary
Direct injection of acetylene into soil around plant roots, followed by determination of ethylene/acetylene ratios in the soil atmosphere has been tested as a rapid, non-destructive method of estimating acetylene reducing activity. In pots of artificial media as well as in field soil, the ratios determined within 10 min. after injection were significantly correlated with the rates of acetylenedependent ethylene production in detached roots. The method may be useful in preliminary screening of large numbers of plant-bacteria combinations.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Bergersen, F. J. 1970 Aust. J. Biol. Sci.23, 1015–1025.
Burris, R. H. 1972In Methods in Enzymology24, pp. 45–431. Acad. Press, N.Y., U.S.A.
Evans, H. J. Ed. 1975 Enhancing Biological Nitrogen Fixation. The National Science Foundation, Washington D.C., U.S.A. 52 p.
Geankoplis, C. J. 1972 Mass Transfer Phenomena. Holt Rinehart and Winston, N.Y., U.S.A. 495 p.
Hardy, R. W. F. et al. 1968 Plant Physiol.43, 1185–1207.
Hardy, R. W. F. and Havelka, V. D. 1975 Science188, 633–643.
Holl, F. B. and LaRue, T. A. G. 1976In Proc. of the First Internat. Symposium on Nitrogen Fixation. Eds. W. E. Newton and C. J. Nyman pp. 391–399, Washington State Univ. Press., U.S.A.
Holl, F. B. 1975 Euphytica24, 767–770.
Loomis, A. G. 1928In International Critical Tables of Numerical Data pp. 254–261, McGraw-Hill, N.Y., U.S.A.
Mahon, J. D. 1977 Plant Physiol.60, 812–816.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mahon, J.D., Salminen, S.O. Non-destructive semi-quantitative determination of acetylene reduction in the field. Plant Soil 56, 335–340 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02205862
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02205862