Dissemin is shutting down on January 1st, 2025

Published in

Wiley, Functional Ecology, 3(15), p. 370-377, 2001

DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2435.2001.00524.x

Links

Tools

Export citation

Search in Google Scholar

Seasonal nitrogen storage and remobilization in the forb Rumex acetosa

Journal article published in 2001 by U. Bausenwein, P. Millard ORCID, B. Thornton, Raven Ja, J. A. Raven
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

Full text: Download

Green circle
Preprint: archiving allowed
Orange circle
Postprint: archiving restricted
Red circle
Published version: archiving forbidden
Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

Summary The contribution of N storage and remobilization to the vegetative and reproductive growth of the forb Rumex acetosa was quantified using 15N labelling techniques with plants derived from semi-natural grasslands in Scotland. The contribution of remobilized N to the total N in the new above-ground tissues was highest at the beginning of the growing season at 58%. New leaves and reproductive organs contained equal amounts of remobilized N. During early vegetative growth, the taproot was the main source of remobilized N, whereas during reproductive growth, N was additionally remobilized from fine roots and leaves. Free amino acids (mainly arginine and glutamine) and proteins were identified as the main storage compounds in the taproots. The protein pool did not show any seasonal variations that indicated the existence of a vegetative storage protein, indicating that such proteins are not a necessary component of N storage/remobilization in all species. The ability to store and remobilize N provides a mechanism for growth in the spring when the availability of soil N is low, and means that growth depends upon environmental conditions during more than one year.