The effect of root and shoot temperature of 8°C or 24°C on the uptake and distribution of nitrogen in white clover (Trifolium repens L.)
M. L. Castle A , J. R. Crush A and J. S. Rowarth B CA AgResearch, Ruakura Research Centre, Private Bag 3123, Hamilton, New Zealand.
B Unitec, Private Bag 92025, Auckland, New Zealand.
C Corresponding author. Present address: The University of Melbourne, Vic. 3010, Australia. Email: jrowarth@unimelb.edu.au
Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 57(5) 577-581 https://doi.org/10.1071/AR05209
Submitted: 20 June 2005 Accepted: 4 January 2006 Published: 17 May 2006
Abstract
Limited information is available on the factors influencing the uptake and distribution of nitrogen (N) at low temperatures. This experiment quantified the distribution of N in white clover at root and shoot temperatures of 8°C or 24°C.
Stolon tip cuttings of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) were grown in silica sand. After 62 days, plants were transferred to an 8°C or 24°C controlled environment room and, to quantify the distribution of N, a pulse of 15KNO3 was applied. Thereafter, plants were supplied with a complete nutrient solution containing NH4NO3 at a concentration calculated to provide plants with 20% of their N requirement. Plants were harvested at 0, 1, 4, 8, 24, 168, or 336 h. Leaf area and dry weights plus 14N/15N distribution in all fractions and total N concentration were measured. At both temperatures, the dry weights in all fractions increased significantly (P < 0.05) with time. After 336 h the amount of labelled 15N contained in the laminae and petioles was lower at 8°C than at 24°C. The higher 15N recovery in the laminae and petioles, and the higher lamina N%, indicated more N had been transported from the roots to the laminae at 24°C. This investigation suggests that temperature does affect the movement of N around the plant, with a consequent effect on N pool sizes and, hence, growth.
Additional keyword: assimilation.
Acknowledgments
Thanks to Shirley Nichols, Li Ouyang, Joanne Baltus, and Mike George of AgResearch for technical support, Roger Cresswell and Hayley Barlow, Lincoln University for N analysis, and Anne Lawrie, RMIT University, Melbourne, for critical comment.
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