Nitrate Utilization by Asparagus in the Absence of Light

Abstract

A 10% aliquot of an asparagus root crown has the same percentage composition as the 90% fraction, so that after removal of the small fraction, the larger may be used for various experimental treatments. It has, accordingly, been possible to secure data on an absolute amount basis of plants grown in N-free quartz sand and in solution culture with and without nitrates. The results indicate that asparagus may utilize nitrates in the dark. This utilization was associated with a much larger loss of carbohydrates than occurred in the case of the minus-N-dark series. Presumably this greater loss of carbohydrates is due to the carbohydrates being used in N assimilation. Temperature greatly influenced the rate of utilization of nitrates. N fractions (7) and 6 carbohydrate fractions were determined on a percentage and absolute amount basis.