This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Web of Science (45) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by MacKown, C. T. Articles by McClure, P. R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by MacKown, C. T. Articles by McClure, P. R. Agricola Articles by MacKown, C. T. Articles by McClure, P. R.

Metabolism and Enzymology

Development of Accelerated Net Nitrate Uptake ¹

Effects of Nitrate Concentration and Exposure Time

United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546-0091, Department of Agronomy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546-0091, Section of Plant Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-59038

Upon initial nitrate exposure, net nitrate uptake rates in roots of a wide variety of plants accelerate within 6 to 8 hours to substantially greater rates. Effects of solution nitrate concentrations and short pulses of nitrate (1 hour) upon `nitrate-induced' acceleration of nitrate uptake in maize (Zea mays L.) were determined. Root cultures of dark-grown seedlings, grown without nitrate, were exposed to 250 micromolar nitrate for 0.25 to 1 hour or to various solution nitrate concentrations (10-250 micromolar) for 1 hour before returning them to a nitrate-free solution. Net nitrate uptake rates were assayed at various periods following nitrate exposure and compared to rates of roots grown either in the absence of nitrate (CaSO₄-grown) or with continuous nitrate for at least 20 hours. Three hours after initial nitrate exposure, nitrate pulse treatments increased nitrate uptake rates three- to four-fold compared to the rates of CaSO₄-grown roots. When cycloheximide (5 micrograms per milliliter) was included during a 1-hour pulse with 250 micromolar nitrate, development of the accelerated nitrate uptake state was delayed. Otherwise, nitrate uptake rates reached maximum values within 6 hours before declining. Maximum rates, however, were significantly less than those of roots exposed continuously for 20, 32, or 44 hours. Pulsing for only 0.25 hour with 250 micromolar nitrate and for 1 hour with 10 micromolar caused acceleration of nitrate uptake, but the rates attained were either less than or not sustained for a duration comparable to those of roots pulsed for 1 hour with 250 micromolar nitrate. These results indicate that substantial development of the nitrate-induced accelerated nitrate uptake state can be achieved by small endogenous accumulations of nitrate, which appear to moderate the activity or level of root nitrate uptake.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. Krouk, P. Tillard, and A. Gojon Regulation of the High-Affinity NO3- Uptake System by NRT1.1-Mediated NO3- Demand Signaling in Arabidopsis Plant Physiology, November 1, 2006; 142(3): 1075 - 1086. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]