Fundamental, Ecological and Agricultural Aspects of Nitrogen Metabolism in Higher Plants: Proceedings of a symposium organized by the Department of Plant Physiology, University of Groningen and the Institute for Soil Fertility, Haren, 9–12 April 1985

485 Pages·1986·6.92 MB·English

by  David T. Clarkson (auth.)

FUNDAMENTAL, ECOLOGICAL AND AGRICULTURAL ASPECTS OF
NITROGEN METABOLISM IN HIGHER PLANTS
Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences
I. J. Monteith and C. Webb. eds .•
Soil Water and Nitrogen in Mediterranean-type Environments. 1981. ISBN 90-247-2406-6
2. J.c. Brogan. ed .•
Nitrogen Losses and Surface Run-off from Landspreading of Manures. 1981. ISBN 90-247-2471-6
3. J.D. Bewley. ed .•
Nitrogen and Carbon Metabolism. 1981. ISBN 90-247-2472-4
4. R. Brouwer. I. Gasparfkova. J. Kolek and B.C. Loughman. eds .•
Structure and Function of Plant Roots. 1981. ISBN 90-247-2510-0
5. Y.R. Dommergues and H.G. Diem. eds .•
Microbiology of Tropical Soils and Plant Productivity. 1982. ISBN 90-247-2624-7
6. G.P. Robertson. R. Herrera and T. Rosswall. eds .•
Nitrogen Cycling in Ecosystems of Latin America and the Caribbean. 1982. ISBN 90-247-2719-7
7. D. Atkinson et al.. eds .•
Tree Root Systems and their Mycorrhizas. 1983. ISBN 90-247-2821-5
8. M.R. Saric and B.C. Loughman. eds .•
Genetic Aspects of Plant Nutrition. 1983. ISBN 90-247-2822-3
9. J.R. Freney and J.R. Simpson. eds .•
Gaseous Loss of Nitrogen from Plant-Soil Systems. 1983. ISBN 90-247-2820-7
10. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.
Efficient Use of Fertilizers in Agriculture. 1983. ISBN 90-247-2866-5
I I. J. Tinsley and J .F. Darbyshire. eds .•
Biological Processes and Soil Fertility. 1984. ISBN 90-247-2902-5
12. A.D.L. Akkermans. D. Baker. K. Huss-Danell and J.D. Tjepkema. eds .•
Frankia Symbioses. 1984. ISBN 90-247-2967-X
13. W.S. Silver and E.C. Schroder. eds .•
Practical Application of Azolla for Rice Production. 1984. ISBN 90-247-3068-6
14. P.G.L. Vlek. ed .•
Micronutrients in Tropical Food Crop Production. 1985. ISBN 90-247-3085-6
15. T.P. Hignett. ed .•
Fertilizer Manual. 1985. ISBN 90-247-3122-4
16. D. Vaughan and R.E. Malcolm. eds .•
Soil Organic Matter and Biological Activity. 1985. ISBN 90-247-3154-2
17. D. Pasternak and A. San Pietro. eds .•
Biosalinity in Action: Bioproduction with Saline Water. 1985. ISBN 90-247-3159-3.
18. M. Lalonde. C. Camire and J.~. Dawson. eds .•
Frankia and Actinorhizal Plants. 1985. ISBN 90-247-3214-X
19. H. Lambers. J.J. Neeteson and I. Stulen. eds .•
Fundamental. Ecological and Agricultural Aspects of Nitrogen Metabolism in Higher Plants. 1986.
ISBN 90-247-3258-1
20. M.B. Jackson. ed.
New Root Formation in Plants and Cuttings. 1986. ISBN 90-247-3260-3
21. F.A. Skinner and P. Uomala. eds .•
Nitrogen Fixation with Non-Legumes. 1986. ISBN 90-247-3283-2
22. A. Alexander. ed.
Foliar Fertilization. 1986. ISBN 90-247-3288-3.
Fundamental, Ecological and
Agricultural Aspects of Nitrogen
Metabolism in Higher Plants
Proceedings of a symposium organized by the Department of Plant
Physiology, University of Groningen and the Institute for Soil Fertility,
Haren, 9 - 12 April 1985
Edited by
H. LAMBERS
Department of Plant Ecology
University of Utrecht
Utrecht, The Netherlands
J.J. NEETESON
Institute for Soil Fertility
Haren, The Netherlands
and
I. STULEN
Department of Plant Physiology
University of Groningen
Haren, The Netherlands
1986 MARTINUS NIJHOFF PUBLISHERS
a member of the KLUWER ACADEMIC PUBLISHERS GROUP
DORDRECHT / BOSTON / LANCASTER
RINIE HOFSTRA
Distributors
jar the United States and Canada: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 190 Old Derby
Street, Hingham, MA 02043, USA
jar the UK and Ireland: Kluwer Academic Publishers, MTP Press Limited,
Falcon House, Queen Square, Lancaster LAI lRN, UK
jar all other countries: Kluwer Academic Publishers Group, Distribution Center,
P.O. Box 322, 3300 AH Dordrecht, The Netherlands
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Fundamental, ecological, and agricultural aspects
of n~trogen metabolism in higher 91ancs.
(Developments in plant and soil sCiences; v. 19)
1. Nitrogen--Metabolism--Congresses. 2. Plants--
Metabolism--Congresses. 3. Plants, Effect of nitrogen
on--Congresses. 4. Ni tro'Jen--Congresses.
5. Cdrbon--~etabolJ.sm--Congresses. I. Lambers, H.
II. Neeteson, J. J. III. Stulen, 1.
IV. Rijksuniversiteit te Groningen. Vakgroe~
Plantenfysiologie. V. Instituut vocr
Bodemvrucht.bddche1d (Netherlands) VI. '1'1 tle:
Nitrogen metabolism in hl.gher plants.
VII. Series.
QK898. N6F86 1986 589.9' 5Q4.· 33 85-25893
ISBN-13: 978-94-010-8437-6 e-ISBN-13: 978-94-009-4356-8
001: 10.1007/978-94-009-4356-8
Copyright
© 1986 by Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, Dordrecht.
Reprint of the original edition 1986
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of
the publishers,
Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, P.O. Box 163, 3300 AD Dordrccht,
The Netherlands.
Preface
Rinie Hofstra has been a member of the Department of Plant
Physiology, University of Groningen, the Netherlands, for 24 years.
The nearer we came to 31 March 1985, her 65th birthday, the more we
all realized how we would miss her - not only scientifically, but also
socially.
She left her mark on both research and teaching, always with an
open mind and willing to change. After her PhD Thesis on 'Nitrogen
Metabolism in Tomato Plants' she first continued working in that field,
but soon started a joint project with the Department of Plant Ecology
on hemiparasites. She then became involved in carbon metabolism,
which resulted in her giving a Biotrop Course on C /C metabolism in
3 4
Indonesia. Her own research group, originally working on 'Nitrogen
Metabolism', soon embraced 'Energy and Nitrogen Metabolism', as the
research on respiration became more and more important.
In running her group she showed all sides of her person. She used to
stimulate and encourage everyone around her and to integrate the
various lines of research. At the same time she always had an open
mind for the opinion of all members of her group. And together they
regularly criticized and evaluated the various projects and decided how
to continue.
During those 24 years, plant physiology changed rapidly, but she
managed to keep abreast of the latest developments. Both projects
she started last dealt with applied aspects of plant physiology. She
kept the general view, not only of plant physiology, but of botany
as a whole.
To honour Rinie Hofstra the Department of Plant Physiology in
cooperation with the Institute for Soil Fertility organized a Symposium
on Nitrogen Metabolism in Higher Plants, in which Fundamental,
Ecological and Agricultural Aspects were included. This book contains
the Proceedings of that Symposium, which was held in Haren, the
Netherlands, from 9 to 12 April 1985. According to many participants
the Symposium was 'both scientifically interesting and sociably
stimulating'. Precisely her spirit!
Let the Proceedings of this Symposium pay a just tribute to her.
Haren, July 1985 HANSLAMBERS
JACQUES NEETESON
INEKE STU LEN
Editors
vii
Foreword
Small talk from a senescent lady
More than a year ago, I suggested organizing a workshop on nitrogen
and carbon metabolism to my coworkers Ineke Stulen and Hans
Lambers, but, to my astonishment, they were not at all enthusiastic.
Was it not a good idea? Some time later I mentioned it again and then
they had to tell me that they were already preparing a symposium on
nitrogen metabolism for the year of my retirement in cooperation with
the Institute for Soil Fertility. At first I was a little bit angry at the
thought of so much attention being given to my retirement. Never
theless, I had to concede because preparations were in progress and in
hindsight, I am very glad of their initiative and I would like to thank
them for spending so much time and taking the trouble in organizing
the symposium.
Two points gave the symposium a very special value for me: Firstly,
that it was a joint venture of the Department of Plant Physiology and
the Institute for Soil Fertility; and secondly, that the organizing com
mittee decided to make the whole plant the centre of interest.
To explain the first point, about the joint venture, we have to go
back 25 years, when I began my PhD research. You may wonder:
'Twenty five years ago? You were a slow starter!' And indeed, I was.
In my former life, I worked for years as an analytical technician on
food control and medical analysis. These years were fruitful in more
than one way. I liked my work in the lab. It was applied and useful,
and I had a lot of time to spare for all sorts of other things.
But then I discovered that I fell into a routine in my daily work:
that was after having examined thousands of samples of blood, milk,
bread, marmelade, etc. I wanted more and the research I did, I could
not finish, due to lack of knowledge. I decided to make a new start
at the University.
To benefit from earlier studies, my choice was between pharmacy,
chemistry and biology. Biology was out because of experiments on
viii
FOREWORD ix
animals, not because of ethical considerations but simply because I
disliked handling animals, and I was advised not to study chemistry
because of bad prospectives for a job. Pharmacy was not altogether
a negative choice as the degree included courses in plant physiology
and plant taxonomy and botany was one of my special interests.
Moreover, courses in pharmacy gave much information about plants
from all over the world.
I soon discovered that it was like being back at school, with hardly
a chance of doing real research! I was, however, very much stimulated
by the lectures in plant physiology which were given by the late
Professor Arisz, a well-known ion-uptake physiologist. He even treated
us, first-year students as grown-up scientists and gave me a real interest
in plant physiology, so I decided to spend the final six-months course
for research in the Department of Plant Physiology. By then Professor
Van Raalte had succeeded Professor Arisz. He had a broad interest and
suggested that I would study amino acids in the bleeding sap of plants.
At the end of my pharmacy degree, I could choose - remarkably
as it may seem now - between different jobs: a teaching position in
analytical chemistry at the Technological University in Delft, or at the
Department of Pharmacotherapy in Groningen, or obtaining a PhD at the
Department of Plant Physiology. Or, I could have opened a pharmacy.
I decided to get a PhD in plant physiology. Professor Van Raalte
may have thought he would obtain a valuable analytical chemist, but I
think that I often disappointed him deeply. One piece of advice he
gave me was to read detective thrillers: it stimulates the flexibility in
scientific thinking. I still find this very god'd- advice. Beginning my
research in 1962, I studied the influence of light and temperature,
of nitrogen source and of flowering and fruiting on amino acids in the
bleeding sap of the tomato plant.
The sixties in the Netherlands were, as Wareing described them for
Great Britain: 'Years of unprecedented university expansion, easy to
get appointments and grants'. The Department of Taxonomy and
Anatomy and that of Physiology and Cytology were all housed together
in the Botanical Laboratory, an old building in the old centre of
Groningen, with a beautiful botanical garden. Despite being in the same
building, there was almost no scientific cooperation and even in plant
physiology, with seven PhD students, the research themes were quite
diverse: on hormones, on ion transport, on effects of low temperature
and anaerobic root conditions; and myself on nitrogen metabolism.
The Department of Plant Physiology originally gave courses in
cytology and microbiology, but in those days of expansion a new
Department of Microbiology as well as a new Department of Plant
x FOREWORD
Ecology were created. A new Department of Biochemistry took
its residence in the Faculty of Chemistry, and in Biology another
department, that of Developmental Biology, emerged. The first plans
were made for a new building in which all biological departments
could be brought together. The different groups grew more and more
apart. Sometimes a bridge was built such as between plant physiology
and ecology in the research on hemiparasites, but this was created
more by personal contacts than by scientific interactions.
This period, blissful in expansion and in possibility for students,
alas, lasted only about ten years. It closed as the energy crisis gave
way to a financial crisis. Money became scarce and now we are back in
the ice age, as universities reduce their expenses, cut staff numbers,
and students have difficulties in finding jo bs.
Despite these troubled times, I can also see a positive side in this
period. Scientists from diverse disciplines are being forced to cooperate
and projects are being tackled simultaneously from different angles.
This is important as we often have the blinkered view that all problems
can be solved by research in our own specific field. Let me give some
examples.
The situation often arose such as was described to me by an
ecologist in 1971, at a conference on 'Living in Extreme Conditions' in
Yugoslavia. In a discussion with a plant physiologist he discovered that:
'That man intended to work on a certain species, and he did not even
know that we already grew it in our greenhouse'. That was often the
situation. But this lack of cooperation could change! In 1970 I inves
tigated the occurrence of C plants in different environments in
4
Indonesia, with a group of south-east Asian scientists, in which an
anatomist, a taxonomist, a forester, an ecologist and plant physiologists
worked together. The C syndrome is an excellent problem in the field
4
of Botany as could be seen in the reports of the symposium, held in
1970 in Australia, where it is obvious what could be achieved by
cooperation. Even in the narrow field of plant physiology, we fell into
the trap of thinking that the occurrence of plants in nitrogen-rich and
nitrogen-poor conditions could be understood with a proper under
standing of the nitrogen metabolism. However, an investigation of two
subspecies of Hypochaeris radicata showed that the shoot to root
ratio rather than aspects of nitrogen metabolism, explains the occur
rence in nitrogen-rich and nitrogen-poor habitats. Similarly a study
on the hemiparasitic Rhinanthus showed that it benefitted more
from water, transported from host to parasite after attachment, than
from nitrogen. Recent studies on CO -enrichment pointed again to
2
morphological differences brought about by enrichment of CO in the
2
atmosphere.
FOREWORD xi
Approaching a problem from several disciplines and cooperation in
research is very important but sometimes difficult. Scientists are very
individual, considering themselves as the most important in their field
of research. Whereas cooperation requires a more egalitarian attitude.
To explain my second point about this symposium - the focus on
the whole plant - we need to go back to the sixties. In those days, it
was quite normal to work with very small parts of a plant, such as
leaf discs, coleoptiles or root pieces. Important as this type of work
may have been, it is my firm belief that it cannot provide us with a
full understanding of the physiological processes in the intact plant as,
e.g., changes in metabolism due to transport from one part of the plant
to another.
Gradually the whole plant has come into focus again. In our own
group, Hans Lambers has worked on energy metabolism for some time,
which made it possible for us to investigate aspects of both energy and
nitrogen metabolism in the whole plant. In these proceedings various
groups report on interactions between carbon or energy and nitrogen
metabolism, on distribution and redistribution of carbon and nitrogen.
In the last two decades or so, we have also come to realize that
observations made on one species are not necessarily valid for all.
Costermans, a taxonomist in Bogor, Indonesia, brought this home to
me in our discussions on C metabolism: 'First you plant physiologists
4
stated that the first step of CO fixation is by the enzyme ribulose
2
bisphosphate carboxylase. Now you tell us about PEP-carboxylase
being involved in this first step, at least in some plants. What will you
tell us next year?' There are metabolic processes that occur in the same
way in all plant species, whereas others do not and we must be very
careful not to generalize our data to include all plant species. This you
will find out in these proceedings: there are differences in the dis
tribution of nitrate reductase over shoot and roots, in preference for
the nitrogen source and in the major carbon storage compounds.
Looking back over 25 years of being a plant physiologist, I noted
in the first period a more intense specialization with a tendency to
lose sight of the whole plant. The development in the seventies was
in many respects a good one. More appreciation for each other's work,
more cooperation and a greater emphasis on the whole plant again.
Moreover, our eyes have been opened to environmental problems.
Now government and industry promote specific aspects of research.
Major problems like air pollution, over-manuring, salt and low
temperature tolerance need applied research. To prevent or solve these
problems, research of an applied nature is needed, e.g. by institutes on
soil science and on plant breeding. But the problems also need a