Expansion and photosynthetic rate of leaves of soybean plants during onset of and recovery from nitrogen stress

This study reports on the effects of nitrogen stress and restoration of nitrogen availability after a period of stress on expansion and photosynthetic rate of soybean leaves of differing maturity. We hypothesized that nitrogen resupply would lead to additional accumulation of reduced nitrogen in the leaves and, ultimately, resumption of leaf initiation and expansion and photosynthetic activity. In continuously nitrogen-stressed plants, expansion of middle trifoliolates of main-stem trifoliates and leaf area at full expansion were severely restricted. Leaves showing the greatest effects were initiated after removal of nitrogen. When the reduced nitrogen concentration in mature leaves of continuously stressed plants fell below 9 mg dm-2, the photosynthetic rate per unit leaf decreased rapidly, reaching a minimum of ca. 6-8 mg dm-2 h-1. The older mature leaves tended to abscise at this point, while the youngest leaves remained on the plant and continued to photosynthesize slowly. When nitrogen was resupplied, leaf expansion and final leaf area increased. Leaf initiation was also stimulated as reduced nitrogen levels rose in the leaves. Photosynthetic rates of the oldest and youngest pair of mature leaves returned to values comparable to those of similar-aged leaves of nonstressed soybean plants.