Dynamic and Steady-State Responses of Inorganic Nitrogen Pools and NH3 Exchange in Leaves of Lolium perenne and Bromus erectus to Changes in Root Nitrogen Supply1

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American Society of Plant Physiologists

RESUMO

Short- and long-term responses of inorganic N pools and plant-atmosphere NH3 exchange to changes in external N supply were investigated in 11-week-old plants of two grass species, Lolium perenne and Bromus erectus, characteristic of N-rich and N-poor grassland ecosystems, respectively. A switch of root N source from NO3− to NH4+ caused within 3 h a 3- to 6-fold increase in leaf apoplastic NH4+ concentration and a simultaneous decrease in apoplastic pH of about 0.4 pH units in both species. The concentration of total extractable leaf tissue NH4+ also increased two to three times within 3 h after the switch. Removal of exogenous NH4+ caused the apoplastic NH4+ concentration to decline back to the original level within 24 h, whereas the leaf tissue NH4+concentration decreased more slowly and did not reach the original level in 48 h. After growing for 5 weeks with a steady-state supply of NO3− or NH4+, L. perenne were in all cases larger, contained more N, and utilized the absorbed N more efficiently for growth than B. erectus, whereas the two species behaved oppositely with respect to tissue concentrations of NO3−, NH4+, and total N. Ammonia compensation points were higher for B. erectus than for L. perenne and were in both species higher for NH4+- than for NO3−-grown plants. Steady-state levels of apoplastic NH4+, tissue NH4+, and NH3 emission were significantly correlated. It is concluded that leaf apoplastic NH4+ is a highly dynamic pool, closely reflecting changes in the external N supply. This rapid response may constitute a signaling system coordinating leaf N metabolism with the actual N uptake by the roots and the external N availability.

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