Diurnal and Seasonal Trends in Nitrate Reductase Activity in Field Grown Sorghum Plants

Teare, I.D. and Radhamohanrao, M. and Kanemasu, E.T. (1974) Diurnal and Seasonal Trends in Nitrate Reductase Activity in Field Grown Sorghum Plants. Agronomy Journal, 66 (6). pp. 733-736.

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Abstract

Nitrate reductase activity in plants has been suggested as a sensitive indicator of water stress. We studied nitrate reductase activities in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench cv. ‘Pioneer #846’) using in vivo assay and compared activities by leaf position on culms and various positions on leaves — through diurnal and seasonal trends (from stalk elongation to maturity, 1971). We related leaf water potential (measured with pressure bomb) and atmospheric demand for water (solar radiation measured with a pyranometer) with nitrate reductase activity. Nitrate reductase activity was highest in the upper, fullyexpanded leaves — in the flag leaf at the 5.5 stage of physiological development. We also compared relative amounts of hydrocyanic acid in sorghum, which other workers have observed in relation to physiological age, with seasonal nitrate reductase activities. Diurnal water stress (shown as leaf water potential hi relation to high solar radiation) lowered nitrate reductase activity. Nitrate reductase activity decreases as plant age and water stress increases and likely decreases as hydrocyanic acid increases

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Photosynthesis, Water status, Hydrocyanic acid, Leaf position, Physiological stage of growth
Author Affiliation:	Associate Professor, U.S./Indian AID Participant, Evapotranspiration Laboratory, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506
Subjects:	Crop Improvement
Divisions:	Sorghum
Depositing User:	Ms K Syamalamba
Date Deposited:	09 Jan 2012 11:01
Last Modified:	09 Jan 2012 11:01
Official URL:	http://dx.doi.org/10.2134/agronj1974.0002196200660...
URI:	http://eprints.icrisat.ac.in/id/eprint/2945

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