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Quantifying foliar uptake of gaseous nitrogen dioxide using enriched foliar δ 15 N values
Author(s) -
Vallano Dena M.,
Sparks Jed P.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2007.02311.x
Subject(s) - lycopersicon , nicotiana tabacum , nitrogen , nitrate reductase , shoot , hydroponics , chemistry , nitrogen dioxide , nitrate , biomass (ecology) , fumigation , carbon dioxide , solanaceae , botany , agronomy , horticulture , biology , biochemistry , organic chemistry , gene
Summary• The magnitude and impact of gaseous nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) directly entering the leaves were investigated using foliar nitrogen isotopic composition (δ 15 N) values in tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum ) and tobacco ( Nicotiana tabacum ). • Using a hydroponics–fumigation system, 15 NO 2 (20 and 40 ppb) was supplied to shoot systems and (50 and 500 µM) was supplied to root systems. Morphological, stable isotope and nitrate reductase activity (NRA) analyses were used to quantify foliar NO 2 uptake and to examine whether realistic concentrations of NO 2 influenced plant metabolism. • Nicotiana tabacum and L. esculentum incorporated 15 and 11%, respectively, of 15 NO 2 ‐N into total biomass via foliar uptake under low supply. On a mass basis, N. tabacum and L. esculentum incorporated 3.3 ± 0.9 and 3.1 ± 0.8 mg of 15 NO 2 ‐N into biomass, respectively, regardless of availability. There were no strong effects on biomass accumulation or allocation, leaf δ 13 C values, or leaf or root NRA in response to NO 2 exposure. • Foliar NO 2 uptake may contribute a significant proportion of N to plant metabolism under N‐limited conditions, does not strongly influence growth at 40 ppb, and may be traced using foliar δ 15 N values.