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Induction of Root Nodule Senescence by Combined Nitrogen in Pisum sativum L ¹

^a Department of Life Sciences, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana 47809

Root nodule senescence induced by nitrate and ammonium in Pisum sativum L. was defined by determining nitrogenase activity and leghemoglobin content with the acetylene reduction and pyridine hemochrome assays. Root systems supplied with 100 mM KNO₃ or 100 mM NH₄Cl exhibited a decrease in nitrogenase activity followed by a decline in leghemoglobin content. Increasing the CO₂ concentration from 0.000320 atm to 0.00120 atm had no effect on the time course of root nodule senescence when 20 mM KNO₃ was supplied to the roots; in vitro nitrate reductase activity was detected in leaves and roots, but not bacteroids. Nitrate appeared in leaves, roots, and the nodule cytosol fraction but not bacteroids when 20 mM KNO₃ was supplied to roots. When nitrate entered through the shoots, however, no root nodule senescence was observed, and no nitrate was detected in root or nodule cytosol fractions although nitrate and nitrate reductase were found in leaves. The results suggest that nitrate does not induce root nodule senescence through competition between nitrate reductase and nitrogenase for products of photosynthesis.

¹ This work was supported by National Science Foundation Grants BMS 75-13160 and PCM 76-23472.