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. 1991 Nov;97(3):1221–1225. doi: 10.1104/pp.97.3.1221

Nitrate Inhibition of Nodulation Can Be Overcome by the Ethylene Inhibitor Aminoethoxyvinylglycine 1

Francisco Ligero 1,2, Juan M Caba 1,2, Carmen Lluch 1,2, José Olivares 1,2
PMCID: PMC1081145  PMID: 16668512

Abstract

Previously, we reported (a) a positive correlation between the nitrate concentrations in growth medium and ethylene evolved from uninoculated and inoculated alfalfa (Medicago sativa) roots and (b) a negative correlation between ethylene evolution and nodulation. Here, we report that the inhibitory effect of NO3− on nodulation of alfalfa can be eliminated by the ethylene inhibitor aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG). This effect was probably related to the strong inhibition (90%) of ethylene biosynthesis caused by AVG in these inoculated and NO3−-treated roots. These results support our hypothesis that the inhibitory effect of NO3− is mediated through the phytohormone ethylene. A possible role of endogenous ethylene in the autoregulation of nodulation also is discussed. AVG at 10 micromolar significantly (P < 0.05) increased total nitrogenase activity (acetylene reduction) in 2.5 and 5 millimolar NO3−-fed plants probably as a result of the very high stimulation of nodulation.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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