Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Nitrogen isotope discrimination in white spruce fed with low concentrations of ammonium and nitrate

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Trees Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Differences in δ15N among ten white spruce [Picea glauca (Moench) Voss] families were examined in hydroponic experiments testing (1) three N sources [100 μM N as (i) NH4+, (ii) NO3− or (iii) NH4NO3] and (2) two supply regimes [200 μM NH4+ (i) maintained steadily or (ii) recurrently drawn-down]. In the N-source experiment, the NH4+ treatment resulted in superior growth and lower C/N ratios. Whole plant δ15N was higher on NH4+ and NH4NO3, reflecting higher NH4+ removal rates from the media. Families expressed differences in biomass, C/N, δ15N and δ13C. Family δ15N and δ13C were positively correlated in the NH4NO3 treatment and the steady-state regime. Supply regime did not affect total biomass, but higher root/shoot ratios implied N was more limiting under the draw-down regime. Family rank changed with supply regime, but not with N source. Analysis of media isotope enrichment during substrate depletion revealed relationships between net discrimination and external N concentration. Discrimination against 15NH4+ was about twice that of 15NO3−. A simple model relating isotope discrimination to relative rates of ion efflux and influx predicted efflux/influx ratios consistent with published values for white spruce. We propose that genetic differences in discrimination are caused by different demands on assimilation and in uptake capacity which interact, influencing the balance between N influx and efflux.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bergersen FJ, Peoples MB, Turner GL (1988) Isotopic discrimination during the accumulation of nitrogen by soybeans. Aust J Plant Physiol 15:407–420

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brooks PD, Stark JM, McInteer BB, Preston T (1989) Diffusion method to prepare soil extracts for automated nitrogen-15 analysis. Soil Sci Soc Am J 53:1707–1711

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cawse PA (1967) The determination of nitrate in soil solutions by ultraviolet spectrophotometry. Analyst 92:311–315

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Comstock JP (2001) Steady-state isotopic fractionation in branched pathways using plant uptake of NO3− as an example. Planta 214:220–234

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Eghball B, Maranville JW (1993) Root development and nitrogen influx of corn genotypes grown under combined drought and nitrogen stresses. Agron J 85:147–152

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Evans RD (2001) Physiological mechanisms influencing plant nitrogen isotope composition. Trends Plant Sci 6:121–126

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Evans RD, Bloom AJ, Sukrapanna SS, Ehleringer JR (1996) Nitrogen isotope composition of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv.T-f) grown under ammonium or nitrate nutrition. Plant Cell Environ 19:1317–1323

    Google Scholar 

  • Farquhar GD, O’Leary MH, Berry JA (1982) On the relationship between carbon isotope discrimination and the intercellular carbon dioxide concentration in leaves. Aust J Plant Physiol 9:121–137

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guy RD, Berry JA, Fogel ML, Hoering TC (1989) Differential fractionation of oxygen isotopes by cyanide-resistant and cyanide-sensitive respiration in plants. Planta 177:483–491

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Handley LL, Raven JA (1992) The use of natural abundance of nitrogen isotopes in plant physiology and ecology. Plant Cell Environ 15:965–985

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Handley LL, Robinson D, Forster BP, Ellis RP, Scrimgeour CM, Gordon DC, Nevo E, Raven JA (1997) Shoot δ15N correlates with genotype and salt stress in barley. Planta 201:100–102

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Henry BK, Atkin OK, Day DA, Millar AH, Menz RI, Farquhar GD (1999) Calculation of the oxygen isotope discrimination factor for studying plant respiration. Aust J Plant Physiol 26:773–780

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoch MP, Fogel ML, Kirchman DL (1992) Isotope fractionation associated with ammonium uptake by a marine bacterium. Limnol Oceanogr 37:1447–1459

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Högberg P (1997) Tansley Review No. 95. 15N natural abundance in soil-plant systems. New Phytol 137:179–203

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Högberg P, Högberg MN, Quist ME, Ekblad A, Nasholm T (1999) Nitrogen isotope fractionation during nitrogen uptake by ectomycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal Pinus sylvestris. New Phytol 142:569–576

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holmes RM, McClelland JW, Sigman DM, Fry B, Peterson BJ (1998) Measuring 15N–NH4+ in marine, estuarine and fresh waters: an adaptation of the ammonia diffusion method for samples with low ammonium concentrations. Mar Chem 60:235–243

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Imsande J, Touraine B (1994) N demand and the regulation of nitrate uptake. Plant Physiol 105:3–7

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson CM, Stout PR, Broyer TC, Carlton AB (1957) Comparative chlorine requirements of different plant species. Plant Soil 8:337–353

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khan SN, Mulvaney RL, Mulvaney CS (1997) Accelerated diffusion methods for inorganic nitrogen analysis of soil extracts and water. Soil Sci Soc Am J 61:936–947

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • King BJ, Siddiqi MY, Ruth TJ, Warner RL, Glass A (1993) Feedback regulation of nitrate influx in barley roots by nitrate, nitrite, and ammonium. Plant Physiol 102:1279–1286

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kolb KJ, Evans RD (2003) Influence of nitrogen source and concentration on nitrogen isotopic discrimination in two barley genotypes (Hordeum vulgare L.). Plant Cell Environ 26:1431–1440

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kronzucker HJ, Siddiqi MY, Glass ADM (1995a) Compartmentation and flux characteristics of ammonium in spruce. Planta 196:691–698

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kronzucker HJ, Siddiqi MY, Glass ADM (1995b) Compartmentation and flux characteristics of nitrate in spruce. Planta 196:674–682

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kronzucker HJ, Siddiqi MY, Glass ADM (1997) Conifer root discrimination against soil nitrate and the ecology of forest succession. Nature 385:59–61

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ledgard SF, Woo KC, Bergersen FJ (1985) Isotopic fractionation during reduction of nitrate and nitrite by extracts of spinach leaves. Aust J Plant Physiol 12:631–640

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li B, McKeand SE, Allen HL (1991) Genetic variation in nitrogen use efficiency of loblolly pine seedlings. For Sci 37:613–626

    Google Scholar 

  • Livingston NJ, Guy RD, Sun ZJ, Ethier GJ (1999) The effects of nitrogen stress on the stable carbon isotope composition, productivity and water use efficiency of white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) seedlings. Plant Cell Environ 22:281–289

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mariotti A, Mariotti F, Champigny M-L, Amarger N, Moyse A (1982) Nitrogen isotope fractionation associated with nitrate reductase activity and uptake of NO3− by pearl millet. Plant Physiol 69:880–884

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Merbach M, Mirus E, Knof G, Remus R, Ruppel S, Russow R, Gransee A, Schulze J (1999) Release of carbon and nitrogen compounds by plant roots and their possible ecological importance. J Plant Nutr Soil Sci 162:373–383

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Min X, Siddiqi MY, Guy RD, Glass ADM, Kronzucker HJ (1999) A comparative study of fluxes and compartmentation of nitrate and ammonium in early-successional tree species. Plant Cell Environ 22:821–830

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mulavaney RL, Khan SA (1999) Use of diffusion to determine inorganic N in a complex organic matrix. Soil Sci Soc Am J 63:240–246

    Google Scholar 

  • Needoba JA, Waser NA, Harrison PJ, Calvert SE (2003) Nitrogen isotope fractionation in 12 species of marine phytoplankton during growth on nitrate. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 255:81–91

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • O’Leary MH (1993) Biochemical basis of carbon isotope fractionation. In: Ehleringer JR, Hall AE, Farquhar GD (eds) Stable isotopes and plant carbon-water relations. Academic, New York, pp 19–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Patterson TB, Guy RD, Dang QL (1997) Whole-plant nitrogen- and water-relations traits, and their associated trade-offs, in adjacent muskeg and upland boreal spruce species. Oecologia 110:160–168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ricker WE (1984) Computation and uses of central trend lines. Can J Zool 62:1897–1905

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson D (2001) δ15N as an integrator of the nitrogen cycle. Trends Ecol Evol 16:153–162

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Robinson D, Handley LL, Scrimgeour CM, Gordon DC, Forster BP, Ellis RP (2000) Using stable isotope natural abundances (δ15N and δ13C) to integrate the stress responses of wild barley (Hordeum spontaneum C. Koch.) genotypes. J Exp Bot 51:41–50

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shearer G, Kohl DH (1989) Natural 15N abundance of NH4+, amide N, and total N in various fractions of nodules of peas, soybeans and lupins. Aust J Plant Physiol 16:305–313

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Solorzano L (1969) Determination of ammonia in natural waters by the phenolhypochlorite method. Limnol Oceanogr 14:799–801

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sun ZJ, Livingston NJ, Guy RD, Ethier GJ (1996) Stable carbon isotopes as indicators of increased water use efficiency and productivity in white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) seedlings. Plant Cell Environ 19:887–894

    Google Scholar 

  • Swiader JM, Chyan Y, Splittstoesser WE (1991) Genotypic differences in nitrogen uptake, dry matter production, and nitrogen distribution in pumpkins (Cucurbita moschata Poir.). J Plant Nutr 14:511–524

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tirol-Padre A, Ladha JK, Singh U, Laureles E, Punzalan G, Akita S (1996) Grain yield performance of rice genotypes at suboptimal levels of soil N as affected by N uptake and utilization efficiency. Field Crops Res 46:127–143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Waser NA, Yu Z, Yin K, Nielsen B, Harrison PJ, Turpin DH, Calvert SE (1999) Nitrogen isotopic fractionation during a simulated diatom spring bloom: importance of N-starvation in controlling fractionation. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 179:291–296

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yoneyama T, Kaneko A (1989) Variations in the natural abundance of 15N in nitrogenous fractions of the komatsuna plants supplied with nitrate. Plant Cell Physiol 30:957–962

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yoneyama T, Omata T, Nakata S, Yazaki J (1991) Fractionation of nitrogen isotopes during the uptake and assimilation of ammonia by plants. Plant Cell Physiol 32:1211–1217

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yoneyama T, Kamachi K, Yamaya T, Mae T (1993) Fractionation of nitrogen isotopes by glutamine synthetase isolated from spinach leaves. Plant Cell Physiol 34:489–491

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yoneyama T, Matsumaru T, Usui K, Engelaar WMHG (2001) Discrimination of nitrogen isotopes during absorption of ammonium and nitrate at different nitrogen concentrations by rice (Oryza sativa L.) plants. Plant Cell Environ 24:133–139

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (Canada) grant to R.D.G.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forest Sciences, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, 3030-2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T 1Z4

    Emily S. Pritchard & Robert D. Guy

Authors
  1. Emily S. Pritchard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Robert D. Guy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Robert D. Guy.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pritchard, E.S., Guy, R.D. Nitrogen isotope discrimination in white spruce fed with low concentrations of ammonium and nitrate. Trees 19, 89–98 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-004-0367-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-004-0367-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation