Authors
Bielenberg, D.G.; Lynch, J.P.; Pell, E.J.
Source
Plant, Cell and Environment, Blackwell Science, Volume 25, Issue 4, UK, p.501-512 (2002)
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Abstract
Experiments were conducted to determine the fate of nitrogen (N) remobilized as a result of ozone (O 3 )-induced accelerated senescence in hybrid poplar subjected to declining N availability concurrent with O 3 stress. Cuttings were grown in sand culture where the supply of N to the plant could be controlled on a daily basis and reduced in half of the plants when desired. Plants all initially received 3.57 mM N daily until approximately the 20 leaf stage after which daily supply of N was reduced to 0.71 mM. Plants were grown in open-top chambers in the field (Rock Springs, PA, USA) and received charcoal-filtered air, half also received supplemental O 3 to a level of 0.08 micro L L -1 . Allocation of newly acquired N was determined with 15 N. The specific allocation (mg labelled N mg -1 total N) of labelled N to upper, expanding leaf N was not affected by O 3 , but was strongly affected by N treatment. However, O 3 increased the relative partitioning of labelled N to the expanding leaves and the roots. The balance between partitioning of newly acquired N to the upper leaves and roots was not affected by O 3 , but was reduced by N withdrawal. Calculated net N flux was strongly negative in the lower leaves of O 3 -exposed, N withdrawal plants. Nitrogen uptake was not reduced by O 3 . The allometric relationships between the roots and shoots were not affected by O 3 or N availability. The relative contribution of newly acquired versus remobilized N to new growth appears to be determined by N supply. Ozone exposure alters the allocation of newly acquired N via alterations in plant size, whereas N availability exerts a strong effect upon both plant size and N allocation.
