Abstract
The effects of different intensities and durations of soil drought and re-watering on the nitrate uptake ability of maize roots were studied. Plants were grown in split-root containers with one part of the root system subjected to different intensities and durations of soil drought and re-watering while the other part of the root system was continuously watered to 23% (w/w) soil water content (70% water capacity). Experiments were performed in split-root containers to maintain a high growth rate, thus ensuring high nutrient demand of the shoot irrespective of the soil water regime. To avoid limitation of nitrate uptake by transport processes in the dry soil, and to ensure a uniform 14N/15N ratio at the root surface, 15N was applied to the roots by placing them into an aerated nutrient solution with 0.5 mM Ca(15NO3)2. Shoot elongation and biomass were only slightly affected by drought in one root compartment when the soil in the other root compartment was kept wet. Therefore, the growth-related nutrient demand of the shoot remained at a high level. At moderate levels of soil drought (10% w/w water content) the ability of the roots for N-uptake was not affected even after 10 d of drought. N-uptake ability was reduced to about 20% of the well-watered control only when the soil water content was decreased to 5%. Total soluble sugar content of the roots increased with increasing soil drought, indicating that low N-uptake ability of roots subjected to severe soil drought was not caused by low assimilate supply from the shoot. Nitrate uptake ability of roots maintained in very dry soil (5% soil water content w/w) even for a prolonged period of 8 d, recovered within 3 d following re-watering. Root growth increased one day after re-watering. A short-term experiment with excised roots formerly subjected to severe soil drought showed that nitrate uptake ability recovered in old and young root segments after 2 d of re-watering. Obviously, the increase in N-uptake ability after re-watering was caused not only by new root growth but also by recovery of the uptake ability of formerly stressed roots.
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Buljovcic, Z., Engels, C. Nitrate uptake ability by maize roots during and after drought stress. Plant and Soil 229, 125–135 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004879201623
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004879201623