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Carbon Partitioning and Assimilation as Affected by Nitrogen Deficiency in Cassava

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Photosynthetica

Abstract

Plants of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) were raised in a sand root medium watered with nutrient solutions, under greenhouse conditions. As the N-supply increased, shoot dry mass was enhanced to a greater extent than root dry mass, thus leading to an increased shoot to root ratio. In leaves, contents of total soluble saccharides, non-reducing saccharides, and inorganic phosphate increased linearly with increasing N-supply. An opposite response was found for reducing saccharides and starch. In general, content of non-reducing saccharides was considerably greater than starch content. Activity of sucrose synthase was not detected, regardless of the N-treatments; by contrast, activity of neutral and acid invertases increased with increasing N-availability. Roots accumulated more total soluble saccharides, but less reducing saccharides and starch, as the N-supply increased. Photosynthetic rates decreased with increasing N-deficiency. Such a decrease was circumstantially associated to reducing saccharide, but not starch, accumulation. Results suggest a limited capacity for carbon export from source leaves under N-limitation.

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Cruz, J., Mosquim, P., Pelacani, C. et al. Carbon Partitioning and Assimilation as Affected by Nitrogen Deficiency in Cassava. Photosynthetica 41, 201–207 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:PHOT.0000011952.77340.53

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