Abstract:
Objectives Effects of molybdenum (Mo) on the growth and nitrogen uptake/utilization of Malus sieversii seedlings were studied for the cultivation and crop production improvements.
Methods M. sieversii seedlings were grown under 5 levels of Mo supply equivalent to 0.00 (CK), 0.25 (M1), 0.50 (M2), 1.50 (M3), and 3.00 μmol·L−1 (M4) H2MoO4·H2O. The 15N utilization and Ndff (i.e., rate of 15N absorbed by a plant organ from 15N in fertilizer to total nitrogen in the organ) were determined using the 15N labeled tracer method. The growth, root morphology, and nitrate reductase (NR) activity in leaves of the seedlings were monitored.
Results The Mo applications significantly altered the biomass and 15N utilization rate of seedlings in an increasing pattern with increasing Mo to peak at M2 (the 15N utilization rate was 123% of that of CK), then followed by a decline. From 0 to 0.5 μmol Mo·L−1, the length, surface area, number of tips and activities of the seedling roots, the NR in the leaves, and the Ndff of all organs significantly increased. But further increasing Mo from 1.5 to 3.0 μmol·L−1 caused significant decreases on all indicators to become not significantly different from those under the M1 treatment.
Conclusions By treating potato rootstocks with Mo at 0.5 μmol·L−1, the seedling growth, root formation, and plant nitrogen absorption were enhanced. The seedling 15N utilization rate was maximized by the treatment that effectively promoted nitrogen reduction due to the increased nitrate reductase activity.