Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Effect of Molybdenum Status on the Ascorbic Acid Content of Plants in Sand Culture

Abstract

THE role of molybdenum in higher plants is generally thought to be closely connected with the assimilation of nitrate nitrogen1,2. Requirements appear to be much reduced with ammonium nitrogen2; but recent work here has shown that presence of ammonium and nitrate together does not eliminate the need. The nature of the system involved in nitrate assimilation and the step activated by molybdenum are still obscure. The suggestion that ascorbic acid may function in plants as an agent for nitrate reduction is not new3, but has been given little consideration. Recently, Virtanen and his associates4,5 have found that seedlings given nitrate nitrogen may be unable to grow if the cotyledons or endosperm are removed unless ascorbic acid or glutathione or other reducing agents are supplied, whereas excised seedlings given ammonium nitrogen continue normal development in the absence of any supplements. These observations were attributed to the in vivo effect of ascorbic acid in the seed reserves on nitrate reduction. No information was available, however, as to the molybdenum status of their cultures. There are also reports which indicate that plants supplied with nitrate contain less ascorbic acid than those grown with ammonium nitrogen6–8. Other nutritional effects so far reported, except possibly that of manganese9, seem to have comparatively little or no consistent influence.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hewitt, E. J., and Jones, E. W., J. Pomol. and Hort. Sci., 23, 254 (1947).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Mulder, E. G., Plant and Soil, 1, 94 (1948).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Lemoigne, M., Monguillon, P., and Desvaux, R., C.R. Acad. Sci., Paris, 204, 1841 (1937).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Virtanen, A. I., Experientia, 8, 313 (1949).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Virtanen, A. I., and Von Hausen, S. S., Nature, 163, 482 (1949); Z. Pfl. Ernähr., 45, 11 (1949).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Jones, W. W., Bitters, W. P., and Finch, A. H., Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. Proc., 45, 1 (1944).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Finch, A. H., Jones, W. W., and van Horn, S. W., Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. Proc., 46, 314 (1947).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Wittwer, S. H., Schroeder, R. A., and Albrecht, W. A., Soil Sci., 59, 329 (1945).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Harmer, P. M., and Sherman, G. D., Soil Soc. Amer. Proc., 8, 346 (1943).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. Unpublished data.

  11. Crook, E. M., and Morgan, E. G., Biochem. J., 38, 10 (1944).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Waygood, E. R., Canad. J. Res., 28, 7 (1950).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Davison, D. C., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. Wales, 74, 26 (1949).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

HEWITT, E., AGARWALA, S. & JONES, E. Effect of Molybdenum Status on the Ascorbic Acid Content of Plants in Sand Culture. Nature 166, 1119–1120 (1950). https://doi.org/10.1038/1661119a0

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/1661119a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing