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Variation of 15N natural abundance in leaves and nodules of actinorhizal shrubs in Northwest Patagonia

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Abstract

This study was performed to assess the N2-fixing capability of the native actinorhizal species Ochetophila trinervis (sin. Discaria trinervis) and Discaria chacaye (Rhamnaceae) in Northwest Patagonia. We measured the N concentration and 15N natural abundance in leaves and nodules of O. trinervis and D. chacaye, in leaves of associated non-actinorhizal vegetation, and in the soils under each sampled plant. O. trinervis and D. chacaye had foliar N concentrations that were about twice that of non-actinorhizal shrubs growing at the same sites, even though soils varied four-fold in total N across the sites. Leaves of both actinorhizal plants had a similar δ15N at any site and were close to atmospheric values. The foliar δ15N of non-actinorhizal plants and soil δ15N were strongly correlated across the sites. Nodules were depleted in δ15N relative to the foliage of the respective actinorhizal species. In conjunction with the uniformly high foliage N concentration of these actinorhizal plants and the universal presence of vesicles observed in root nodules, these data strongly suggest that O. trinervis and D. chacaye obtain a significant amount of their N from N2 fixation. To calculate the proportion of N derived from atmosphere, theoretical B-values were estimated. In all cases where the δ15N of fixing and reference foliage were significantly different, O. trinervis and D. chacaye obtained almost all of their N from N2 fixation. These results are the first to demonstrate N2 fixation by O. trinervis and D. chacaye in the field and therefore suggest an important role for these actinorhizal plants in the N economy of ecosystems in northwest Patagonia as well as their potential use for restoration of degraded lands in this region.

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Abbreviations

N:

nitrogen

pNdfa:

proportion of N derived from atmosphere

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Acknowledgements

We thank Rockie Yarwood and Maria C. Sosa for technical help. This work was funded by Universidad Nacional del Comahue (Argentina) and supported by the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche, Quintral 1250, Bariloche, 8400, Argentina

    Eugenia E. Chaia

  2. Department of Crop and Soil Science, Oregon State University, 3017 Agric. Life Sci. Bldg., Corvallis, OR, 97331-7306, USA

    David D. Myrold

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  1. Eugenia E. Chaia
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  2. David D. Myrold
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Correspondence to Eugenia E. Chaia.

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Chaia, E.E., Myrold, D.D. Variation of 15N natural abundance in leaves and nodules of actinorhizal shrubs in Northwest Patagonia. Symbiosis 50, 97–105 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13199-009-0040-z

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