Incorporation of nitrate nitrogen in rice seedlings transferred to anaerobic conditions

Incorporation of15NO3- into amino acids was studied in 3-day-old aerobic rice seedlings (with coleoptile and root) subjected for 24h to anaerobic conditions. The incorporation of15N into glutamate, glutamine and alanine accounted for 89% and 84% of total incorporation in coleoptile and root, respectively. These findings indicate that, after the primary incorporation of15N into glutamate and glutamine, the main fate of nitrate nitrogen in rice seedlings subjected to anoxia is alanine.