Response of oilseed rape plant to low root temperature and nitrate:Ammonium ratios

Oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) response to root temperature regimes (20/20, 16/8 and 12/12°C day/night) at constant 20°C air temperature was studied. At each regime, three NO₃^-:NH₄⁺ ratios (10:0, 8:2, or 6:4), at constant 10 mM N, in the irrigation solution were tested. Plant growth, transpiration, ionic composition and level of cytokinins and gibberellins in the xylem exudate were monitored. The two low root temperature regimes, 12/12 and 16/8°C, reduced rape shoot growth by 28 and 22%, and increased the accumulation of soluble carbohydrates by 42 and 26% in the roots, respectively, as compared to the 20/20°C regime. Low root temperatures reduced plants transpiration. The NO₃^-:NH₄⁺ ratios had no effect on rape growth. At low root temperatures NO₃-contents increased in the shoot and decreased in the roots. The sum of cations and that of anions at 12/12 and 16/8°C root temperatures decreased significantly as compared to 20/20°C. The presence of NH₄⁺ in the irrigation solution decreased the concentrations of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ in the shoots and roots and increased that of Cl- in the shoots and of H₂PO₄^- in the roots at all root temperatures. Cytokinins and gibberellins contents in the xylem exudate decreased at the low root temperature regimes. Low root temperature reduced total upward transport of the mineral nutrients and phytohormones, most probably because of reduced water flow through the plant.