Low levels of ferredoxin, ATP and leghemoglobin contribute to limited N₂ fixation of peas (Pisum sativum L.) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) under S deficiency conditions

• Published in: Biology and fertility of soils Vol. 44; no. 7; pp. 909 - 916
• Main Authors: Scherer, Heinrich W, Pacyna, Svea, Spoth, Katrin R, Schulz, Margot
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Berlin/Heidelberg : Springer-Verlag 01.08.2008; Springer-Verlag; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agriculture; Alfalfa; ATP; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Ferredoxin; Legumes; Life Sciences; Nitrogen; Nitrogen fixation; N₂-fixation; Original Paper; Plant growth; Plant production; Plant species; Roots; Rural areas; Shoots; Soil fertility; Soil Science & Conservation; Sulfur; fixation; Legumes; Ferredoxin; ATP; Sulphur; N
• ISSN: 0178-2762; 1432-0789
• DOI: 10.1007/s00374-008-0273-7

Sulphur (S) has become a major limiting factor for plant production in industrial as well as in remote industrial rural areas. Limitation of S can reduce legume N₂ fixation by affecting nodule development and function. In pot experiments with pea (Pisum sativum L.) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), we investigated the influence of S on growth, ferredoxin, ATP and leghemoglobin concentrations. Addition of 200 mg S pot⁻¹ increased yield of shoots, roots and nodules of both plant species significantly. However, the influence of S on nodule yield formation was most pronounced. Pea and alfalfa roots were found to have higher S concentrations than shoots and being up to 2.9 times the S concentration in the shoots of peas under S-sufficient conditions. Sulphur addition also increased N₂ fixation significantly. The ferredoxin concentration in bacteroids of root nodules of pea was increased significantly by S only 10 weeks after planting and in bacteroids of root nodules of alfalfa 10 and 17 weeks after planting, while on per pot base the amounts of ferredoxin were higher throughout the experimental period of time. The ATP concentration of bacteroids of root nodules of both plant species as well as of mitochondria of root nodules of pea were significantly higher with optimum S supply. The effects of S deficiency on N₂ fixation are likely to be caused by the shortage of ferredoxin and ATP. The amount of leghemoglobin was reduced in comparison to nodules of the S-sufficient plants.