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Jatropha curcas L. presents high potential for biofuel production. Studies of its nutritional requirements are therefore highly relevant to agriculture.The aim of the present study was to investigate the Nitrogen (N) uptake in plants grown with either nitrate (NO3-) or ammonium (NH4+) as N source and to quantify nitrate-N, ammonium-N (nutrient solution), amino-N and soluble sugar (plant tissue) concentrations of the J. curcas variety CNPAS-170. Two different levels of NH4+ (0.4 or 4.0 mM) and two different levels of NO3- (1.0 or 4.0 mM) were tested. Plants were grown for 26 hours with the low N nutrient solutions and for 82 hours with the high N nutrient solutions. Uptake curves were measured for both of the N sources, and nitrate-N, ammonium-N (nutrient solution), amino-N and soluble sugar (plant tissues) concentrations were quantified. A randomized block experimental design was used, with a 2x2 factorial scheme and 8 replicates. The results indicate the presence of high-affinity uptake systems (low Km and Vmax values) in plants grown with 1 mM NO3- and preferential allocation of N-soluble fractions and soluble sugars to stems in J. curcas variety CNPAS-170.

Keywords: nitrogen metabolism, nitrate, ammonium, biofuel.

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Citation: Palermo DP, Ferrari AC, Nascimento ECD, Genuncio GD, Zonta E (2016). Nitrogen uptake kinetics and accumulation of soluble nitrogen fractions and soluble sugars in Jatropha curcas L. J. Agric. Crop Res. 4(7): 110-116.