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Nodule study in Albizia chinensis in relation to nitrogen metabolism, morphology and biomass

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Abstract

Morphology, biomass, nitrate reductase (NR) and nitrogenase activity in Albizia chinensis (Osb.) Merr. nodules were assessed on monthly and seasonal basis for 1 year. Average NR and nitrogenase activity was higher during the rainy season, reaching a maximum in August. Thereafter, activity decreased through autumn and reached a minimum value during winter. Fresh and dry biomass of nodules increased gradually from summer to the rainy season and then started decreasing with the onset of winter as nodules began to senesce. Among four developmental stages of the nodules that correspond to their increasing age, NR and nitrogenase activity remained low in stage 1 nodules and peaked in stage 2. The activity of both enzymes further decreased with increasing age (stage 2 to stage 4). Morphological features such as shape, diameter and color varied considerably among the developmental stages. Stage 1 nodules were cream-colored, oval to heart-shaped with smallest average diameter whereas at stage 2, they became bilobed to tetralobed. On the other hand, stage 3 nodules had the largest average diameter and were multilobed in structure. Stage 4 nodules that correspond to the senescing stage were dark brown to black, multilobed, flattened and hollow due to degeneration of nodular tissue.

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Acknowledgements

The present study was conducted in the Plant Physiology Discipline, Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun, India. We are grateful to Dr. T.C. Pokhriyal, (retired), Botany Division, FRI, Dehradun for his guidance. We also thank the two anonymous reviewers for valuable suggestions that helped to improve the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Physiology Discipline, Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, India

    Vandana Kushawaha & Satya Prasad Chaukiyal

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  1. Vandana Kushawaha
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  2. Satya Prasad Chaukiyal
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VK performed the experiments, analyzed the data and wrote the manuscript; SPC designed the study, helped interpret results and improved the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Vandana Kushawaha.

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Authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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The online version is available at http://www.springerlink.com

Corresponding editor: Zhu Hong.

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Kushawaha, V., Chaukiyal, S.P. Nodule study in Albizia chinensis in relation to nitrogen metabolism, morphology and biomass. J. For. Res. 31, 57–63 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-018-0859-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-018-0859-3

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