Excretion of Nitrogenous Compounds from the Root Nodules of Leguminous Plants

Abstract

THE activities of the nodule, and particularly the excretion of nitrogenous compounds from the nodule into the medium, are largely dependent upon the supply of air to the roots. The quantity of excreted nitrogenous compounds is the greater the larger the culture flask. This fact has been clearly demonstrated by our experiments with sterile cultures of inoculated peas in quartz sand. The results also showed that the rate of excretion is proportionally highest at an early stage of development of the plants when the nodules are still quite young. Hence it can be concluded that the passage of the nitrogen compounds into the sand actually is due to excretion and not to a decomposition of the nodule proteins.