Allocation of Nitrogen to Cell Walls Decreases Photosynthetic Nitrogen-Use Efficiency

• Published in: Functional ecology 2004-06, Vol.18 (3), p.419-425
• Main Authors: Onoda, Y., Hikosaka, K., Hirose, T.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 5‐bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Autoecology; Biological and medical sciences; Cell walls; cell‐wall proteins; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Germination; germination time; Human ecology; leaf life span; Leaves; Life span; Nitrogen; nitrogen allocation; Phytotrons; Plant ecology; Plant growth; Plants; Polygonum cuspidatum; ribulose‐1
• ISSN: 0269-8463; 1365-2435
• DOI: 10.1111/j.0269-8463.2004.00847.x

1. Nitrogen (N) is an essential limiting resource for plant growth, and its efficient use may increase fitness. We investigated photosynthetic N-use efficiency (photosynthetic capacity per unit N) in relation to N allocation to Rubisco and to cell walls in Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et Zucc. which germinated in May (early germinators) and August (late germinators). 2. There was a significant difference between early and late germinators in photosynthetic capacity as a function of leaf N content per unit area. Higher photosynthetic N-use efficiency in late germinators was caused primarily by a larger allocation of N to Rubisco. 3. Nitrogen allocation to cell walls was smaller in late germinators. The shorter growth period in late germinators was associated with higher photosynthetic capacity, which was achieved by allocating more N to photosynthetic proteins at the expense of cell walls. 4. The trade-off between N allocation to photosynthesis and to structural tissues suggests that plants change N allocation to increase either the rate or duration of carbon assimilation. Such plastic change would help plants maintain themselves and cope with environmental changes.