Nitrogen dynamics in Posidonia oceanica cuttings: implications for transplantation experiments.
A (15)N tracer study was performed during an experimental transplantation trial of natural Posidonia oceanica cuttings. The experiment was done in situ at 17 m depth in the Revellata Bay (Calvi, NW Corsica, France). Despite high survival rates of transplants (>90%) after one year, the weight and the N content of transplants are significantly lower than those of reference plants. In absence of roots, the transplants are not able to meet their N requirement, because leaf uptake is insufficient to replenish the N lost during the natural leaf decay. This could constitute a major cause of long-term failure for transplantation experiments or natural re-colonisation processes. The increase of the (15)N content in the roots shows that the plant re-allocates the nitrogen of one organ (i.e. leaves, rhizomes) to ensure the growth of another (i.e. roots).
Lepoint
Gilles
G
Centre MARE, Laboratoire d'Océanologie, Institut de Chimie, B6, Université de Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium. g.lepoint@ulg.ac.be
Vangeluwe
Denis
D
Eisinger
Michael
M
Paster
Markus
M
van Treeck
Peter
P
Bouquegneau
Jean-Marie
JM
Gobert
Sylvie
S
D035961:Alismatales / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development*; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D019083:Mediterranean Region; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D018517:Plant Roots; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes; D009584:Nitrogen