Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine whether the supply of current photosynthate was limiting root nodule activity. Both short-term (36 hours) and long-term (16 days) periods of CO2 enrichment were imposed on vegetative, growth chamber-grown soybean plants (Glycine max. [L.] Merr. cv. `Clay') to increase the supply of current photosynthate and to observe the effects on photosynthate partitioning in the plants, plant growth, and root nodule activity.
Neither total nor specific nodule activities were increased during exposure to short-term (36 hours) CO2 enrichment. Dry weight of the leaves increased after 12, 24, and 36 hours of CO2 enrichment and dry weight of the stems plus petioles increased after 36 hours of CO2 enrichment. Dry weights of the roots and nodules were not altered by short-term CO2 enrichment. Short-term CO2 enrichment increased the total nonstructural carbohydrates in the leaves and stems plus petioles, but not in the roots and nodules. Analyses of the separate pools of carbohydrate reserves indicated that the majority of the additional carbohydrate provided by short-term CO2 enrichment was stored as leaf starch with relatively little being partitioned to the roots and nodules.
Long-term CO2 enrichment (16 days) did not enhance specific nodule activity. Shoot, root, and nodule dry weights were increased 109, 34%, and 56% respectively. Total nodule activity per plant was significantly enhanced only after 16 days of treatment and was related to increased nodule mass. These results indicate that the increased total nodule activity in response to CO2 enrichment is a consequence of a general growth response of the plant.
Results of both studies indicate that nodule activity was not directly limited by current photosynthesis but rather by the partitioning and utilization of photosynthate in the plant.
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Selected References
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