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Effect of selenium on CO2 and NO3 − assimilation under low and adequate nitrogen supply in wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.)

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Photosynthetica

Abstract

In order to study the mechanisms of Se-mediated growth improvement as related to carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) metabolism, wheat plants were cultivated hydroponically with adequate (4 mM, Na) or low (1 mM, Nd) N supply and treated with 10 and 50 μM Na2SeO4 for six weeks. The Se supplementation enhanced plant biomass; it was significant for shoots of Na plants at 50 μM Se. Chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were significantly lowered under Nd conditions but restored completely by Se addition reaching values of those in Na plants. Net CO2 assimilation rate (P N) decreased only slightly by limited N availability, but it enhanced significantly in both Nd and Na plants equally by 10 and 50 μM Se. Effect of Se on P N in the Na plants occurred mainly due to the stomata opening, while it was related to both stomatal and nonstomatal mechanisms in the Nd plants. The Se treatment resulted in enhancement of nitrate reductase (NR) activity in both Na and Nd plants with an optimal response at 10 μM Se. Negative correlations between nitrate concentration and NR activity indicated a partial nitrate depletion in the roots following by elevated NR activity in Nd plants. In contrast, nitrite concentrations were higher in the Se treated plants. Higher amino acids and protein concentrations in the Se-treated plants might be an indication of a general upregulation of N metabolism. However, in Na plants, the stimulation of N metabolism was not observed at 50 μM Se which could not be attributed to lesser availability of C skeletons because of maintaning higher CO2 fixation under these conditions. It implies the function of some regulatory mechanisms that are responsible for coordination of C and N metabolism in whole plant.

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Abbreviations

Car:

carotenoids

Chl a(b):

chlorophyll a(b)

DM:

dry mass

ETR:

electron transport rate

Fv′/Fm′:

excitation capture efficiency of open PSII

F0 :

initial fluorescence of dark-adapted leaf

FM:

fresh mass

E :

transpiration rate

Fm :

maximum fluorescence of dark-adapted leaf

Fm′:

maximum fluorescence of light-adapted leaf

Fs :

steady-state fluorescence of light-adapted leaf

Fv :

variable fluorescence of dark-adapted leaf

Fv/Fm :

maximum quantum yield of PSII

g s :

stomatal conductance

Na :

N-adequate

Nd :

N-deficient

NiR:

nitrite reductase

NPQ:

nonphotochemical quenching

NR:

nitrate reductase

P N :

net assimilation rate

qP :

photochemical quenching

SD:

standard deviation

ΦPSII :

effective quantum yield of PSII

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center of Excellence for Biodiversity, University of Tabriz, 51666-14779, Tabriz, Iran

    R. Hajiboland

  2. Plant Science Department, University of Tabriz, 51666-14779, Tabriz, Iran

    R. Hajiboland & N. Sadeghzade

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  1. R. Hajiboland
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  2. N. Sadeghzade
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Correspondence to R. Hajiboland.

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Acknowledgements: Research Council and Center of Excellence for Biodiversity, University of Tabriz are greatly appreciated for their financial supports.

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Hajiboland, R., Sadeghzade, N. Effect of selenium on CO2 and NO3 − assimilation under low and adequate nitrogen supply in wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.). Photosynthetica 52, 501–510 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-014-0058-1

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