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Integration of trap‐ and root‐derived nitrogen nutrition of carnivorous Dionaea muscipula
Author(s) -
Gao Peng,
Loeffler Theresa Sofi,
Honsel Anne,
Kruse Jörg,
Krol Elzbieta,
Scherzer Sönke,
Kreuzer Ines,
Bemm Felix,
Buegger Franz,
Burzlaff Tim,
Hedrich Rainer,
Rennenberg Heinz
Publication year - 2015
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/nph.13120
Subject(s) - carnivorous plant , chemistry , glutamine , nitrogen , nutrient , shoot , phloem , botany , biology , biochemistry , ecology , amino acid , organic chemistry , predation
Summary Carnivorous Dionaea muscipula operates active snap traps for nutrient acquisition from prey; so what is the role of D. muscipula 's reduced root system? We studied the capacity for nitrogen (N) acquisition via traps, and its effect on plant allometry; the capacity of roots to absorb NO 3 − , NH 4 + and glutamine from the soil solution; and the fate and interaction of foliar‐ and root‐acquired N. Feeding D. muscipula snap traps with insects had little effect on the root : shoot ratio, but promoted petiole relative to trap growth. Large amounts of NH 4 + and glutamine were absorbed upon root feeding. The high capacity for root N uptake was maintained upon feeding traps with glutamine. High root acquisition of NH 4 + was mediated by 2.5‐fold higher expression of the NH 4 + transporter Dm AMT 1 in the roots compared with the traps. Electrophysiological studies confirmed a high constitutive capacity for NH 4 + uptake by roots. Glutamine feeding of traps inhibited the influx of 15 N from root‐absorbed 15 N/ 13 C‐glutamine into these traps, but not that of 13 C. Apparently, fed traps turned into carbon sinks that even acquired organic carbon from roots. N acquisition at the whole‐plant level is fundamentally different in D. muscipula compared with noncarnivorous species, where foliar N influx down‐regulates N uptake by roots.