Response of inoculated foliar fed pea plants (Pisum sativum L.) to reduced Mo supply

Abstract

The application of nutrients to the roots and leaves of inoculated pea plants grown under conditions of reduced Mo supply was studied. Pea plants (Pisum sativum L.) were grown on liquid nutrient solution excluding Mo from the media until the 35th day under glasshouse conditions. Plants were inoculated with the bacterial suspension of Rhizobium leguminosarum Bv. Vicae, strain D293 at approximately 10(8) cells per cm3. The foliar fertilizer Agroleaf was applied at 0.3% concentration. Changes in the root nodulation and the activities of the enzymes connected with nitrogen assimilation pathway (nitrate reductase--NR-NADH: EC 1.6.6.1; glutamine synthetase--GS: EC 6.3.1.2; glutamate synthase--NADH-GOGAT: EC 1.4.1.14 and nitrogenase--NG: EC 1.7.99.2) were observed. It was established that the foliar application of nutrients reduced the inhibitory effect on the root nodulation and nitrogen assimilatory enzyme activities due to the Mo shortage.