Nitrate Metabolism Affected by Osmotic Stress and Nitrate Supply Level in Relation to Osmoregulation

Eight-week old perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L. cv. Reveille) plants were exposed to different NO3-concentrations or osmotic stress with NaCI. Previously labeled "N was chased during 14 days of non-labeled'NO3 feeding in order to investigate NO3 metabolism in relation to osmoregulation. The short termmeasurement of osmotic potential showed that the extemal concentration of Nos- had not great effect on theosmotic potential, but that osmotic adjustment was observed in NaCl-treated plants. Total uptake of NO 3 - waslargely increased by increasing supply level of NO3 while it was depressed by exposing to osmotic stress.Nitrate reduction increased to more than 29% by increasing extemal NO,- concentration from 1 mM to 10mM. When osmotically stressed with NaCI, nitrate reduction was depressed to about 37% as compared to thecontrol. The decrease in translocation of reduced N into leaves was also observed in NaCl exposed plants. Inthe medium exposed to 10 mM NO,., osmotic contribution of nitrate to cumulative osmotic potential wasdecreased, and it was osmotically compensated with soluble carbohydrate. When osmotically stressed withNaC1, the contribution of chloride was much higher than that of nitrate. The present data indicate that N03-in plant tissues, factually affected by the assimilation of this ion, plays an active role in osmotic regulation incorrelation with other osmotica such carbohydrate and chloride.(Key words : Nitrate metabolism, Osmotic stress, Nitrate supply level, Osmoregulation)ate supply level, Osmoregulation)