Steady and nonsteady state gas exchange characteristics of soybean nodules in relation to the oxygen diffusion barrier.

An open gas exchange system was used to monitor the nonsteady state and steady state changes in nitrogenase activity (H(2) evolution in N(2):O(2) and Ar:O(2)) and respiration (CO(2) evolution) in attached, excised, and sliced nodules of soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) exposed to external pO(2) of 5 to 100%. In attached nodules, increases in external pO(2) in steps of 10 or 20% resulted in sharp declines in the rates of H(2) and CO(2) evolution. Recovery of these rates to values equal to or greater than their initial rates occurred within 10 to 60 minutes of exposure to the higher pO(2). Recovery was more rapid at higher initial pO(2) and in Ar:O(2) compared to N(2):O(2). Sequential 10% increments in pO(2) to 100% O(2) resulted in rates of H(2) evolution which were 1.4 to 1.7 times the steady state rate at 20% O(2) in Ar. This was attributed to a relief at high pO(2) from the 40% decline in nitrogenase activity that was induced by Ar at a pO(2) of 20%. Changes in nodule respiration rate could not account for the nodules' ability to adjust to high external pO(2), supporting the hypothesis that soybean nodules have a variable barrier to O(2) diffusion which responds slowly (within minutes) to changes in pO(2). Nodule excision and slicing resulted in 45 and 78% declines, respectively, in total specific nitrogenase activity at 20% O(2). In contrast with the result obtained with intact nodules, subsequent 10% increases in pO(2) in Ar:O(2) did not result in transient declines in H(2) evolution rates, but in the rapid attainment of new steady state rates. Also, distinct optima in nitrogenase activity were observed at about 60% O(2). These results were consistent with an increase in the diffusive resistance of the nodule cortex following nodule excision or nodule slicing. This work also shows the importance of using intact plants and continuous measurements of gas exchange in studies of O(2) diffusion and nitrogenase activity in legume nodules.