Photosynthetica 2003, 41(2):201-207 | DOI: 10.1023/B:PHOT.0000011952.77340.53

Carbon Partitioning and Assimilation as Affected by Nitrogen Deficiency in Cassava

J.L. Cruz1, P.R. Mosquim1, C.R. Pelacani1, W.L. Araujo1, F.M. DaMatta1
1 Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brasil

Plants of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) were raised in a sand root medium watered with nutrient solutions, under greenhouse conditions. As the N-supply increased, shoot dry mass was enhanced to a greater extent than root dry mass, thus leading to an increased shoot to root ratio. In leaves, contents of total soluble saccharides, non-reducing saccharides, and inorganic phosphate increased linearly with increasing N-supply. An opposite response was found for reducing saccharides and starch. In general, content of non-reducing saccharides was considerably greater than starch content. Activity of sucrose synthase was not detected, regardless of the N-treatments; by contrast, activity of neutral and acid invertases increased with increasing N-availability. Roots accumulated more total soluble saccharides, but less reducing saccharides and starch, as the N-supply increased. Photosynthetic rates decreased with increasing N-deficiency. Such a decrease was circumstantially associated to reducing saccharide, but not starch, accumulation. Results suggest a limited capacity for carbon export from source leaves under N-limitation.

Additional key words: invertase; Manihot esculenta; nitrate; photosynthesis; saccharide; sucrose synthase

Published: June 1, 2003  Show citation

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Cruz, J.L., Mosquim, P.R., Pelacani, C.R., Araujo, W.L., & DaMatta, F.M. (2003). Carbon Partitioning and Assimilation as Affected by Nitrogen Deficiency in Cassava. Photosynthetica, 41(2), 201-207. doi: 10.1023/B:PHOT.0000011952.77340.53
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