Abstract
Nodules of faba bean (Vicia faba L. cv. Giza 3) plants grown in pots containing clay-loam soil for 90 d have an active nitrate reductase (NR), while the leaves did not show detectable activity. Spraying the plant with increasing concentrations of Al3+ or Cd2+ (0–1000 μM) significantly inhibited the nodules NR activity, the decline being more pronounced in Cd2+ treatment. The specific activity of glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (GPT) were more prominent in the 60- than in 90-d-old plants; GOT was always higher than GPT. Furthermore, GOT was more sensitive to Al3+ and Cd2+ treatments and its activity was significantly decreased when the metal concentration increased. Also, Cd2+ proved to be more effective than Al3+ in suppressing the GOT activity in the nodules, with less significant effect observed in the leaves. In contrast, GPT was hardly affected by the various metal treatments, particulary in the leaves.
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Shalaby, A.M., Al-Wakeel, S.A.M. Changes in nitrogen metabolism enzyme activities ofVicia faba in response to aluminum and cadmium. Biol Plant 37, 101–106 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02913004
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02913004