The effects of nitrate on the enzymes involved in nitrogen assimilation in nodulated pea roots

Abstract

Pea Plants (Pisum sativaum L. ev. Little Marvel) were grown in N‐free medium and when well nodulated (28 days) were supplied for 8 days with nitrate or ammonium. Over the 8 days of nitrate treatment, total amino and amide N in sap declined, and the proportion of aspartate relative to the other amino acids increased. After 8 days of treatment, nitrogenase (EC 1.18.2.1) activity in nitrate‐treated plants declined to about 30% of the activity in controls even though nodules were not directly in contact with nutrient solution. Nitrogenase activity was also decreased by the addition of ammonium chloride (10 mM). With addition of nitrate or ammonium. clear signs of senescence began to show in the nodules after 4 days. Nitrate reductase (EC 1.6.6.1) activity was induced in roots by nitrate, but decreased sharply in nodules. In response to nitrate addition, newly formed root tissues showed 3‐ to 5‐times higher glutamine synthetase (GS. EC 6.3.1.4) activity than newly formed tissues of control plants, expressed on a protein or weight basis. In complementary experiments, when ammonium salts were used instead of nitrates, the increase in GS activity was significantly lower. GS activity decreased in nodules of treated plants and total extractable protein was 3 times lower in nodules of nitrate‐treated plants than in controls at day 8 of treatment.