Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Nutrient translocation in the xylem of poplar — diurnal variations and spatial distribution along the shoot axis

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Planta Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This investigation shows diurnal variations in the xylem sap composition of poplar (Populus tremula × P. alba). All major macronutrients reached a maximum concentration in the first half of the light period and decreased to the middle of the night. The relative abundance of the nutrients did not change during the day. The sap flow, which responded very fast to the environmental changes (2.2-fold increase within 10–20 min of illumination), reached a maximum value in the second half of the light period. Transpiration (and photosynthesis) was constant throughout the light phase. The calculated translocation rates displayed a maximum in the first half of the light period and therefore did not fit the time course of sap flow. During the night, translocation rates were 63–69% lower than the maximum. The regulation of nutrient translocation is discussed taking the active xylem loading into account. The axial distribution located the nitrate assimilation in younger leaves and storage of nitrate (and other macronutrients) in older leaves. Nitrate and potassium concentrations in the xylem sap did not change along the plant axis. However, the sap flow was greater in younger shoot sections than in older sections. We assume that the greater demand for nitrate in the younger shoot section was satisfied via an increased volume flow rather an increased nitrate concentration.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.
Fig 3.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 5.
Fig. 6.
Fig. 7.
Fig. 8.
Fig. 9.
Fig. 10a, b.
Fig. 11.

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

FW:

fresh weight

NR(A):

nitrate reductase (activity)

References

  • Arnon DI (1949) Copper enzymes in isolated chloroplasts: Pholyphenoloxidase in Beta vulgaris. Plant Physiol 24:1–15

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bowling DJF (1981) Release of ions to the xylem in roots. Physiol Plant 53:392–397

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bradford MM (1976) A rapid and sensitive method for the quantitation of microgram quantities of protein utilizing the principle of protein–dye binding. Anal Biochem 72:248–254

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Crossett RN (1968) Effect of light upon the translocation of phosphorus by seedlings of Hordeum vulgare (L.) Aust J Biol Sci 21:225–233

    Google Scholar 

  • De Cires A, De la Torre A, Delgado B, Lara C (1993) Role of light and CO2 fixation in the control of nitrate reductase activity in barley leaves. Planta 190: 227–283

    Google Scholar 

  • Delhon P, Gojon A, Tillard P, Passama L (1995a) Diurnal regulation of NO3 – uptake in soybean plants I. Changes in NO3 – influx, efflux, and N utilization in the plant during the day/night cycle. J Exp Bot 46:1585–1594

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Delhon P, Gojon A, Tillard P, Passama L (1995b) Diurnal regulation of NO3 – uptake in soybean plants II. Relationship with accumulation of NO3 – and asparagine in the roots. J Exp Bot 46: 1595–1602

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Else MA, Davis WJ, Whitford PN, Hall KC, Jackson MB (1994) Concentrations of abscisic acid and other solutes in xylem sap from root systems of tomato and castor-oil plants are distorted by wounding and variable sap flow rates. J Exp Bot 45:317–323

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Else MA, Hall KC, Arnold GM, Davis WJ, Jackson MB (1995) Export of abscisic acid, 1-aminocyclopropane-1carboxylic acid, phosphate, and nitrate from roots to shoots of flooded tomato plants. Accounting for effects of xylem sap flow rate on concentration and delivery. Plant Physiol 107:377–384

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gaymard F, Pilot G, Lacombe B, Bouchez D, Bruneau D, Boucherez J, Michaux-Ferriere N, Thibaud JB, Sentenac H (1998) Identification and disruption of a plant shaker-like outward channel involved in K+ release into the xylem sap. Cell 94:647–655

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gonzales-Real MM, Baille A (2000) Changes in leaf photosynthetic parameters with leaf position and nitrogen content within a rose plant canopy (Rosa hybrida). Plant Cell Environ 23:351–357

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grignon C, Sentenac H (1991) pH and ionic conditions in the apoplast. Annu Rev Plant Physiol Plant Mol Biol 42:103–128

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huber JL, Huber SC, Campell WH, Redinbaugh MG (1992a) Reversible light/dark modulation of spinach leaf nitrate reductase activity involves protein phosphorylation. Arch Biochem Biophys 296: 58–65

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Huber JL, Huber SC, Campell WH, Redinbaugh MG (1992b) Apparent dependence of the light activation of nitrate reductase and sucrose-phosphate synthase activities in spinach leaves on protein synthesis. Plant Cell Physiol 33:639–646

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huber SC, Huber JL, Campell WH, Redinbaugh MG (1992c) Comparative studies of the light modulation of nitrate reductase and sucrose-phosphate synthase activities in spinach leaves. Plant Physiol 100:706–712

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jeschke WD, Pate JS (1991) Modelling of water uptake, flow and utilization of C, N and H2O within whole plants of Ricinus communis L. Based on empirical data. J Plant Physiol 137:488–498

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Köhler B, Wegner L, Osipov V, Raschke K (2002) Loading of nitrate into the xylem: apoplastic nitrate controls the voltage dependence of X-QUAC, the main conductance in xylem-parenchyma cells of barley roots. Plant J 30:133–142

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kopriva S, Muheim R, Koprivova A, Trachsel N, Catalano C, Suter M, Brunold C (1999) Light regulation of assimilatory sulphate reduction in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant J 20:37–44

    Google Scholar 

  • Langheinrich U (1991) Untersuchungen mit Stickstoffmetabolismus in Populus trichocarpa T. & G. Ein Beitrag zur Nitratlimitierung und Biochemie der vegetativen Speicher-proteine. PhD thesis, University of Göttingen, Germany

  • Marschner H (1995) Mineral nutrition of higher plants, 2nd edn. Academic Press, London

  • Marschner H, Kirkby EA, Engels C (1997) Importance of cycling and recycling of mineral nutrients within plants for growth and development. Bot Acta 110:265–273

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mattson M, Lundborg T, Larsson C (1988) Nitrate utilization in barley: relations to nitrate supply and light/dark cycles. Physiol Plant 73:380–386

    Google Scholar 

  • Muller B, Touraine B (1992) Inhibition of NO3 – uptake by various phloem-translocated amino acids in soybean seedlings. J Exp Bot 43:617–623

    Google Scholar 

  • Ohtake N, SatoT, Fujikake H, Sueyoshi K, Ohyama T, Ishioka NS, Watanabe S, Osa A, Sekine T, Matusuhashi S, Ito T, Mizuniwa C, Kume T, Hashimoto S, Uchida H, Tsuji A (2001) Rapid N transport to pods and seeds in N-deficient soybean plants. J Exp Bot 52:277–283

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Oji Y, Otani Y, Hosomi Y, Wakiuchi N, Shiga H (1989) Nitrate reduction in root and shoot and exchange of reduced nitrogen between organs in two-row barley seedlings under light-dark cycles Planta 179:359–366

  • Ourry A, Macduff JH, Prudhomme MP, Boucaud J (1996) Diurnal variation in the simultaneous uptake and 'sink' allocation of NH4 + and NO3 – by Lolium perenne in flowing solution culture. J Exp Bot 47:1853–1863

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Peuke AD, Jeschke WD (1998) The effects of light on induction, time courses, and kinetic patterns of net nitrate uptake in barley. Plant Cell Environ 21:765–774

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Poirier Y, Thoma S, Sommerville C, Schiefelbein J (1991) A mutant of Arabidopsis deficient in xylem loading of phosphate. Plant Physiol 97:1087–1093

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rideout JW, Chaillou S, Raper CD, Morot-Gaudry JF (1994) Ammonium and nitrate uptake by soybean during recovery from nitrogen deprivation. J Exp Bot 45:23–33

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Riens B, Lohaus G, Heineke D, Heldt HW (1991) Amino acid and sucrose content determined in the cytosolic, chloroplastic and vacuolar compartments and in the phloem sap of spinach leaves. Plant Physiol 97:227–223

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rufty TW, MacKown CT, Volk RJ (1989) Effects of the altered carbohydrate availability on whole-plant assimilation of 15NO3 −. Plant Physiol 89:457–463

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Santora LG, Magalhaes ACN (1983) Changes in nitrate reductase activity during development of soybean leaf. J. Plant Physiol 112:113–121

    Google Scholar 

  • Scaife A, Schloemer S (1994) The diurnal pattern of nitrate uptake and reduction by spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) Ann Bot 73:337–343

    Google Scholar 

  • Schill V, Hartung W, Orthen B, Weiselseel MH (1996) The xylem sap of maple (Acer platanoides L.) trees-sap obtained by a novel method shows changes with season and height. J Exp Bot 47:123–133

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schurr U, Schulze ED (1995) The concentration of xylem sap constituents in root exudate, and in sap from intact, transpiring castor bean plants (Ricinus communis L.) Plant Cell Environ 18:409–420

  • Shaner DL, Boyer JS (1976) Nitrate reductase activity in maize (Zea mays L.) Leaves. II Regulation by nitrate flux at low leaf water potential. Plant Physiol 58:505–509

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Siebrecht S, Tischner R (1999) Changes in the xylem exudate composition of poplar (Populus tremula × P. alba) — dependent on the nitrogen and potassium supply. J Exp Bot 50:1797–1806

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith DM, Allen SJ (1996) Measurement of sap flow in plant stems. J Exp Bot 47:1833–1844

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith JAC (1991) Ion transport and the transpiration stream. Bot Acta 104:416–421

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stitt M, Gerhard R, Kürzel B, Heldt HW (1983) A role for fructose 2,6-biphosphate in the regulation of sucrose synthesis in spinach leaves. Plant Physiol 72:1139–1141

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tanner W, Beevers H (1990) Does transpiration have an essential function in long-distance ion transport in plants? Plant Cell Environ 13:745–750

    Google Scholar 

  • Thayer JR, Huffaker RC (1980) Determination of nitrate and nitrite by high-pressure liquid chromatography: comparison with other methods for nitrate determination. Anal Biochem 102:110–119

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Touraine B, Muller B Grignon C (1992) Effect of phloem-translocated malate on NO3 − uptake by roots of intact soybean plants. Plant Physiol 99:1118–1123

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wei C, Tyree MT, Steudle E (1999) Direct measurement of xylem pressure in leaves of intact maize plants. A test of the cohesion-tension theory taking hydraulic architecture into consideration. Plant Physiol 121:1191–1206

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wegner LH, Raschke K (1994) Ion channels in the xylem parenchyma of barley roots: a procedure to isolate protoplasts from this tissue and a patch-clamp exploration of salt passageways into xylem vessels. Plant Physiol 105: 799–813

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wolf D, Jeschke WD Hartung W (1990) Concentrations and transport of solutes in xylem and phloem along the leaf axis of NaCl-treated Hordeum vulgare. J Exp Bot 41:1133–1141

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zimmermann U, Meinzer FC, Benkert R, Zhu JJ, Schneider H, Goldstein G, Kuchenbrod E, Haase A (1994) Xylem water transport: is the available evidence consistent with the cohesion theory? Plant Cell Environ 17:1169–1181

    Google Scholar 

  • Zweifel R, Item H, Hasler R (2001) Link between diurnal stem radius changes and tree water relations. Tree Physiol 12–13:869–77

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank G. Jansen for excellent technical assistance. This work was supported by DFG (Apoplasten Schwerpunkt) grant Ti 122/13-4

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Albrecht-von-Haller Institut für Pflanzenwissenschaften, Untere Karspüle 2, 37073, Göttingen, Germany

    Sylke Siebrecht & Rudolf Tischner

  2. Im Neuenheimer Feld 360, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany

    Klaus Herdel

  3. Institute of Phytosphere Research, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany

    Uli Schurr

Authors
  1. Sylke Siebrecht
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Klaus Herdel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Uli Schurr
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Rudolf Tischner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rudolf Tischner.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Siebrecht, S., Herdel, K., Schurr, U. et al. Nutrient translocation in the xylem of poplar — diurnal variations and spatial distribution along the shoot axis. Planta 217, 783–793 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-003-1041-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-003-1041-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation