Photosynthetica 2001, 39(2):197-203 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1013770807583

Plant Growth Based on Interrelation between Carbon and Nitrogen Translocation from Leaves

M. Osaki1, T. Shinano1
1 Graduate School of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Kitaku, Sapporo, Japan

In individual leaves, the photon-saturated photosynthetic activity (Psat, expressed on a dry mass basis) was closely related to the nitrogen content (Nc) as follows: Psat = Cf Nc + Psat0, where Cf and Psat0 are constants. On a whole plant basis, the relative growth rate (RGR) was closely related to Nc in canopy leaf as follows: RGR = DMf Nc + RGR0, where DMf and RGR0 are constants. However, the coefficients Cf and DMf were markedly different among plant species. To explain these differences, it is suggested that carbon assimilation (or dry matter production) is controlled by both the Nc in a leaf (or leaves) and by the net N translocation from leaves. This is supported by the finding that Psat is related to the rate of 35S-methionine translocation from leaves. We propose another estimation method for the net N translocation rate (NFR) from leaves: Nc, after full leafing, is expressed as a function of time: Nc = (Nc0 - Ncd) exp(-Nft) + Ncd, where Nf is a coefficient, t is the number of days after leaf emergence, Nc0 is the initial value of Nc, and Ncd is the Nc of the dead leaf. The NFR is then calculated as NFR = ΔNc/Δt = -Nf (Nc - Ncd). Thus Nf is the coefficient for the NFR per unit Nc. NFR is a good indicator of net N translocation from leaves because NFR is closely related to the rate of 35S-methionine translocation from leaves. Since Psat is related to the 14C-photosynthate translocation rate, Cf (or DMf) corresponds to the coefficient of saccharide translocation rate per unit amount of Nc. Cf (or DMf) is closely related to the Nf of individual leaves (or the Nf of canopy leaf). This indicates that C assimilation and C translocation from leaves are related to Nc and N translocation from leaves (net translocation of N). Cf and Nf are negatively correlated with leaf longevity, which is important because a high or low CO2 assimilation rate in leaves is accompanied by a correspondingly high or low N translocation in leaf, and the degree of N translocation in leaves decreases or increases leaf longevity. Thus, since a relatively high Psat (or RGR) is accompanied by a rapid Nc decrease in leaves, it is difficult to maintain a high Psat (or RGR) for a sustained time period.

Additional key words: 14C-photosynthase; canopy; leaf longevity; photosynthesis; relative growth rate; 35S-methionine; senescence

Published: June 1, 2001  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Osaki, M., & Shinano, T. (2001). Plant Growth Based on Interrelation between Carbon and Nitrogen Translocation from Leaves. Photosynthetica, 39(2), 197-203. doi: 10.1023/A:1013770807583
Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. Bazzaz, F.A., Pickett, S.T.: Physiological ecology of tropical succession: a comparative review.-Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 11: 287-310, 1980. Go to original source...
    2. Cave, G., Tolley, L.C., Strain, B.R.: Effect of carbon dioxide enrichment on chlorophyll content, starch content and starch grain structure in Trifolium subterraneum leaves.-Physiol. Plant. 51: 171-174, 1981. Go to original source...
    3. Chabot, B.F., Hicks, D.J.: The ecology of leaf life span.-Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 13: 229-259, 1982. Go to original source...
    4. Coley, P.D., Bryant, J.P., Chapin, F.S., III: Resource availability and plant anti-herbivore defense.-Science 230: 169-175, 1985. Go to original source...
    5. Evans, J.R.: Photosynthesis and nitrogen relationships in leaves of C3 plants.-Oecologia 56: 9-19, 1989. Go to original source...
    6. Evans, J.R., Seemann, J.R.: The allocation of protein nitrogen in the photosynthetic apparatus: costs, consequences, and control.-In: Briggs, W.R. (ed.): Photosynthesis. Pp. 183-205. Wiley-Liss, New York 1989.
    7. Field, C.: Allocating leaf nitrogen for the maximization of carbon gain: leaf age as a control on the allocation program.-Oecologia 56: 341-347, 1983. Go to original source...
    8. Field, C., Mooney, H.A.: The photosynthesis-nitrogen relationship in wild plants.-In: Givnish, T.J. (ed.): On the Economy of Plant Form and Function. Pp. 25-55. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge-London-New York-New Rochelle-Melbourne-Sydney 1986.
    9. Greenwood, D.J., Gastal, F., Lemaire, G., Draycott, A., Millard, P., Neeteson, J.J.: Growth rate and % N of field grown crops: Theory and experiments.-Ann. Bot. 67: 181-190, 1991. Go to original source...
    10. Grub, A., Mächler, F.: Photosynthesis and light activation of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase in the presence of starch.-J. exp. Bot. 41: 1293-1301, 1990. Go to original source...
    11. Gulmon, S.L., Chu, C.C.: The effects of light and nitrogen on photosynthesis, leaf characteristics, and dry matter allocation in the chaparral shrub, Diplacus aurantiacus.-Oecologia 49: 207-212, 1981. Go to original source...
    12. Hayami, K.: [Studies on the physiological and ecological characteristics of high yielding rice varieties with high fertilizer response 1. The effect of nitrogen supply on the photosynthetic characteristics of high yielding rice varieties with high fertilizer response.]-Bull. Tohoku nat. agr. Exp. Stat. 67: 43-75, 1982. [In Jap.]
    13. Heldt, H.W., Chon, C.J., Lorimer, G.H.: Phosphate requirement for the light activation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase in intact spinach chloroplasts.-FEBS Lett. 92: 234-240, 1978. Go to original source...
    14. Hirose, T., Kitajima, K.: Nitrogen uptake and plant growth. I. Effect of nitrogen removal on growth of Polygonum cuspidatum.-Ann. Bot. 58: 479-486, 1986. Go to original source...
    15. Hirose, T., Marinus, J.A.W., Jan, W.A., Van Rheenen, A.: Canopy development and leaf nitrogen distribution in a stand of Carex acutiformis.-Ecology 70: 1610-1618, 1989. Go to original source...
    16. Hofstra, G., Nelson, D.: A comparative study of translocation of assimilated 14C from leaves of different species.-Planta 88: 103-112, 1969. Go to original source...
    17. Huber, S.C., Hanson, K.R.: Carbon partitioning and growth of a starchless mutant of Nicotiana sylvestris.-Plant Physiol. 99: 1449-1454, 1992. Go to original source...
    18. Ingestad, T.: Nitrogen and plant growth; maximum efficiency of nitrogen fertilizers.-Ambio 6: 146-151, 1977.
    19. Ingestad, T.: Nitrogen stress in birch seedlings. II. N, K, P, Ca and Mg nutrition.-Physiol. Plant. 45: 149-157, 1979. Go to original source...
    20. Koike, T.: Leaf structure and photosynthetic performance as related to the forest succession of deciduous broad-leaved trees.-Plant Species Biol. 4: 77-87, 1988. Go to original source...
    21. Krapp, A., Hoffman, B., Schäfer, C., Stitt, M.: Regulation of the expression of rbcS and other photosynthetic genes by carbohydrates: a mechanism for the "sink regulation" of photosynthesis.-Plant J. 3: 817-828, 1993. Go to original source...
    22. Krapp, A., Stitt, M.: An evaluation of direct and indirect mechanisms for the "sink-regulation" of photosynthesis in spinach: Changes in gas exchange, carbohydrates, metabolites, enzyme activities and steady-state transcript levels after cold-girdling source leaves.-Planta 195: 313-322, 1995. Go to original source...
    23. Mooney, H.A., Field, C., Gulmon, S.L., Bazzaz, F.A.: Photosynthetic capacity in relation to leaf position in desert versus old-field annuals.-Oecologia 50: 109-112, 1981. Go to original source...
    24. Murata, Y.: [Studies on the photosynthesis of the rice plant and its culture significance.]-Bull. nat. Inst. Agr. D-9: 1-169, 1961. [In Jap.]
    25. Nafzinger, E.D., Koller, H.R.: Influence of leaf starch concentration on CO2 assimilation in soybean.-Plant Physiol. 57: 560-563, 1976. Go to original source...
    26. Osaki, M., Fujisaki, Y., Morikawa, K., Matsumoto, M., Shinano, T.: Productivity of high-yielding crops. IV. Parameters determining differences of productivity among field crops.-Soil Sci. Plant Nutr. 39: 605-615, 1993. Go to original source...
    27. Osaki, M., Morikawa, K., Yoshida, M., Shinano, T., Urayama, M., Tadano, T.: Productivity of high-yielding crops I. Comparison of growth and productivity among high-yielding crops.-Soil Sci. Plant Nutr. 37: 331-339, 1991. Go to original source...
    28. Osaki, M., Shinano, T., Kaneda, T., Yamada, S., Nakamura, T., Tadano, T.: Ontogenetic changes of photosynthesis and respiration in relation to nitrogen nutrient in individual leaves of field crops.-Photosynthetica 39: 205-213, 2001. Go to original source...
    29. Reich, P.B., Kloeppel, B.D., Ellsworth, D.S., Walters, M.B.: Different photosynthesis-nitrogen relations in deciduous hardwood and evergreen coniferous tree species.-Oecologia 104: 24-30, 1995. Go to original source...
    30. Reich, P.B., Walters, M.B., Ellsworth, D.S.: Leaf lifespan in relation to leaf, plant, and stand characteristics among diverse ecosystems.-Ecol. Monog. 62: 365-392, 1992. Go to original source...
    31. Schäfer, C., Simper, H., Hofmann, B.: Glucose feeding results in coordinated changes of chlorophyll content, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase activity and photosynthetic potential in photoautotrophic suspension cultured cells of Chenopodium rubrum.-Plant Cell Environ. 15: 343-350, 1992. Go to original source...
    32. Sharkey, T.D.: Feedback limitation of photosynthesis and the physiological role of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase carbamylation.-Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) Spec. Issue 2: 87-105, 1990.
    33. Sheen, J.: Metabolic repression of transcription in higher plants.-Plant Cell 2: 1027-1038, 1989. Go to original source...
    34. Shinano, T., Osaki, M., Tadano, T.: Problems in the methods of estimation of growth and maintenance respiration.-Soil Sci. Plant Nutr. 42: 773-784, 1996. Go to original source...
    35. Stephenson, R.A., Brown, R.H., Ashley, D.A.: Translocation of 14C-labeled assimilate and photosynthesis in C3 and C4 species.-Crop Sci. 16: 285-288, 1976. Go to original source...
    36. Tanaka, A.: Studies on the nutrio-physiology of leaves of rice plant.-J. Fac. Agr. Hokkaido Univ. 51: 491-550, 1961.

    Return to the content