[Effect of NO3- supply on lateral root growth in maize plants].

Growth of lateral roots is regulated by both environmental factors and nitrate (NO(-)(3)) content of the plant. The mechanism involved is not clearly understood. Two maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines (478 and Wu312) were used to study the effect of different nitrate supply on lateral root (LR) growth by a whole plants agar culture. The results showed that increasing NO(-)(3)concentration in nutrient solution from 0.01 to 1.0 mmol/L significantly increased the LR length and root biomass. Lateral root density changed little with NO(-)(3) increase up to 5x10(-3) mol/L (for Wu312) - 10x10(-3) mol/L (for 478), then decreased significantly with increasing NO(-)(3). The inhibitory effect of high NO(-)(3) on root growth was weaker in 478 than in Wu312. The growth of lateral roots in Wu312 was completely inhibited by NO(-)(3) at a concentration of 10x10(-3) mol/L, whereas LR density of 478 could reach 30% (axial) and 50% (radicle) of its maximum even at NO(-)(3) 20x10(-3) mol/L. Both the shoot total N and shoot nitrate content increased with increasing NO(-)(3) level. They had similar mathematic functions with shoot/root ratio (Exponential Decay), LR density (Gaussian) and LR length (Parabola). When shoot N content exceed about 1.6 mol/kg and NO(-)(3) content exceed 0.22 mol/kg, shoot/root ratio increased rapidly; when the shoot N content exceed about 1.5 and NO(-)(3) exceed 0.16 mol/kg, LR densities began to decrease; when shoot N content reached about 1 mol/kg and NO(-)(3) content reached 0.10 mol/kg, the LR lengths began to decrease. The possible relationship between shoot NO(-)(3) content and lateral root growth was discussed.