An intact plant assay for estimating nitrogenase activity (C2H2 reduction) of sorghum and millet plants grown in pots

Wani, S P and Upadhyaya, M N and Dart, P J (1984) An intact plant assay for estimating nitrogenase activity (C2H2 reduction) of sorghum and millet plants grown in pots. Plant and Soil, 82 (1). pp. 15-29. ISSN 0032-079X

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Abstract

A non destructive intact-plant assay for estimating nitrogenase activity (C2H2 reduction) of pot-grown sorghum and millet plants is described. Plants with intact shoots sustained more activity than plants whose tops were removed prior to the assay. With this technique individual plants can be assayed several times during their life cycle. The C2H2 reduction was linear up to 16h incubation in this assay procedure. More rapid diffusion of C2H2 was achieved by injection through a Suba seal in the bottom of the pot. The equlibration of injected C2H2 in the gas phase of the pots filled with sand and sand:FYM media was completed within 1 h. Significantly higher nitrogenase activity and better growth of sorghum and millet plants occurred when plants were grown in a mixture of sand and farmyard manure (FYM) than when plants were grown in vermiculite, soil, or sand + soil medium. Nitrogenase activity and plant growth were greater in a mixture of sand with 2 and 3% FYM than with 0.5 and 1% FYM. Activity was higher when the plants were incubated at 33°C and 40°C than at 27°C. Activity also increased with increasing soil moisture. There were significant differences amongst 15 sorghum cultivars screened for associated nitrogenase activity. This new technique has good prospects for screening cultivars of millet, sorghum and other grain crops for their nitrogen-fixing ability.

Item Type:	Article
Divisions:	UNSPECIFIED
CRP:	UNSPECIFIED
Uncontrolled Keywords:	C2H2 reduction, Intact-plant assay, Millet, Nitrogenase activity, Nitrogen fixation, Sorghum
Subjects:	Mandate crops > Millets Mandate crops > Sorghum
Depositing User:	Mr Ramesh K
Date Deposited:	14 Sep 2016 04:56
Last Modified:	14 Sep 2016 04:56
URI:	http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/9660
Official URL:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02220766
Projects:	UNSPECIFIED
Funders:	UNSPECIFIED
Acknowledgement:	Submitted as Journal article No. 358 by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT).
Links:	Google Scholar

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