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Nitrate Reductase Activity in Shoots and Roots of Maize Seedlings as Affected by the Form of Nitrogen Nutrition and the pH of the Nutrient Solution ¹

Laboratoire de Biochimie et Physiologie Végétale, Ecole Nationale Supérieure Agronomique, 34060 Montpellier, France

The effect of nitrogen form (NH₄-N, NH₄-N + NO₃^–, NO₃^–) on nitrate reductase activity in roots and shoots of maize (Zea mays L. cv INRA 508) seedlings was studied. Nitrate reductase activity in leaves was consistent with the well known fact that NO₃^– increases, and NH₄⁺ and amide-N decrease, nitrate reductase activity. Nitrate reductase activity in the roots, however, could not be explained by the root content of NO₃^–, NH₄-N, and amide-N. In roots, nitrate reductase activity in vitro was correlated with the rate of nitrate reduction in vivo. Inasmuch as nitrate reduction results in the production of OH^– and stimulates the synthesis of organic anions, it was postulated that nitrate reductase activity of roots is stimulated by the released OH^– or by the synthesized organic anions rather than by nitrate itself. Addition of HCO₃^– to nutrient solution of maize seedlings resulted in a significant increase of the nitrate reductase activity in the roots. As HCO₃^–, like OH^–, increases pH and promotes the synthesis of organic anions, this provides circumstantial evidence that alkaline conditions and/or organic anions have a more direct impact on nitrate reductase activity than do NO₃^–, NH₄-N, and amide-N.

¹ Supported by Ministère des Affaires Etrangères, Paris, France (K. M.).

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