Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Influence of nitrate—ammonium ratio on growth and nutrition of Arabidopsis thaliana

  • Regular Article
  • Published:
Plant and Soil Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings were grown in hydroponic culture under controlled conditions in mediums with different NO −3 /NH +4 ratios. The mediums were not buffered, against pH change, but their pH was reset at pH 5.5 each 2 days. When ammoniacal N source was predominant, the whole plant biomass deposition was diminished, parallely to several parameters which revealed degraded leaf physiological status, such as leaf chlorosis associated with diminished chlorophyll content, lowered K+, Ca2+, and water content, along with restricted leaf expansion, and apparition of cellular stress symptoms. However, leaf functioning for biomass production did not seem affected, since biomass production rate per unit leaf surface area remained unchanged. Indeed, the main factor of decrease biomass production was leaf elimination and/or repression of leaf initiation. The results are discussed in the context of literature data on the effects of NH +4 on ion fluxes at the root level and properties of K+ transport systems in Arabidopsis. Disturbance of mineral (cationic) nutrition by NH +4 seemed to be a major cause of the detrimental effect of ammoniacal nutrition.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adams F (1981) Nutritional imbalances and constraints to plant growth on acid soils. J Plant Nutr 4:81–87

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Adler PR, Wilcox GE, Markhart AH (1996) Ammonium decreases muskmelon root system hydraulic conductivity. J Plant Nutr 19:1395–1403

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arnon DI, Johnson CM (1942) Influence of hydrogen ion concentration on the growth of higher plants under controlled conditions. Plant Physiol 17:525–539

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Aslam M, Travis-Robert L, Rains DW, Huffaker RC (1997) Differential effect of ammonium on the induction of nitrate and nitrite reductase activities in roots of barley (Hordenum vulgare) seedlings. Physiol Plant 101:612–619

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Berta L, Silvia F, Pedro MAT, Carmen L (2002) Role of glutamate dehydrogenase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activity in ammonium nutrition tolerance in roots. Plant Physiol Biochem 40:969–976

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bouat A, Crouzet C (1965) Notes techniques sur un appareil semiautomatique de dosage de l’azote et de certains composés volatiles. Ann Agric 16:107–118

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Britto DT, Kronzucker HJ (2002) NH +4 toxicity in higher plants: a critical review. J Plant Physiol 159:567–584

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Britto DT, Siddiqi Y, Glass ADM, Kronzucker HJ (2001) Futile transmembrane NH +4 cycling: a cellular hypothesis to explain ammonium toxicity in plants. Proc Natl Acad Sci 98:4255–4258

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Britto DT, Ruth TJ, Lapi S, Kronzucker HJ (2004) Cellular and whole-plant chloride dynamics in barley: insights into chloride–nitrogen interactions and salinity responses. Planta 218:615–622

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Claussen W, Lenz F (1995) Effect of ammonium and nitrate on net photosynthesis, flower formation, growth and yield of eggplants (Solanum melongena L.). Plant Soil 171:267–274

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cox WJ, Reisenauer HM (1973) Growth and ion uptake by wheat supplied nitrogen as nitrate, ammonium, or both. Plant Soil 38:363–380

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Delhaize E, Ryan PR (1995) Aluminum toxicity and tolerance in plants. Plant Physiol 107:315–321

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dionisio-Sese ML, Tobita S (1998) Antioxidant responses of rice seedlings to salinity stress. Plant Sci 135:1–9

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fageria NK, Baligar VC, Wright RJ (1989) Growth and nutrient concentrations of alfalfa and common bean as influenced by soil acidity. Plant Soil 119:331–333

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Findenegg GR (1987) A comparative study of ammonium toxicity at different constant pH of the nutrient solution. Plant Soil 103:239–243

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gay AP, Hauck B (1994) Acclimation of Lolium temulentum to enhanced carbon dioxide concentration. J Exp Bot 45:1133–1141

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guo S, Bruck H, Sattelmacher B (2002) Effects of supplied nitrogen form on growth and water uptake of french bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plants. Plant Soil 239:267–275

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hernandez JA, Almansa MS (2002) Short-term effects of salt stress on antioxidant systems and leaf water relations of pea leaves. Physiol Plant 115:251–257

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hirsch RE, Lewis BD, Spalding EP, Sussman MR (1998) A role for the AKT1 potassium channel in plant nutrition. Science 280:918–921

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hunt R (1990) Basic growth analysis. Unwin Hyman Ed, London, 112

    Google Scholar 

  • Islam AKMS, Edwards DG, Asher CJ (1980) pH optima for crop growth. Results of a flowing solution culture experiment with six species. Plant Soil 54:339–357

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kronzucker HJ, Siddiqi MY, Glass ADM (1997) Conifer root discrimination against soil nitrate and the ecology of forest succession. Nature 385:59–61

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kronzucker HJ, Glass ADM, Siddiqi MY (1999a) Inhibition of nitrate uptake by ammonium in Barley. Analysis of component fluxes. Plant Physiol 120:283–291

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kronzucker HJ, Siddiqi MY, Glass ADM, Kirk GJD (1999b) Nitrate-ammonium synergism in rice. A subcellular flux analysis. Plant Physiol 119:1041–1045

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kronzucker HJ, Britto DT, Davenport RJ, Tester M (2001) Ammonium toxicity and the real cost of transport. Trends Plant Sci 6:335–337

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kronzucker HJ, Szczerba MW, Britto DT (2003) Cytosolic potassium homeostasis revisited: 42K-tracer analysis in Hordeum vulgare L. Reveals set-point variations in [K+]. Planta 217:540–546

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Leleu O, Vuylsteker C (2004) Unusual regulatory nitrate reductase activity in cotyledons of Brassica napus seedlings: enhancement of nitrate reductase activity by ammonium supply. J Exp Bot 55:815–823

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lu YX, Li CJ, Zhang FS (2005) Transpiration, potassium uptake and flow in Tobacco as affected by nitrogen forms and nutrient levels. Ann Bot 95:991–998

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Marschner H (1995) Mineral nutrition of higher plants. Academic, London, p 889

    Google Scholar 

  • Maynard DN, Barker AV (1969) Studies on the tolerance of plants to ammonium nutrition. J Am Soc Hortic Sci 94:235–239

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miller AJ, Cramer MD (2004) Root nitrogen acquisition and assimilation. Plant Soil 274:1–36

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murray JR, Hackett WP (1991) Dihydroflavonol reductase activity in relation to differential anthocyanin accumulation in juvenile and mature phase (Hedera helix L.). Plant Physiol 97:343–351

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Noble AD, Summer ME, Alva AK (1988) The pH dependency of aluminum phytotoxicity alleviation by calcium sulfate. Soil Sci Soc Am J 52:1398–1402

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Raab TK, Terry N (1994) Nitrogen source regulation of growth and photosynthese in Beta vulgaris L. Plant Physiol 10:1159–1166

    Google Scholar 

  • Raven JA, Smith FA (1976) Nitrogen assimilation and transport in vascular land plants in relation to intracellular p H regulation. New Phytol 76:415–431

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Raven JA, Wollenweber B, Handley LH (1992a) Ammonia and ammonium fluxes between photolithotrophs and the environment in relation to the global nitrogen cycle. New Phytol 121:5–18

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Raven JA, Wollenweber B, Handley LH (1992b) A comparison of ammonium and nitrate as nitrogen sources for photolithotrophs. New Phytol 121:19–32

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rayar AJ, Van Hai T (1977) Effect of ammonium on uptake of phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium by intact soybean plants. Plant Soil 48:81–87

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roberts JKM, Andrade FH, Anderson IC (1985) Further evidence that cytoplasmic acidosis is a determinant of flooding intolerance in plants. Plant Physiol 77:492–494

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Robin P (1979) Etude de quelques conditions d’extraction de la nitrate réductase des racines et des feuilles des plantules de maïs. Physiol Vég 17:45–54

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salsac L, Chaillou S, Morot-Gaudry JF, Lesaint C, Jolivet E (1987) Nitrate and ammonium nutrition in plants. Plant Physiol Biochem 25:805–812

    Google Scholar 

  • Schubert S, Schubert E, Mengel K (1990) Effect of low pH of the root medium on proton release, growth, and nutrient uptake of field beans (Vicia faba). Plant Soil 124(2):39–244

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Siddiqi MY, Molhotra B, Min X, Glass ADM (2002) Effects of ammonium and inorganic carbon enrichment on growth and yield of a hydroponic tomato crop. J Plant Nutr Soil Sci 165:191–197

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith FA, Raven JA (1979) Intracellular pH and its regulation. Annu Rev Plant Physiol 30:289–311

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Spalding EP, Hirsch RE, Lewis DR, Qi Z, Sussman MR, Lewis BD (1999) Potassium uptake supporting plant growth in the absence of AKT1 channel activity—inhibition by ammonium and stimulation by sodium. J Gen Physiol 113:909–918

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tolley-Henry R, Rapper CD (1986) Utilization of ammonium as a nitrogen source. Effects of ambiant acidity on growth and nitrogen accumulation by soybean. Plant Physiol 82:54–60

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Torrecillas A, Léon A, Del Amor F, Martinez-Mompean MC (1984) Determinacion rapida de clorofila en discos foliares de limonero. Fruits 39:617–622

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van Beusichem ML, Kirkby EA, Baas R (1988) Influence of Nitrate and ammonium nutrition on the Uptake, assimilation, and distribution of n nutrients in Ricinus communis. Plant Physiol 86:914–921

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Walch-Liu P, Neumann G, Bangerth F, Engels C (2000) Rapid effects of nitrogen form on leaf morphogenesis in tobacco. J Exp Bot 51:227–237

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yan F, Sven Schubert S, Mengel K (1992) Effect of low root medium pH on net proton release, root respiration, and root growth of Corn(Zea mays L.) and Broad Bean (Vicia faba L.). Plant Physiol 99:415–421

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu ZJ, Gerendas J, Bendixen R, Shinner K, Tabrizi H, Sattelmacher B, Hansen UP (2000) Different tolerance to light stress in NO −3 and NH +4 grown Phaseolus vulgaris L. Plant Biol 5:558–570

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Tunisian—French CMCU (network 02F/924). We are grateful to Professor Claude Grignon for his help in preparing the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physiologie et Biochimie de la Tolérance au Sel des Plantes, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Campus Universitaire, 2092, El Manar II, Tunisia

    Sabah M’rah Helali, Heifa Nebli, Rym Kaddour, Hela Mahmoudi, Mokhtar Lachaâl & Zeineb Ouerghi

Authors
  1. Sabah M’rah Helali
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Heifa Nebli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Rym Kaddour
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Hela Mahmoudi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Mokhtar Lachaâl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Zeineb Ouerghi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sabah M’rah Helali.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Herbert Johannes Kronzucker.

Sabah M’rah Helali and Heifa Nebli have participated equally to this work.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

M’rah Helali, S., Nebli, H., Kaddour, R. et al. Influence of nitrate—ammonium ratio on growth and nutrition of Arabidopsis thaliana . Plant Soil 336, 65–74 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-010-0445-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-010-0445-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation