JXB Advance Access originally published online on October 29, 2003
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Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol. 54, No. 393, pp. 2757-2767,
December 1, 2003
© 2003 Oxford University Press
Local and systemic effects of phosphorus and nitrogen on nodulation and nodule function in Alnus incana
Received 14 May 2003; Accepted 22 September 2003
Department of Agricultural Research for Northern Sweden, Crop Science Section, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 4097, S-904 03 Umeå, Sweden
* Present address and to whom correspondence should be sent: Department of Plant Physiology, Umeå Plant Science Centre (UPSC), Umeå University, 90187 Umeå Sweden. Fax: +46 90 786 6676. E-mail: Francesco.Gentili{at}plantphys.umu.se
Abbreviations: DW, dry weight; ARA, acetylene reducing activity.
Phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) effects on nodulation, nitrogenase activity and plant growth were studied in the root-hair-infected actinorhizal plant Alnus incana (L.) Moench. A split-root experiment, as well as a short-term experiment with entire root systems and a broader range of P concentrations, showed that P effects were specific on nodulation and not a general stimulation via a plant growth effect. These results indicate that nodule initiation and nodule growth have a high P demand. The split-root assay, comprising seven combinations of two N and two P levels, showed that P could counteract systemic N inhibition of nodulation, but did not counteract N inhibition of nitrogenase activity.
Key words: Actinorhiza, Alnus incana, Frankia, nitrogen, nitrogen fixation, nodulation, phosphorus, split-root.