Protein and Nonprotein Amino Acids in Citrus Leaves as Affected by Phytophthora spp., Root Infestation and Soil Oxygen Content1

Abstract

Abstract Protein amino acids in leaves of Phytophthora spp.-infested or noninfested plants were not affected measurably. Leaves from plants supplied with low soil oxygen levels contained significantly less protein amino acids: lysine, histidine, aspartic acid, threonine, serine, glutamic acid, glycine, alanine, valine, isoleucine, leucine, tyrosine, and phenylalanine but more arginine than analogous leaves of plants supplied with normal soil oxygen concn. The leaves of Phytophthora-infested plants contained significantly lower concn of nonprotein amino acids: threonine, glycine, alanine, cystine, valine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, tyrosine, and phenylalanine but higher concn of arginine and aspartic and glutamic acids. The nonprotein amino acids: lysine, arginine, aspartic acid, and pro line were higher, while threonine and glutamic acid were lower, in seedling leaves supplied with low soil oxygen than those in leaves on plants supplied with normal soil oxygen. The protein and nonprotein proline, and the sum of nonprotein amino acids increased in leaves of noninfested plants, while decreasing in leaves of infested plants, with a decreasing level of soil oxygen to roots. Substantive amounts of protein amino acids found in citrus seedling leaves were glutamic acid, aspartic acid, proline, leucine, and arginine; those of nonprotein amino acids were proline, arginine, serine, lysine, and aspartic acid. These amounts represent, respectively, 50 and 90% of the sum.