title: Exogenously-sourced ethylene increases stomatal conductance, photosynthesis, and growth under optimal and deficient nitrogen fertilization in mustard.
abstract: In order to ascertain the stomatal and photosynthetic responses of mustard to ethylene under varying N availability, photosynthetic characteristics of mustard grown with optimal (80 mg N kg(-1) soil) or low (40 mg N kg(-1) soil) N were studied after the application of an ethylene-releasing compound, ethephon (2-chloroethyl phosphonic acid) at 40 days after sowing (DAS). The availability of N influenced ethylene evolution and affected stomatal conductance and photosynthesis. The effect of ethylene was smaller under deficient N where plants contained higher glucose (Glc) sensitivity, despite high ethylene evolution even in the absence of ethephon, potentially because the plants were less sensitive to ethylene per se. Ethephon application at each level of N increased ethylene and decreased Glc sensitivity, which increased photosynthesis via its effect on the photosynthetic machinery and effects on stomatal conductance. Plants grown with sufficient-N and treated with 200 μl l(-1) ethephon exhibited optimal ethylene, the greatest stomatal conductance and photosynthesis, and growth. These plants made maximum use of available N and exhibited the highest nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE).
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202 002, India.
authors.forename: Noushina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Iqbal
authors.forename: Rahat
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nazar
authors.forename: Shabina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Syeed
authors.forename: Asim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Masood
authors.forename: Nafees A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D017097:Electric Impedance; D005030:Ethylenes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005308:Fertilizers / Q000032:analysis; D008027:Light; D009149:Mustard Plant / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000528:radiation effects; D054046:Plant Stomata / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D005030:Ethylenes; D005308:Fertilizers; C036216:ethylene; D009584:Nitrogen