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Articles

Influence of Temperature on Nitrate Metabolism and Leaf Expansion in Soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) Seedlings ¹

^a Department of Agronomy, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801

The effect of various day temperatures on NADH-nitrate reductase, NADH- and NADPH-glutamate dehydrogenases, nitrate, protein and leaf area, measured at intervals during the ontogeny of the first trifoliolate soybean leaf, was determined. At 32.5 C and 25 C, nitrate concentration, nitrate reductase, and NADPH-glutamate dehydrogenase activities increased concurrently with leaf development and then decreased as leaf maturation progressed. At 40 C, these three components showed no initial increase and the concentration or activities decreased throughout the development of the leaf. The effects of temperature on NADH-glutamate dehydrogenase were the reverse. Rates of protein accumulation were higher at 40 C during the first 2 days of leaf development while higher rates were measured the first 5 days of leaf growth at 32.5 C. At 25 C, protein accumulation was low during the first 3 days of leaf growth, increased in the period of 3 to 5 days, and then declined up to 8 days of leaf development. Leaf expansion progressed at faster rates at 32.5 C and 25 C and at a much slower rate at 40 C. Leaf growth was essentially complete after the fifth day regardless of temperature.

In crude leaf homogenates, apparent irreversible inactivation temperatures were 36 C for nitrate reductase and 65 C for NADPH-glutamate dehydrogenase. In vivo studies indicated a lower inactivation temperature for NADPH-glutamate dehydrogenase; however, it was still more heat-tolerant than nitrate reductase.

We envisaged that reduced nitrogen supplied by NO₃^– assimilation is a factor in leaf expansion.

¹ This work was supported in part by Hatch funds and United States Department of Agriculture Cooperative Agreement 006-37-01. A. C. M. gratefully acknowledges the assistance of a fellowship grant from the Rockefeller Foundation.