Nitrate Reduction in Roots and Shoots of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and Corn (Zea mays L.) Seedlings: I. 15N Study

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Nitrate reduction in roots and shoots of 7-day-old barley seedlings, and 9-day-old corn seedlings was investigated. The N-depleted seedlings were transferred for 24 h or 48 h of continuous light to a mixed nitrogen medium containing both nitrate and ammonium. Total nitrate reduction was determined by 15N incorporation from 15NO3−, translocation of reduced 15N from the roots to the shoots was estimated with reduced 15N from 15NH4+ assimilation as tracer, and the translocation from the shoots to the roots was measured on plants grown with a split root system. A model was proposed to calculate the nitrate reduction by roots from these data. For both species, the induction phase was characterized by a high contribution of the roots which accounted for 65% of the whole plant nitrate reduction in barley, and for 70% in corn. However, during the second period of the experiment, once this induction process was finished, roots only accounted for 20% of the whole plant nitrate reduction in barley seedlings, and for 27% in corn. This reversal in nitrate reduction localization was due to both increased shoot reduction and decreased root reduction. The pattern of N exchanges between the organs showed that the cycling of reduced N through the plant was important for both species. In particular, the downward transport of reduced N increased while nitrate assimilation in roots decreased. As a result, when induction was achieved, the N feeding of the roots appeared to be highly dependent on translocation from the leaves.

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