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Inorganic nitrogen uptake kinetics of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) varieties under in vitro conditions with varying N supply

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Abstract

An in vitro system was established for the characterisation of inorganic nitrogen uptake by sugarcane plantlets of variety NCo376. After multiplication and rooting, plantlets (0.27–0.3 g fresh mass) were placed on N-free medium for 4 days, and then supplied with 2–20 mM N as NO3 −-N only, NH4 +-N only or NO3 −-N + NH4 +-N (as 1:1). With few exceptions, on all the tested N media, the in vitro plants always had a higher Vmax for NH4 +-N (28.69–66.51 μmol g−1 h−1) than for NO3 −-N uptake (10.24–30.19 μmol g−1 h−1) and the Km indicated a higher affinity for NO3 −-N (0.02–7.38 mM) than for NH4 +-N (0.06–9.15 mM). When N was applied as 4 and 20 mM to varieties N12, N19 and N36, the interaction between variety, N form and concentration resulted in differences in the Vmax and Km. The high N-use efficient varieties (N12 and N19), as determined in previous pot and field trials, behaved similarly under all tested conditions and displayed a lower Vmax and Km than the low N-use efficient ones (NCo376 and N36). Based on this finding, it was suggested that the N-use efficient designation (from pot and field trials) may not be ascribed solely to N uptake. Assessment of the relative preference index (RPI) for NO3 −-N and NH4 +-N uptake revealed that, at present, the RPI has no application in sugarcane due to its preferential uptake of NH4 +-N.

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Acknowledgments

We acknowledge and thank the South African Sugarcane Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal and the National Research Foundation of South Africa (Grants 85573 and 85414) for funding. E. Hajari is grateful to the College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science for a postdoctoral scholarship.

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  1. School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, P. Bag X54001, Durban, 4000, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

    Elliosha Hajari, Sandy J. Snyman & M. Paula Watt

  2. South African Sugarcane Research Institute, P. Bag X02, Mount Edgecombe, 4300, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

    Elliosha Hajari & Sandy J. Snyman

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  1. Elliosha Hajari
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Correspondence to Elliosha Hajari.

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Hajari, E., Snyman, S.J. & Watt, M.P. Inorganic nitrogen uptake kinetics of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) varieties under in vitro conditions with varying N supply. Plant Cell Tiss Organ Cult 117, 361–371 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-014-0445-0

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