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Effects of Al on nitrogen (NH +4 and NO −3 ) uptake, nitrate reductase activity and proton release in two sorghum cultivars differing in Al tolerance

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Abstract

After growth for 17 to 36 days on nutrient solutions with NH4NO3 as nitrogen source (pH 4.2) dry matter of sorghum genotype SC0283 was much less affected by Al (1.5 and 3.0 ppm) than that of genotype NB9040.

In the absence of Al both cultivars released protons into the nutrient solution as a result of an excess of cationic nutrients taken up. When Al was present, this proton efflux per unit dry weight increased drastically, especially with the sensitive genotype NB9040. Chemical analysis of plant material and continuous analyses of NO −3 and NH +4 in the nutrient solution indicated, that the Al-induced shift in H+-balance of both genotypes could almost completely be attributed to a decreased NO −3 /NH +4 uptake ratio.

In vivo nitrate reductase activity (NRA) was reduced in the shoot of NB9040 and to a lesser degree in SC0283. Al-induced decrease in NRA was accompanied by similar percentual decreases in NO −3 tissue concentrations. Therefore this decrease is interpreted as being indirect,i.e., the consequence of the reduced NO −3 uptake of the plants.

A direct repression of NRA by Al seems also unlikely because nitrate reductase activity of the roots (where cellular Al-concentrations should be higher than in shoots) was not affected in Al-treated plants of either genotype.

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  1. Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Wageningen Agricultural University, De Dreijen 3, NL-6703 BC, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    W. G. Keltjens & P. S. R. van Ulden

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  1. W. G. Keltjens
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  2. P. S. R. van Ulden
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Keltjens, W.G., van Ulden, P.S.R. Effects of Al on nitrogen (NH +4 and NO −3 ) uptake, nitrate reductase activity and proton release in two sorghum cultivars differing in Al tolerance. Plant Soil 104, 227–234 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02372536

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02372536

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