Isolation of a nitrate reductase deficient mutant of Pisum sativum by means of selection for chlorate resistance

Abstract

After EMS treatment of seeds of the Pisum variety ‘Rondo’ a chlorate resistant mutant was isolated which showed a decrease in the in vitro activity of the enzyme nitrate reductase of roughly 95%. The mutation is monogenic and recessive. The mutant shows a decrease in protein content, and an increase in the amount of nitrate accumulated and in the activity of the enzyme nitrite reductase. On a liquid nutrient medium containing nitrate as the sole nitrogen source and in soil, the mutant grows very poorly due to necrosis of the leaves. On liquid medium containing ammonium, either with or without nitrate, growth is as good as that of the parent variety.