Abstract
The uptake and conversion of NO -2 and the effect of NO -2 on the uptake and reduction of NO -3 were examined in N-depleted Phaseolus vulgaris L. Nitrite uptake at 0.1 mmol dm-3 was against an electrochemical gradient and became constant after one or two initial phases. Steadystate uptake declined with increasing ambient NO -2 concentration (0–0.7 mmol dm-3). In this concentration range root oxygen consumption was unaffected by NO -2 , indicating that the decrease of NO -2 uptake was not related to respiration. After 6 h NO -2 supply, about one-third of the absorbed NO -2 had accumulated, mainly in the root system. Oxidation of NO -2 to NO -3 was not observed. The apparent induction period for NO -3 uptake was about 6 h in control plants and 3.5 h in plants that were pretreated for 18 h with NO -2 . In contrast, the time course of NO -2 uptake was unaffected by pretreatment with NO -3 . Steadystate NO -3 uptake was less affected by NO -2 than was steady-state NO -2 uptake by NO -3 . Nitrate reductase activity (NRA) in leaves and roots was induced by both NO -3 and NO -2 . In roots, induction with NO -2 was faster than with NO -3 , but there was no difference in NRA after 5 h. Nitrite inhibited NRA in the roots of NO -3 -induced plants and thus seems to stimulate the induction, but not the activity of induced nitrate reductase. In view of the observed differences in time course and mutual competition, a common uptake mechanism for NO -2 and NO -3 seems unlikely. Expression of the NO -2 effect on the induction of NO -3 uptake required more time than the induction itself. We therefore conclude that NO -2 is not the physiological inducer of NO -3 uptake.
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Abbreviations
- NR(A):
-
nitrate reductase (activity)
- BM:
-
basal medium
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Breteler, H., Luczak, W. Utilization of nitrite and nitrate by dwarf bean. Planta 156, 226–232 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00393729
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00393729