High irradiance increases NH4+ tolerance in Pisum sativum: higher carbon and energy availability improve ion balance but not N assimilation

The widespread use of NO3− fertilization has had a major ecological impact. NH4+ nutrition may help to reduce this impact, although high NH4+ concentrations are toxic for most plants. The underlying tolerance mechanisms are not yet fully understood, although they are thought to include the limitatio...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Ariz Arnedo, Idoia, Artola Rezola, Ekhiñe, Asensio, Aarón C., Cruchaga Moso, Saioa, Aparicio Tejo, Pedro María, Morán Juez, José Fernando
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2011
País:España
Institución:Universidad Pública de Navarra
Repositorio:Academica-e. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad Pública de Navarra
OAI Identifier:oai:academica-e.unavarra.es:2454/53163
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2454/53163
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Ammonium nutrition
Ammonium tolerance
Ammonium toxicity
C-N metabolism
High irradiance
Ion balance
Pisum sativum L.
Descripción
Sumario:The widespread use of NO3− fertilization has had a major ecological impact. NH4+ nutrition may help to reduce this impact, although high NH4+ concentrations are toxic for most plants. The underlying tolerance mechanisms are not yet fully understood, although they are thought to include the limitation of C, the disruption of ion homeostasis, and a wasteful NH4+ influx/efflux cycle that carries an extra energetic cost for root cells. In this study, high irradiance (HI) was found to induce a notable tolerance to NH4+ in the range 2.5–10 mM in pea plants by inducing higher C availability, as shown by carbohydrate content. This capacity was accompanied by a general lower relative N content, indicating that tolerance is not achieved through higher net N assimilation on C-skeletons, and it was also not attributable to increased GS content or activity in roots or leaves. Moreover, HI plants showed higher ATP content and respiration rates. This extra energy availability is related to the internal NH4+ content regulation (probably NH4+ influx/efflux) and to an improvement of the cell ionic balance. The limited C availability at lower irradiance (LI) and high NH4+ resulted in a series of metabolic imbalances, as reflected in a much higher organic acid content, thereby suggesting that the origin of the toxicity in plants cultured at high NH4+ and LI is related to their inability to avoid large-scale accumulation of the NH4+ ion.