Arabidopsis and Lobelia anceps access small peptides as a nitrogen source for growth

While importance of amino acids as a nitrogen source for plants is increasingly recognised, other organic N sources including small peptides have received less attention. We assessed the capacity of functionally different species, annual and nonmycorrhizal Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. (Brassicaceae) and perennial Lobelia anceps L.f. (Campanulaceae), to acquire, metabolise and use small peptides as a N source independent of symbionts. Plants were grown axenically on media supplemented with small peptides (2–4 amino acids), amino acids or inorganic N. In A. thaliana, peptides of up to four amino acid residues sustained growth and supported up to 74% of the maximum biomass accumulation achieved with inorganic N. Peptides also supported growth of L. anceps, but to a lesser extent. Using metabolite analysis, a proportion of the peptides supplied in the medium were detected intact in root and shoot tissue together with their metabolic products. Nitrogen source preferences, growth responses and shoot–root biomass allocation were species-specific and suggest caution in the use of Arabidopsis as the sole plant model. In particular, glycine peptides of increasing length induced effects ranging from complete inhibition to marked stimulation of root growth. This study contributes to emerging evidence that plants can acquire and metabolise organic N beyond amino acids.