Morphological and physiological responses of Picea asperata to different nitrogen availability and pH. Issue 6 (8th August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tang, Bo; Man, Jing; Jia, Ruoyu; Yin, Chunying; Liu, Qing
• Is Part Of: Journal of plant nutrition and soil science. Volume 182:Issue 6(2019:Dec.)
• Page Start: 871
• Page End: 878
• Publication Date: 2019-08-08
• Subjects: antioxidant enzymes -- carbohydrate -- net flux -- nitrogen availability -- oxidative stress -- pH; Plants -- Nutrition -- Periodicals; Soil science -- Periodicals; 630
• DOI: 10.1002/jpln.201900103
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1436-8730

Abstract

Abstract: Soil nitrogen (N) availability and pH are two determinants affecting plant growth, both of which are influenced by long‐term N deposition. However, the physiological mechanism of plants response to the changes in soil N availability and pH are not fully understood. To investigate the response of Picea asperata to both factors, seedlings of P. asperata were exposed to 50 or 1000 µM NH4 NO3 with pH 5 or pH 7. In the current study, P. asperata, regardless of N availability and pH in growth medium, exhibited invariably a NH 4 + preference. Lower root biomass, root : shoot mass ratio, total root length and area, and root vitality were detected in high N condition compared to those in low N supply, corresponding well to lower net influxes of NH 4 + and NO 3 - at the root surface in both pH treatments. These results indicate that P. asperata may employ an active‐forge strategy to exploit nutrient resources for growth under low N availability, probably by increased below‐ground carbon allocation and net influxes of NH 4 + and NO 3 - . Although low pH, to some extent may generate more malondialdehyde, P. asperata would enhance pH tolerance by increased detoxification, i.e ., antioxidant enzymes (peroxidase), free proline and soluble protein as well as improved carbohydrate status ( i.e ., soluble sugar and starch).