The effect of ammonium and nitrate on carbondioxide compensation point and enzymes associated with carbondioxide exchange in wheat.

The carbondioxide compensation point (Γ), dry matter production, and the activities of nitrate reductase (NR), glycolate oxidase (GO), ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBPC) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) were measured in wheat, grown on media, containing nitrate or ammonium. Significantly higher Γ and lower dry matter was observed in plants supplied with ammonium-nitrogen (NH4-N), as compared to those supplied with nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N). The activities of NR and PEPC were higher in plants grown on NO3-N than to those grown on NH4-N. There were no significant differences in the activities of GO and RuBPC irrespective of whether NO3-N or NH4-N was supplied. None of the enzymes was found to be associated directly with the Γ.PEPC activity accounted the measured differences in the Γ and biomass production between NH4-N and NO3-N supplied plants. The relationship between PEPC and the Γ is discussed.