Effect of elevated carbon dioxide in the root atmosphere on nitrogenase activity in three actinorhizal plant species

2001 ◽  
Vol 79 (9) ◽  
pp. 1010-1018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christa R Schwintzer ◽  
John D Tjepkema
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Acetylene Reduction ◽  
Nitrogenase Activity ◽  
Root Nodules ◽  
Alnus Glutinosa ◽  
Repeated Measurements ◽  
Myrica Gale ◽  
Black Alder ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
Speckled Alder

In wet soils, nitrogen-fixing root nodules are subjected to elevated CO2. Only a few studies have examined the effect of elevated CO2 on nitrogenase activity, and the results have been mixed. We examined intact black alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.) and sweet gale (Myrica gale L.) seedlings and field-collected speckled alder (Alnus incana ssp. rugosa (Du Roi) Claus.) nodules to clarify the effects of elevated CO2. Nitrogenase activity was measured via acetylene reduction in an open, flow-through system. We found that repeated measurements of the peak rate of nitrogenase activity, the only reliable measure of nitrogenase activity, could be made on the same plant via 150-s exposures to acetylene separated by 20 min without acetylene. Our results for elevated CO2 consistently showed that it had little effect on nitrogenase activity at low concentrations and increasingly inhibited nitrogenase activity as the CO2 concentration increased. In black alder, 0.5 kPa CO2 had little effect, whereas 3.0 kPa CO2 reduced nitrogenase activity 31–35%. Sweet gale, was less sensitive to elevated CO2 and was unaffected by 1.5 kPa CO2. Black alder grown with the roots, but not the shoots, in 1.3 kPa CO2 showed only minimal acclimation to elevated CO2.Key words: acetylene reduction technique, actinorhizal plants, Alnus, carbon dioxide, Myrica gale, nitrogen fixation.

The role of oxygen diffusion from the shoots and nodule roots in nitrogen fixation by root nodules of Myrica gale

1978 ◽  
Vol 56 (11) ◽  
pp. 1365-1371 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Tjepkema
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Fixation ◽  
Oxygen Uptake ◽  
Aqueous Phase ◽  
Acetylene Reduction ◽  
Nitrogenase Activity ◽  
Root Nodules ◽  
Myrica Gale ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Whole Plants

Nitrogenase activity (acetylene reduction) and oxygen uptake by root nodules of Myrica gale L. were measured before and after removal of nodule roots. There was no significant effect of nodule root removal when respiration was measured in the gas phase (0.05–0.2 atm pO2 (1 atm = 101.325 kPa)) or acetylene reduction in a stirred aqueous phase at 0.2 atm pO2. However, when acetylene reduction was measured in 0.05 atm pO2 in an unstirred aqueous phase, there was a 66 to 76% reduction in activity. These results indicate that nodule roots are important for oxygen uptake when the nodules are present in an aqueous phase at low pO2, which is probably the normal environmental conditions for many of the nodules. Other measurements showed that diffusion of oxygen from the shoot to the root nodules is not important for nitrogen fixation. These measurements were done on whole plants with the shoots in air (0.20 atm pO2) and the roots in water at the desired pO2 value. With 0.0 atmpO2 in the root environment, the rate of acetylene reduction was only 4% of the rate at 0.2 atmpO2. Thus, only small amounts of oxygen are transported from the shoot to the nodules.

Seasonal pattern of energy use, respiration, and nitrogenase activity in root nodules of Myrica gale

1983 ◽  
Vol 61 (11) ◽  
pp. 2937-2942 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christa R. Schwintzer ◽  
John D. Tjepkema
Keyword(s):  
Energy Cost ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Nitrogenase Activity ◽  
Root Nodules ◽  
Seasonal Pattern ◽  
Uptake Ratio ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Myrica Gale ◽  
Net Production ◽  
N Requirement

Annual CO2 evolution, H2 evolution, and C2H2 reduction were measured in root nodules from a vigorous Myrica gale stand in a Massachusetts peatland at 3-week intervals in 1980. Nodule activity was approximately the same under the experimental conditions (excised nodules reducing C2H2) as in nature (attached nodules reducing N2) and the CO2 evolution to O2 uptake ratio averaged 1.07. Nitrogenase activity was first detectable in late May, reached its maximum [Formula: see text] in mid-July, and disappeared in late October. The seasonal pattern of CO2 evolution was similar except that it continued at low rates when nitrogenase activity was absent. Hydrogen evolution was barely detectable. The energy cost of nitrogen fixation, expressed as the molar CO2:C2H4 ratio, was relatively low [Formula: see text] throughout the period of substantial nitrogenase activity and had a mean annual value of 4.9. Annual N2 fixation was estimated to be 2.8 g N m−2year−1, contributing about 33% of the annual N requirement measured in 1979. Annual C use by nodules was about 21.0 g C m−2 year−1. If this C were available for additional net production, it would increase it by about 5.5%.

Field nodules of Alnus incana ssp. rugosa and Myrica gale exhibit pronounced acetylene-induced declines in nitrogenase activity

1997 ◽  
Vol 75 (9) ◽  
pp. 1415-1423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christa R. Schwintzer ◽  
John D. Tjepkema
Keyword(s):  
Time Course ◽  
Nitrogenase Activity ◽  
Alnus Incana ◽  
Partial Recovery ◽  
Myrica Gale ◽  
Open Flow ◽  
Peak Rate ◽  
Flow Through ◽  
Speckled Alder ◽  
Initial Peak

The time course of acetylene reduction was examined in field nodules of speckled alder (Alnus incana ssp. rugosa (Du Roi) Claus.) and sweet gale (Myrica gale L.) with an open flow-through system. When detached speckled alder nodules were measured in the laboratory, there was an initial peak rate of nitrogenase activity between 2 and 3 min followed by pronounced declines to 50% of the peak rate (early summer) and 66% (late summer) at 9 min, after which there was little further change. Speckled alder nodules measured in the field while still attached to the plant also had a peak rate between 2 and 3 min. Most sweet gale nodules had a peak rate at 2–3 min and a sharp decline to 27% at 21 min followed by a partial recovery to 49% at 60 min. The time courses of field nodules of speckled alder and sweet gale were comparable with those of intact, growth chamber grown seedlings. The initial peak rate is the most accurate measure of nitrogenase activity and the only reliable way to measure this is with an open, flow-through system. We describe a simple, inexpensive, flow-through system for use in the field. Key words: acetylene-induced decline, Alnus incana ssp. rugosa, actinorhizal plants, Myrica gale, nitrogen fixation, nitrogenase activity.

scholarly journals Factors Influencing Nitrogenase Activity (Acetylene Reduction) by Root Nodules of Groundnut, Arachis hypogaea L.

1983 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. T. C. Nambiar ◽  
P. J. Dart
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Acetylene Reduction ◽  
Nitrogenase Activity ◽  
Root Nodules ◽  
Activity Period ◽  
Diurnal Fluctuation ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Arachis Hypogaea L ◽  
Reduction Assay

Abstract Acetylene reduction assay, used to measure nitrogenase activity of legume root nodules, is influenced by environmental factors, which limit its application. The effects of some of the environmental factors on acetylene reduction by groundnut root nodules are described. The activity was nonlinear during the first hour of incubation. Assay temperature above 25 C decreased the activity. Washing the nodulated roots prior to the assay also decreased the activity. The activity was influenced by light intensity, soil moisture, and moisture content in the incubation bottle. Diurnal fluctuation with one maximum and one minimum activity period during a 24 hour cycle was observed. Nitrogenase activity was higher during the postrainy season compared to that of the rainy season. A virginia cultivar Kadiri-71 had higher nitrogenase activity than a dwarf valencia cultivar, MH 2.

scholarly journals Experimental study of resistance type wood moisture sensors for monitoring wood drying process above fibre saturation point/ Takistus-tüüpi puidu niiskuse andurite eksperimentaalne uurimine puidu kuivatamise monitooringul niiskussisaldustel üle kiu küllastuspunkti

2013 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-44
Author(s):  
Valdek Tamme ◽  
Peeter Muiste ◽  
Hannes Tamme
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Alnus Glutinosa ◽  
Fibre Saturation Point ◽  
Repeated Measurements ◽  
Average Moisture Content ◽  
Drying Process ◽  
Wood Drying ◽  
Saturation Point ◽  
Wood Moisture ◽  
Black Alder

Abstract In wood moisture contents above fibre saturation point (FSP) the measuring accuracy of resistance type sensors starts decreasing and several side effects related to measuring wood moisture begin to occur. These side effects can be taken into account in the measuring process and can be eliminated. This research examined wood charging and discharging in the process of measurements, phenomena related to repeated measurements in both a single electrode insertion spot and different insertion spots in the specimen made of pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) sapwood and black alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.). The research presented approaching equations separately for the voltage and current of the polarization and depolarization process for the initial phase of the process. Empirical equations were found for wood electrical resistance and electrical capacitance in the polarization process. For black alder possibilities for calibration of a resistance meter and resistance type electrodes were explored. It was found that to improve the calibration accuracy of resistance type measuring electrodes an additional individual calibration with regard to the average moisture content of the specimen may be carried out with the electrodes above FSP. Research results can be implemented in monitoring the wood drying process using resistance type wood moisture sensors, but also in determining the electrical parameters of growing trees.

Relative contributions to nitrogenase (acetylene reducing) activity of stem and root nodules in Sesbania rostrata

1992 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 577-583 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. K. Ladha ◽  
Minviluz Garcia ◽  
R. P. Pareek ◽  
G. Rarivoson
Keyword(s):  
Acetylene Reduction ◽  
Root Nodule ◽  
Nitrogenase Activity ◽  
Root Nodules ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Acetylene Reduction Activity ◽  
Sesbania Rostrata ◽  
Reduction Activity ◽  
Acetylene Reducing Activity ◽  
Aerial Stem

Six experiments, two each in the phytotron, greenhouse, and field, were conducted to assess the contribution of nitrogenase activity (acetylene reduction) by stem nodules in the presence and absence of root nodules of Sesbania rostrata (Brem & Oberm). In a greenhouse experiment, the effect of detaching already formed aerial stem nodules on the restoration of root nodules and nitrogenase activity was studied. The field experiment compared nodulation and acetylene-reduction activity by dual-nodulating S. rostrata and root-nodulating Sesbania cannabina. Acetylene-reduction activity expressed per gram of nodule dry weight was higher for stem nodules than for root nodules. Root nodule dry weight and acetylene-reduction activity failed to increase after stem inoculation, but root nodule dry weight and acetylene-reduction activity increased several fold within 15 days of detachment of aerial stem nodules. Stem nodulation, which occurred without inoculation under lowland field condition, suppressed root nodulation, thus accounting for more than 75% of total nitrogenase activity. Sesbania rostrata showed higher acetylene-reduction activity than S. cannabina. In dual-nodulating plants, root and stem nodules appeared to strike a balance in competition for energy, which may be controlled by stem nodulation. Key words: Sesbania rostrata, Azorhizobium caulinodans, stem nodule, root nodule, acetylene-reducing activity.

Nitrogen Fixation by Native Australian Legumes

1981 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 143 ◽  
Author(s):  
AC Lawrie
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Fixation ◽  
Acetylene Reduction ◽  
Sand Dune ◽  
Nitrogenase Activity ◽  
Root Nodules ◽  
Sand Dunes ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Open Forest ◽  
Seasonal And Diurnal Variations ◽  
Major Factors

Nitrogen fixation was studied by the acetylene-reduction technique in root nodules of 10 native Australian legumes in three habitats in Victoria: low open-forest. sandy heathland and coastal sand dunes. Nodular activity reached a maximum in spring (and in autumn in sand-dune species), declined to a minimum in late summer and continued at a low level throughout winter. Mean nitrogenase activity was 1.73 μmol C2H2 reduced g-1 fresh wt nodules h-1, with spring maxima 8-250 times summer minima. It is suggested that variations in rainfall and temperature were the major factors influencing seasonal variations in nodular activity. Estiniates of minimum acetylene reduction per hectare per year were derived from measurements of seasonal and diurnal variations in acetylene reduction and abundance of nodules per hectare, and were used to derive approximate minimum values for nitrogen fixation of 0.004-0.746 kg ha-1 yr-1. The quantities of nitrogen fixed are compared with other reports and the significance of nitrogen fixation by these native legumes is discussed.

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