Nitrate reductase activity and yield of dry mass and protein content in cucumber seedlings supplied with nitrates and ammonium

Abstract

The presence of NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup> ions in a nutrient solution containing NH<sub>4</sub>NO<sub>3</sub> with the K+ ions removed, caused an inhibition of nitrate reductase (NR) activity in cucumber leaves. The lack of K<sup>+</sup> in a NaNO<sub>3</sub> medium also decreased the NR activity. Addition of K<sup>+</sup> to these media suppressed the inhibitory effect of NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup> and enhanced the NR activity in the leaves of plants growing in NaNO<sub>3</sub> nutrient solution. The results suggest that K<sup>+</sup> is essential for NO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup> reduction, Na<sup>+</sup> is less effective in this process, whereas NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup> ions markedly inhibit NO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup> reduction. The protein content and increment of dry mass of cucumber plants grown 10 days with NH<sub>4</sub>-N as the sole source of nitrogen was significantly lower as compared with NO<sub>3</sub>-N supplied plants feed with plants feed with both forms of mineral nitrogen (NH<sub>4</sub>NO<sub>3</sub>). The results show that cucumber prefers the nitrates, although it can utilize the ammonium form of nitrogen.