Plant Physiol. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
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Published on January 13, 2006; 10.1104/pp.105.072983

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Received October 19, 2005
Returned for revision November 10, 2005
Accepted November 29, 2005

Nickel Deficiency Disrupts Metabolism of Ureides, Amino Acids, and Organic Acids of Young Pecan [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch] Foliage

Cheng Bai *, Charles C. Reilly , and Bruce W. Wood

USDA-ARS, SAA, Southeast Fruit and Tree Nut Research Laboratory, 21 Dunbar Road, Byron, GA 31008, USA

* Corresponding author; email: cbai{at}saa.ars.usda.gov.

The existence of nickel (Ni) deficiency is becoming increasingly apparent in crops, especially for ureide transporting woody perennials, yet its physiological role is poorly understood. We evaluated the concentrations of ureides, amino acids, and organic acids in photosynthetic foliar tissue from "Ni-sufficient" (Ni-S) vs. "Ni-deficient" (Ni-D) pecan [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch]. Foliage of Ni-D pecan seedlings exhibited metabolic disruption of nitrogen metabolism via ureide catabolism, amino acid metabolism, and ornithine cycle intermediates. Disruption of ureide catabolism in Ni-D foliage resulted in accumulation of xanthine, allantoic acid, ureidoglycolate, and citrulline; yet, total ureides, and urea concentration and urease activity were reduced. Disruption of amino acid metabolism in Ni-D foliage resulted in accumulation of Gly, Val, Ile, Tyr, Trp, Arg, and total free amino acids; and lower concentrations of His and Glu. Ni deficiency also disrupted the citric acid cycle, the second stage of respiration, where Ni-D foliage contained very low level of citrate compared to Ni-S foliage. Disruption of carbon metabolism was also via accumulation of lactic and oxalic acids. The results indicate that "mouse-ear", a key morphological symptom, is likely linked to the toxic accumulation of oxalic and lactic acids in the rapidly growing tips and margins of leaflets. Our results support the role of Ni as an essential plant nutrient element. The magnitude of metabolic disruption exhibited in Ni-D pecan is evidence of the existence of unidentified physiological roles for Ni in pecan.






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