Uptake and metabolism of nitrate in mycorrhizal plants as affected by water availability and N concentration in soil

We compare the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonization and PO4−3 fertilization on nitrate assimilation, plant growth and proline content in lettuce plants growing under well-watered (−0.04 MPa) or drought (−0.17 MPa) conditions. We also tested how AM-colonization and PO4−3 fertilization influenced N uptake (15N) and the percentage of N derived from the fertilizer (% NdfF) by plants under a concentration gradient of N in soil. Growth of mycorrhizal plants was comparable with that of P-fertilized plants only under well-watered conditions. Shoot nitrogen content, proline and nitrate reductase activity were greater in AM than in P-fertilized plants under drought. The addition of 100 μg g−1 P to the soil did not replace the AM effect under drought. Under well-watered conditions, AM plants showed similar (at 3 mmol N), greater (at 6 mmol N) or lesser (at 9 mmol N) %NdfF than P-fertilized plants. Comparing a control (without AM inoculation) to AM plants, differences in % NdfF ranged from 138% (3 mmol N) to 22.6% (6 mmol N) whereas no differences were found at 9 mmol N. In comparison with P fertilization, mycorrhizal effects on %NdfF were only evident at the lowest N levels, which indicated a regulatory mechanism for N uptake in AM plants affected by N availability in the soil. At the highest N level, P-fertilized plants showed the greatest %NdfF. In conclusion, AM symbiosis is important for N acquisition and N fertilizer utilization but this beneficial mycorrhizal effect on N nutrition is reduced under large quantities of N fertilizer.EAL is a scholarship holder of the Banco de México. RR and EA are grateful to ICI and to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for the grants. This study was integrated in the frame of COST action 8.38.Peer reviewe