Abstract
The process of symbiotic nitrogen fixation, though of obvious advantage to legumes in situations in which nitrogen is limiting, results in substantial penalty to the host plant in terms of cost of maintenance, synthesis and nitrogen reduction. Accurate estimates of costs are difficult to obtain because of the lack of simple methods to measure N2 fixation and associated energy consumption. In relation to these difficulties, a multiple-step approach involving isotopes (14C02-15N2) methodologies is described.
The estimation of net respiratory cost associated with the N2 reduction activity in near-natural conditions was achieved using simultaneous 14CO2 and 15N2 labelling. It gives a minimun value of 2.5 mg C/mg N fixed. This value was corrected by the estimation of the amount of carbon saved through the process of CO2 fixation by the PEP carboxylase of the nodules, using 14CO2 in the soil atmosphere. This gives a real respiratory cost of 4 mg C/mg N fixed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Abbreviations
- IRGA:
-
Infrared Gas Analyser
- PEP:
-
Phosphoenolypyruvate
References
Atkins C A, Herridge D F and Pate J S 1978 The economy of carbon and nitrogen in nitrogen-fixing annual legumes. InIsotopes in Biological Dinitrogen Fixation, pp 211 – 242. Vienna: Int. At. Energy Agency.
Bergersen F J 1971 Biochemistry of symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legumes. Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. 22, 121 – 140.
Bethlenfalvay G J and Phillips D A 1977 Ontogenic interactions between photosynthesis and symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legumes. Plant Physiol. 60, 419 – 421.
Christeller J T, Laing W A and Sutton W D 1977 Carbon dioxide fixation by lupin root nodules. I. Characterization, association with phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, and correlation with nitrogen fixation during nodule development. Plant Physiol. 60, 47 – 50.
Coker G T and Schubert K R 1981 Carbon dioxide fixation in soybean roots and nodules. I. Characterization and comparison with N2 fixation and composition of xylen exudate during early nodule development. Plant Physiol. 67, 691 – 696.
Dixon ROD 1967 Hydrogen uptake and exchange by pea root nodules. Ann. Bot. 31, 179 – 188.
Fernandez M P and Warembourg F R 1987 Distribution and utilization of assimilated carbon in red clover during the first year of vegetation. Plant and Soil 97, 131 – 143.
Gadal P 1983 Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and nitrogen fixation. Physiol. Veg. 21, 1069 – 1074.
Hardy RWF and Havelka U D 1975 Photosynthate as a major factor limiting N2 fixation by field-grown legumes with emphasis on soybeans. InSymbiotic Nitrogen Fixation in Plants. Ed. P S Nutman. pp 421 – 439. Cambridge University Press, London.
Gutschick V P 1982 Energetics of microbial fixation of dinitrogen. InAdvances in Biochemical Engineering 21, 109 – 167.
Knowles R 1981 The measurement of nitrogen fixation. InCurrent Perspectives in Nitrogen Fixation. Eds. A H Gibson and W E Newton, pp 327 – 333. Australian Acad. Sci., Canberra, Australia.
Kouchi H, Akao S and Yoneyama T 1986 Respiratory utilization of 13C labelled photosynthate in nodulated root systems of soybean plants. J. Exp. Bot. 37, 985 – 993.
Mahon J D 1977 Respiration and the energy requirement for nitrogen fixation in nodulated pea roots. Plant Physiol. 60, 817 – 821.
Minchin F R, Summerfield R J, Hadley P, Roberts E H and Rawsthorne S 1981 Carbon and nitrogen nutrition of nodulated roots of grain legumes. Plant Cell Environ. 4, 5 – 26.
Mulder E G and Van Veen W L 1960 The influence of carbon dioxide on symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Plant and Soil 13, 265 – 278.
Pate J S, Atkins C A and Rainbird R M 1981 Theoretical and experimental costing of nitrogen fixation and related processes in nodules of legumes. InCurrent Perspectives in Nitrogen Fixation. Eds. Pate J S, Atkins C A and Rainbird R M, pp 105 – 116. Australian Acad. Sci. Canberra.
Phillips D A 1980 Efficiency of symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legumes. Ann. Rev. Plant Physiol. 31, 29 – 49.
Rainbird R M, Hitz W D and Hardy W F 1984 Experimental determination of the respiration associated with soybean/ Rhizobium nitrogenase function, nodule maintenance and total nodule nitrogen fixation. Plant Physiol. 75, 49 – 53.
Ryle G J A, Arnott R A, Powell C E and Gordon A J 1983 Comparison of the respiratory effluxes of nodules and roots in six temperate legumes. Ann. Bot. 52, 469 – 477.
Ryle G J A, Cobby J M and Powell C E 1976 Synthetic and maintenance respiratory losses of,4C02 in uniculum barley and maize. Ann. Bot. 40, 571 – 586.
Salsac L, Drevon J J, Zengbe M, Cleyet-Marel J C and Obaton M 1984 Energy requirement of symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Physiol. Vég. 22, 509 – 521.
Schubert K R 1982 The energetics of biological nitrogen fixation. Workshop Summaries. I. Am. Soc. Plant Physiol. 1 – 30.
Schubert K R and Ryle G J A 1980 The energy requirements for nitrogen fixation in nodulated legumes. InAdvances in Legume Science, Eds. R J Summerfield and A H Bunting, pp. 85 – 96. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, England.
Sinclair T R and de Wit C T 1975 Photosynthate and nitrogen requirements for seed production by various crops. Science 189, 565 – 567.
Warembourg F R 1983 Estimating the true cost of dinitrogen fixation by nodulated plants in undisturbed conditions. Can. J. Microbiol. 29, 930 – 937.
Warembourg F R, Haegel B, Fernandez M P and Montange D 1984 Distribution et utilisation des assimilats carbones en relation avec la fixation symbiotique d’azote chez le soja (Glycine maxL. Merril. Plant and Soil 82, 163 – 178.
Warembourg F R, Montange D and Bardin R 1982 The simultaneous use of 14C02 and 15N2 labelling techniques to study the carbon and nitrogen economy of legumes grown under natural conditions. Physiol. Plant. 56, 46 – 55.
Witty J F, Minchin F R and Sheehy J E 1983 Carbon costs of nitrogenase activity in legume root nodule determined using acetylene and oxygen. J. Exp. Bot. 34, 951 – 963.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1989 Kluwer Academic Publishers
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Warembourg, F.R., Roumet, C. (1989). Why and how to estimate the cost of symbiotic N2 fixation? A progressive approach based on the use of 14C and l5N isotopes. In: Clarholm, M., Bergström, L. (eds) Ecology of Arable Land — Perspectives and Challenges. Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences, vol 39. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1021-8_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1021-8_4
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-010-6950-2
Online ISBN: 978-94-009-1021-8
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive