Abstract
Acetohydroxymate (AHM), a specific inhibitor of urease was applied to the rooting systems of nodulated pigeon pea (ureide symbiosis) and alfalfa (amide symbiosis) for a period of 25 days. Pigeon pea suffered chlorosis, and a reduction in plant growth, dry weight and total nitrogen content, while these parameters were unaffected in alfalfa. Whereas the nitrogenase (EC 1.7.99.2) activity of these two plant nodules was unaffected due to AHM, urease (EC 3,5.1.5) levels were markedly reduced, consequently urea accumulated in all parts of the pigeon pea. These results suggested that AHM blocked nitrogen assimilation into plant protein. Ureide metabolism in pigeon pea may be via the allantoicase pathway rather than the allantoate amidohydrolase pathway.
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