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Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol. 53, No. 376, pp. 1941-1948, September 1, 2002
© 2002 Oxford University Press

Morphological pattern of development affects the contribution of nitrogen reserves to regrowth of defoliated white clover (Trifolium repens L.)

Received 20 July 2001; Accepted 28 May 2002

Estelle Goulas, Frédérik Le Dily1, Jean-Claude Simon and Alain Ourry

Unité Mixte de Recherche de Physiologie et Biochimie Végétales (UMR INRA/UCBN 950), Institut de Biochimie et Biologie Appliquée, Université de Caen Basse-Normandie, Esplanade de la Paix, F-14032 Caen cedex, France

1 To whom correspondence should be addressed. Fax: +33 2 31 56 53 60. E-mail: ledily{at}ibba.unicaen.fr

The contribution of nitrogen reserves to regrowth following defoliation was studied in white clover plants (Trifolium repens cv. Huia). This was found to be closely linked to the morphological pattern of development of the aerial parts during the same period. Low temperature (6 °C) and short day exposure (8 h photoperiod) were used to induce dwarf development, i.e. to increase branching rate and to enhance new sites of leaf production during a period of regrowth. Treated plants exhibited a large reduction in leaf area and a large increase in leaf pool size for the first 10 d of a subsequent regrowth under standard culture conditions (16 h daylight; 22/18 °C day/night). The contribution of nitrogen from storage compounds in organs remaining after defoliation (sources) to regrowing tissues (sinks) was assessed by 15N pulse–chase labelling during regrowth following shoot removal. The mobilization of nitrogen reserves from storage tissues of regrowing clover was closely linked to the pattern of differentiation of the newly developed organs. It appeared that regrowth was supported less by endogenous N for the first 10 d after defoliation in treated plants, compared with control plants grown continuously in standard conditions. It is assumed that dwarf plants exhibit a lower dependence upon the mobilization of soluble proteins previously accumulated in roots and uncut stolons. The relationship between leaf development rate and N-uptake recovery following defoliation is discussed.

Key words: Key words: Defoliation, morphological traits, 15N, N reserves, Trifolium repens L.


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