Excretion of ureide and other nitrogenous compounds by the root system of soybean at different growth stages

Abstract

Direct excretion of nitrogenous compounds into a N-free nutrient solution, which was allowed to drip onto the root system of soybean (Glycine max (L) Merr. cv. Kurosengoku) was examined at different growth stages; vegetative, flowering and pod-filling. Considerable amounts of nitrogenous compounds were excreted at all the growth stages, with the highest amount recorded at the pod-filling stage. The root was found to be the major site of N compound excretion and its dry weight was linearly correlated with N amount excreted. Maximum nitrogen excretion rate during vegetative and flowering stages was recorded during the ‘day’, however at the pod-filling stage, the highest was recorded during the ‘night’. Ureide was excreted at all growth stages, but the highest amount was recorded at the pod-filing stage. The root was found to be the active site of ureide excretion. Composition of the total nitrogen examined i. e. ureide, soluble proteins, ammonia and amino acids, was found to be changing during the growth stages, suggesting possible different major pathways of excretion at different plant age. Among the N compounds monitored, were soluble proteins, ammonia and amino acids. Only a few of the several amino acids found in the root tissues were observed in the ‘excreted solution’, notably phosphoserine and phosphoethanolamine, at all the growth stages, whilst γ-amino-butyric-acid and serine were observed in trace amounts during vegetative and flowering stages. Quantitatively the ammonia found in the ‘excreted solution’ was far greater than in the tissues.