Symbiotic N2 fixation activity in relation to C economy of Pisum sativum L. as a function of plant phenology

• Published in: Journal of experimental botany Vol. 54; no. 393; pp. 2733 - 2744
• Main Authors: Voisin, A.S, Salon, C, Jeudy, C, Warembourg, F.R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Oxford University Press 01-12-2003; Oxford Publishing Limited (England); Oxford University Press (OUP)
• Subjects: 15N and 13C labelling; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Botanics; carbon dioxide; cell respiration; developmental stages; dry matter partitioning; Economic plant physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Key words: C partitioning; Kinetics; Life Sciences; nitrates; Nitrogen Fixation; Oxygen Consumption; Parasitism and symbiosis; peas; phenology; Pisum sativum; Pisum sativum - growth & development; Pisum sativum - microbiology; Pisum sativum L; plant development; Plant physiology and development; Plant Roots - growth & development; Plant Roots - microbiology; respiration; Rhizobium leguminosarum - physiology; Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae; root nodules; roots; Seasons; Symbiosis; Symbiosis (nodules, symbiotic nitrogen fixation, mycorrhiza...); Symbiosis - physiology; symbiotic nitrogen fixation; Time Factors; Vegetal Biology; Growth; Carbon Isotopes; Plant nodule; respiration; Nitrogen Isotopes; Carbon balance; Dicotyledones; 15N and 13C labelling; Angiospermae; Turnover; Nitrogen fixation; Bacteria; symbiotic nitrogen fixation; C partitioning; Age; Symbiosis; Pisum sativum L; Root; Symbiont; Rhizobium leguminosarum; Grain legume; Leguminosae; Phenology; Limiting factor; Pisum sativum; Spermatophyta; Rhizobiaceae; Tracers
• ISSN: 0022-0957; 1460-2431; 1460-2431
• DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erg290

The relationships between symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) activity and C fluxes were investigated in pea plants (Pisum sativum L. cv. Baccara) using simultaneous 13C and 15N labelling. Analysis of the dynamics of labelled CO2 efflux from the nodulated roots allowed the different components associated with SNF activity to be calculated, together with root and nodule synthetic and maintenance processes. The carbon costs for the synthesis of roots and nodules were similar and decreased with time. Carbon lost by turnover, associated with maintenance processes, decreased with time for nodules while it increased in the roots. Nodule turnover remained higher than root turnover until flowering. The effect of the N source on SNF was investigated using plants supplied with nitrate or plants only fixing N2. SNF per unit nodule biomass (nodule specific activity) was linearly related to the amount of carbon allocated to the nodulated roots regardless of the N source, with regression slopes decreasing across the growth cycle. These regression slopes permitted potential values of SNF specific activity to be defined. SNF activity decreased as the plants aged, presumably because of the combined effects of both increasing C costs of SNF (from 4.0 to 6.7 g C g(-1) N) and the limitation of C supply to the nodules. SNF activity competed for C against synthesis and maintenance processes within the nodulated roots. Synthesis was the main limiting factor of SNF, but its importance decreased as the plant aged. At seed-filling, SNF was probably more limited by nodule age than by C supply to the nodulated roots.