Incorporation of nitrate nitrogen in rice seedlings transferred to anaerobic conditions

Incorporation of^sup 15^NO^sub 3^- into amino acids was studied in 3-day-old aerobic rice seedlings (with coleoptile and root) subjected for 24h to anaerobic conditions. The incorporation of^sup 15^N 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 of^sup 15^N into glutamate and glutamine, the main fate of nitrate nitrogen in rice seedlings subjected to anoxia is alanine.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]