The effect of humic and glutamic acids in nutrient solution on the N metabolism in lettuce
2012
Haghighi, Maryam
BACKGROUND: This paper reports for the first time the influence of partially replacing the nitrogen (N) source of a nutrient solution with amino acids and humic acid on the physiological and antioxidant activities and N metabolism in lettuce. A hydroponic experiment was designed to replace 25 and 50% of the N in nutrient solutions (NSs) with glutamic acid (GA) and humic acid (HA) and evaluate the effects on growth, nitrate (NO3) assimilation, protein content, nitrate reductase (NR) activity and antioxidant changes in lettuce. RESULTS: The results showed that, when a portion of the N was replaced with GA and HA, the fresh and dry weights of lettuce shoots did not change significantly compared with the full NO3 treatment. The titratable acidity was not affected by adding HA and/or GA to the NS. The nitrite concentration and NR activity decreased with reductions in the N concentration of the NS and improved with the addition of GA and HA. GA enhanced the NO3 uptake and protein content more than HA. Changes in the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activities and malondialdehyde content were inconclusive: SOD and POD activities decreased with decreasing N content of the NS, and HA addition improved the SOD and POD activities. CONCLUSION: When HA and GA were substituted for NO3 in an NS, the acids effectively adjusted the N metabolism and growth in lettuce and decreased the N consumption of the NS.
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