Diurnal Variations in Photosynthetic Products and Nitrogen Metabolism in Expanding Leaves

Expanding leaves of Capsicum frutescens L. cv. California Wonder, Cucumis melo L. cv. Hales Best, and Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck cv. Washington Navel showed a marked diurnal periodicity in the incorporation of (14)C from photosynthetically fixed (14)CO(2) into amino acids. Incorporation was virtually nil at the beginning of the photoperiod, reached a maximum in the 6th to 7th hour and decreased during the latter part of the photoperiod. In Capsicum frutescens this was apparently a reflection of the availability of reduced nitrogen controlled by the activity of nitrate reductase in the leaves. This also controlled the periodicity of the incorporation of (14)C into fraction I protein. Possible control mechanisms and the relation of nitrogen metabolism to the periodicity of leaf expansion growth are discussed.