Studies of the Uptake of Nitrate in Barley

Abstract

(13)NO(3) (-) was used to investigate patterns of NO(3) (-) influx into roots of barley plants (Hordeum vulgare L. cv Klondike) previously grown with (;induced') or without (;uninduced') a source of external NO(3) (-) ([NO(3) (-)](0)). In both induced and uninduced plants, (13)NO(3) (-) influx was biphasic in the range from 0.005 to 50 moles per cubic meter [NO(3) (-)](0). In the low concentration range (<1 mole per cubic meter for induced plants and <0.3 mole per cubic meter for uninduced plants), influx was saturable and V(max) and K(m) values for influx either increased or decreased according to NO(3) (-) pretreatment. By contrast, (13)NO(3) (-) influx in the high concentration range revealed a strictly linear concentration dependence. These fluxes appeared to be mediated by a constitutive, rather than an inducible, transport system.