Absorption and translocation of nitrogen in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) plants using the ¹⁵N tracer technique

Figures & data

Figure 1  Changes in the dry weight of various organs of the cucumber. MS, main stem; 1LB, first lateral branch; 2LB, secondary lateral branch; HF, harvest fruits; SF, small fruits. Error bars denote the standard deviation (n = 3).

Figure 2  Changes in the nitrogen concentration of various organs of the cucumber. DW, dry weight; MS, main stem; 1LB, first lateral branch; 2LB, secondary lateral branch; HF, harvest fruits; SF, small fruits. Error bars denote the standard deviation (n = 3).

Table 1 Changes in the nitrogen content of various organs of the cucumber

Parts	Total-N (mg plant^−1)			NLN (mg plant^−1)			LN (mg plant^−1)
	21 Sep	28 Sep	14 Oct	21 Sep	28 Sep	14 Oct	28 Sep	14 Oct
Roots	296 ± 30.5	371 ± 15.2	466 ± 6.6	296 ± 30.5	253 ± 15.0	420 ± 4.8	118 ± 8.4	45.6 ± 3.8
Leaves of MS	1,922 ± 121	1,784 ± 149	1,955 ± 57	1,922 ± 121	1,475 ± 128	1,735 ± 65.9	309 ± 33.6	220 ± 31.1
Leaves of 1LB	358 ± 4.0	519 ± 36.0	642 ± 29.1	358 ± 4.0	350 ± 29.5	514 ± 27.5	169 ± 11.6	128 ± 1.9
Leaves of 2LB	39.7 ± 9.8	204 ± 11.5	468 ± 18.9	39.7 ± 9.8	115 ± 10.4	399 ± 17.6	88.7 ± 2.1	69.4 ± 7.1
Stems of MS	372 ± 27.4	347 ± 27.2	397 ± 67.6	372 ± 27.4	269 ± 24.1	350 ± 61.1	78.0 ± 55	46.3 ± 8.7
Stems of 1LB	130 ± 11.4	144 ± 12.8	160 ± 34.2	130 ± 11.4	130 ± 9.5	138 ± 29.4	41.1 ± 5.3	22.0 ± 5.3
Stems of 2LB	4.6 ± 0.4	76.0 ± 16.8	98.9 ± 14.5	4.6 ± 0.4	39.2 ± 9.1	85.5 ± 12.9	36.8 ± 7.7	13.4 ± 2.3
HF		918 ± 97.3	3,100 ± 238		626 ± 82.6	2,393 ± 129	282 ± 32.6	707 ± 110
SF	120 ± 19.9	251 ± 46.5	112 ± 5.6	120 ± 19.9	139 ± 18.7	100 ± 4.6	112 ± 29.6	36.8 ± 1.4
Total	3,242 ± 251	4,614 ± 169	7,398 ± 424	3,242 ± 251	3,369 ± 174	6,135 ± 306	1,245 ± 49	1,264 ± 143
MS, main stem; 1LB, first lateral branch; 2LB, secondary lateral branch; HF, harvest fruits; SF, small fruits; NLN, non-labeled N; LN, ^15N-labeled N. Values are mean ± standard deviation (n = 3).

Figure 3  Changes in the nitrogen distribution rate of various organs of the cucumber. MS, main stem; 1LB, first lateral branch; 2LB, secondary lateral branch; HF, harvest fruits; SF, small fruits. Error bars denote the standard deviation (n = 3).

Figure 4  Changes in the 15N distribution rate of various organs of the cucumber. MS, main stem; 1LB, first lateral branch; 2LB, secondary lateral branch; HF, harvest fruits; SF, small fruits. Error bars denote the standard deviation (n = 3).

Figure 5  Changes in the percentage of 15N-labeled nitrogen (LN) in total nitrogen of various organs of the cucumber. MS, main stem; 1LB, first lateral branch; 2LB, secondary lateral branch; HF, harvest fruits; SF, small fruits. Error bars denote the standard deviation (n = 3).

Figure 6  Changes in the nitrogen concentration in the leaves of each node of a main stem. Error bars denote the standard deviation (n = 3). DW, dry weight.

Figure 7  Changes in the percentage of 15N-labeled nitrogen (LN) in total nitrogen in the leaves of each node of the main stem. Error bars denote the standard deviation (n = 3).

Table 2 Changes in the nitrogen content of the leaves of each node of the main stem

Node number	Total-N (mg plant^−1)			NLN (mg plant^−1)			LN (mg plant^−1)
	21 Sep	28 Sep	14 Oct	21 Sep	28 Sep	14 Oct	28 Sep	14 Oct
6	86.6 ± 1.1	55.5 ± 0.6	57.4 ± 7.0	86.6 ± 1.1	49.0 ± 0.3	49.7 ± 5.2	6.6 ± 0.7	7.7 ± 2.0
7	96.2 ± 19.0	78.8 ± 9.8	64.4 ± 5.8	96.2 ± 19.0	67.4 ± 9.1	57.7 ± 4.7	11.4 ± 0.7	6.7 ± 1.3
8	102 ± 18.6	71.6 ± 9.3	90.4 ± 10.6	102 ± 18.6	62.4 ± 7.3	82.2 ± 9.5	9.2 ± 2.0	8.2 ± 1.4
9	118 ± 14.5	92.6 ± 7.8	115 ± 11.6	118 ± 14.5	78.9 ± 7.0	104 ± 10.3	13.7 ± 0.8	11.9 ± 1.4
10	103 ± 24.6	95.9 ± 13.1	108 ± 8.0	103 ± 24.6	81.7 ± 10.4	98.5 ± 6.3	14.3 ± 3.1	9.8 ± 1.9
11	131 ± 11.5	103 ± 11.2	122 ± 9.4	131 ± 11.5	85.4 ± 7.1	110 ± 7.4	18.0 ± 4.1	12.0 ± 2.0
12	111 ± 17.8	115 ± 14.1	124 ± 6.3	111 ± 17.8	96.1 ± 11.0	111 ± 5.6	18.5 ± 4.1	13.3 ± 1.2
13	150 ± 13.9	121 ± 8.2	120 ± 15.6	150 ± 13.9	103 ± 7.1	107 ± 15.0	17.7 ± 1.1	12.9 ± 0.8
14	125 ± 10.7	118 ± 22.2	139 ± 4.9	125 ± 10.7	98.5 ± 19.7	124 ± 5.3	19.5 ± 2.8	14.9 ± 2.5
15	152 ± 6.7	141 ± 15.2	160 ± 8.5	152 ± 6.7	116 ± 3.1	141 ± 5.3	25.0 ± 3.9	18.7 ± 3.2
16	119 ± 10.1	139 ± 12.2	140 ± 18.1	119 ± 10.1	117 ± 10.7	125 ± 17.9	22.7 ± 3.7	15.3 ± 0.8
17	159 ± 16.6	155 ± 25.0	155 ± 5.4	159 ± 16.6	125 ± 20.8	137 ± 7.4	29.8 ± 5.6	18.0 ± 3.4
18	141 ± 11.7	148 ± 11.1	159 ± 7.2	141 ± 11.7	121 ± 9.5	139 ± 10.3	26.9 ± 1.6	20.8 ± 3.3
19	164 ± 8.9	177 ± 16.9	191 ± 21.0	164 ± 8.9	140 ± 9.9	170 ± 18.8	37.9 ± 7.2	21.5 ± 2.8
20	165 ± 20.8	173 ± 19.3	209 ± 36.9	165 ± 20.8	135 ± 18.6	181 ± 34.1	37.5 ± 2.2	28.1 ± 3.2
NLN, non-labeled N; LN, ^15N-labeled N. Values are mean ± standard deviation (n = 3).

Figure 8  Changes in the percentage of 15N-labeled nitrogen (LN) in total nitrogen in the harvest fruits of cucumber. Error bars denote the standard deviation (n = 3–6).