title: Nodule and Leaf Nitrate Reductases and Nitrogen Fixation in Medicago sativa L. under Water Stress.
abstract: The effect of water stress on patterns of nitrate reductase activity in the leaves and nodules and on nitrogen fixation were investigated in Medicago sativa L. plants watered 1 week before drought with or without NO(3) (-). Nitrogen fixation was decreased by water stress and also inhibited strongly by the presence of NO(3) (-). During drought, leaf nitrate reductase activity (NRA) decreased significantly particularly in plants watered with NO(3) (-), while with rewatering, leaf NRA recovery was quite important especially in the NO(3) (-)-watered plants. As water stress progressed, the nodular NRA increased both in plants watered with NO(3) (-) and in those without NO(3) (-) contrary to the behavior of the leaves. Beyond -15.10(5) pascal, nodular NRA began to decrease in plants watered with NO(3) (-). This phenomenon was not observed in nodules of plants given water only.Upon rewatering, it was observed that in plants watered with NO(3) (-) the nodular NRA increased again, while in plants watered but not given NO(3) (-), such activity began to decrease. Nitrogen fixation increased only in plants without NO(3) (-).
authors: Departmento de Fisiología Vegetal, Universidad de Navarra, Apartado 273, Pamplona, Spain.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Aparicio-Tejo
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Sánchez-Díaz