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Nitrate Reductase Activity and Protein Concentration of Two Populas Clones ¹

^a Department of Forestry, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50010

Nitrate reductase activity and protein percentage of various tree parts of two Populus clones were determined in relation to nitrate ion activity. Nitrogen was supplied as NH₄NO₃ in a nutriculture system. Wisconsin-5 had significantly greater nitrate reductase activity than Tristis No. 1. Protein percentages of leaf plastochron index 10 leaves (tenth leaf below first leaf lamina exceeding 20 mm in length), bottom leaves, and roots in relation to nitrate ion activity were not appreciably different between clones. The nitrate reductase activity and protein percentage of Tristis No. 1 apex started to level off at the same nitrate ion activity, about 0.09 mM. In Wisconsin-5 apex protein percentage continued to increase at nitrate ion activities where nitrate reductase activity decreases sharply, suggesting that protein nitrogen was being supplied by ammonium ion. The difference in nitrate reductase activity between clones was probably due to genetically determined ability to synthesize nitrate reductase in response to nitrate ion. The expression of nitrate reductase activity was not an index of nitrogen assimilation ability but may be a useful index of growth potential when nitrate ion does not limit nitrate reductase synthesis.

¹ Journal Paper No. J-7449 of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station. Project 1872. Supported in part by the North Central Forest Experiment Station, United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service.