Abstract
Barley (Hordeum vulgare L., cvs Golf and Laevigatum) was grown under nitrogen limitation, controlled by the relative rate of nitrate-N addition (RA), in solution culture. The seminal and crown root systems were kept apart, but in contact with the same nutrient solution throughout culturing. Growth, nitrate uptake, and in vitro nitrate reductase (NR) activity in the different root parts were studied at plant ages from 40 (late vegetative stage) to 110 (mid grain-filling) days. The RA was during this time interval stepwise decreased from 0.08 day−1 to 0.005 day−1. The ratio between seminal root dry weight and total plant dry weight decreased drastically during post-anthesis growth, whereas the contribution by crown roots remained unchanged. Tissue nitrogen concentrations in seminal roots did not change with time, but decreased in crown roots after day 80. The NR activity decreased with age in both seminal and crown roots. The Vmax for net nitrate uptake decreased throughout the experiment in the seminal root system, but not in the crown root system. The kinetic properties (Vmax and KM) were used to calculate the nitrate concentration required to maintain a relative rate of nitrate-N uptake that equals the relative addition rate. These concentrations (2 to 5 mmol m−3) were found to closely match actually measured nitrate concentrations in the nutrient solution (1 to 6 mmol m−3). From uptake kinetics, it was deduced that the contribution by seminal roots to total nitrate uptake at these concentrations decreased from more than 50% in vegetative plants, to about 20% just after main shoot anthesis, and to less than 5% during grain-filling. ei]Section editor: H Lambers
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Mattsson, M., Lundborg, T. & Larsson, CM. Growth and development of seminal and crown root systems in N-limited barley, and their contributions to nitrate acquisition during vegetative and generative growth. Plant Soil 151, 239–247 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00016289
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00016289