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A 1H NMR study of water flow in Phaseolus vulgaris L. roots treated with nitrate or ammonium

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Abstract

The effect of N nutrition on root xylem (water) flow in Phaseolus vulgaris was studied by using the 1H NMR flow imaging technique. Plants pre-cultivated on CaSO4-solution were transferred to NMR-compatible split-root cuvettes filled with half-strength nitrate medium (2.5 mM). After 6 days full-strength (5 mM) nitrate medium was supplied to both compartments (NN treatment), or only to one compartment, whereas the other one was perfused with full-strength (5 mM) ammonium medium (NA treatment). Imaging was performed 7–8 days later. Root growth, xylem flow velocity and xylem pressure (measured with the xylem pressure probe) were largely unaffected by N nutrition. Under NA conditions, volume flow was significantly lower in ammonium- compared to nitrate-fed roots due to a reduced number of functional xylem elements. This was apparently not related to anatomical differences nor to an enhanced number of cavitated vessels in ammonium-fed roots. Vessels in these roots may become dysfunctional by clogging to prevent cavitation.

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Notes

  1. Mean values ± SD throughout the paper. Significance was tested using Student’s T-test.

  2. Xylem pressure is given in absolute values, i.e. 0 MPa corresponds to vacuum.

Abbreviations

DW:

Dry weight

NA:

Under split-root conditions, roots are either supplied with nitrate or ammonium nutrient solution

NN:

Under split-root conditions, all roots are supplied with the same nitrate nutrient solution

NMR:

Nuclear magnetic resonance

Px :

Xylem pressure

TSE:

Turbo-spin-echo

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Acknowledgement

This work was supported by grants of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft to U.Z. and B.S. (SPP “Der Apoplast der höheren Pflanze”, grants No. Zi 99/10-3, Sa 359/12-3 and Sa 359/9) as well as to L.H.W. (We2766 1-1). We would also like to thank Günter Carl from the workshop of the Physics department in Würzburg for constructing the NMR split-root cuvettes, Mrs Stephanie Nieft for technical assistance.

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Author notes

  1. Shiwei Guo

    Present address: College of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, 210095, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China

  2. Lars H. Wegner

    Present address: Plant Bioelectrics Group, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Campus North, Building 630, Hermann-v-Helmholtz Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lehrstuhl für Experimentelle Physik V, Universität Würzburg, 97074, Würzburg, Germany

    Thomas Schulze-Till, Ilja Kaufmann, Peter Jakob & Axel Haase

  2. Institut für Pflanzenernährung und Bodenkunde, Universität Kiel, 24098, Kiel, Germany

    Burkhard Sattelmacher & Shiwei Guo

  3. Lehrstuhl für Biotechnologie, Biozentrum, Universität Würzburg, 97074, Würzburg, Germany

    Ulrich Zimmermann & Lars H. Wegner

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  1. Thomas Schulze-Till
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Correspondence to Lars H. Wegner.

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Responsible Editor: A.C. Borstlap.

Dedicated to the memory of the late Dr. Burkhard Sattelmacher, who passed away on November 21, 2005.

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Schulze-Till, T., Kaufmann, I., Sattelmacher, B. et al. A 1H NMR study of water flow in Phaseolus vulgaris L. roots treated with nitrate or ammonium. Plant Soil 319, 307–321 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-008-9871-2

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