Mathematical modeling of oxygen diffusion and respiration in legume root nodules

The O2 permeability of legume root nodules is under physiological control; decreases in permeability are triggered by various forms of stress. Two linked mathematical models were used to explore several hypotheses concerning the physical nature of the variable diffusion barrier in nodules. Respirati...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Plant physiology (Bethesda) 1992-03, Vol.98 (3), p.901-907
Main Author: Denison, R.F. (USDA, ARS, Appalachian Soil and Water Conservation Research Laboratory, Beckeley, WV)
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions
Airspace
Biological and medical sciences
CADENA RESPIRATORIA
CHAINE RESPIRATOIRE
DIFFUSION
DIFUSION
Extracellular space
Floods
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
LEGAHEMOGLOBINA
LEGHEMOGLOBINE
Legumes
LEGUMINOSAE
Microbe-Plant Interactions
MODELE MATHEMATIQUE
MODELOS MATEMATICOS
NODOSITE RACINAIRE
Nodules
NUDOSIDADES RADICULARES
OXIGENO
Oxygen
OXYGENE
Parasitism and symbiosis
PERMEABILIDAD
PERMEABILITE
Plant physiology and development
Porosity
Respiration
Root nodules
Symbiosis
Tissue oxygenation
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Summary:The O2 permeability of legume root nodules is under physiological control; decreases in permeability are triggered by various forms of stress. Two linked mathematical models were used to explore several hypotheses concerning the physical nature of the variable diffusion barrier in nodules. Respiration and diffusion of dissolved O2 and oxygenated leghemoglobin were simulated for the nodule cortex and the nodule interior. Measured nodule permeabilities were shown to be inconsistent with the hypothesis that large numbers of air-filled pores penetrate the diffusion barrier. Changes in the affinity of leghemoglobin for O2 or in the rate of cytoplasmic streaming in diffusion barrier cells did not result in the large changes in O2 permeability reported for real nodules. The presence or absence, but not the thickness, of aqueous plugs in radial pores through the cortex was found to have a large effect on permeability. Flooding of intercellular spaces, either between layers of cells in the cortex or in the nodule interior, also caused large changes in simulated permeability. The unsteady-state O2 method for determining nodule permeability was tested using data generated by the model. The accuracy of the method was confirmed, provided that certain assumptions (full oxygenation of leghemoglobin under pure and uniform conditions in the nodule interior) are met
ISSN:0032-0889
1532-2548
DOI:10.1104/pp.98.3.901