Abstract
Diurnal fluctuations of nitrate content and of nitrate reductase activity (NRA) in leaves, petioles + shoot axes and roots of a C3 plant (Atriplex hortensis L.) and a C4 plant (Amaranthus retroflexus L.) were investigated under natural light conditions. In addition, transpiration of the leaves and photosynthetically active radiation were monitored. Irrespective of the plant organ and species, nitrate content and NRA showed inverse diurnal changes, with highest nitrate concentrations per g dry weight being evident in the morning and highest NRA per g dry weight in the early afternoon. The fluctuations, however, were more pronounced in the shoot organs than in the roots. Irrespective of a much higher transpiration of the leaves of the C3 plant, the absolute fluctuations of the nitrate concentrations and of the NRA were quite similar in the two species, indicating that the transpiration rate was of minor importance for the rate of nitrate supply to the leaves.
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© 1990 Kluwer Academic Publishers
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Gebauer, G. (1990). Diurnal changes of nitrate content and nitrate reductase activity in different organs of Atriplex hortensis (C3 plant) and Amaranthus retroflexus (C4 plant). In: van Beusichem, M.L. (eds) Plant Nutrition — Physiology and Applications. Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences, vol 41. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0585-6_15
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0585-6_15
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
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