Improved drought tolerance of transgenic Zea mays plants that express the glutamate dehydrogenase gene (gdhA) of E. coli

Genetic modification of nitrogen metabolism via bacterial NADPH- dependent glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH; E.C.4.1.2.1) favorably alters growth and metabolism of C3 plants. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of expression of GDH in the cytoplasmic compartment of Zea mays cells. The gdhA gene from Escherichia coli , that encoded a NADPH-GDH, was ligated to the ubiquitin promoter that incorporated the first intron enhancer and used to transform Z. mays cv. ‘H99’ embryo cultures by biolistics. R0–R3 generations included selfed inbreds, back-crossed inbreds, and hybrids with B73 derivatives. The lines with the highest GDH specific activity produced infertile R0 plants. The highest specific activity of GDH from the fertile Z. mays plants was sufficient to alter phenotypes. Plant damage caused by the phosphinothricin in gluphosinate-type herbicides, glutamine synthetase (GS; EC 6.1.3.2) inhibitors, was less pronounced in Z. mays plants with gdhA pat than in gusA pat plants. Germination and grain biomass production were increased in gdhA transgenic plants in the field during seasons with significant water deficits but not over all locations. Water deficit tolerance under controlled conditions was increased. Crops modified with gdhA may have value in semi-arid locations.     

氮素供应水平对小粒型花生氮素代谢及相关酶活性的影响

花生籽仁蛋白质含量较高,研究不同品种花生各器官中氮代谢酶活性的差异及与籽仁蛋白质含量间的关系,可为花生优质高产提供依据.在大田高产条件下研究了氮素水平对小粒型花生各器官中可溶性蛋白质、游离氨基酸含量及氮代谢相关酶活性的影响,结果表明,适当提高氮素水平既能增加花生各器官中可溶性蛋白质和游离氨基酸的含量,又能提高硝酸还原酶、谷氨酰胺合成酶和谷氨酸脱氢酶等氮素同化酶的活性,使其达到同步增加;氮素水平过高虽能提高硝酸还原酶和籽仁蛋白质含量,但谷氨酰胺合成酶和谷氨酸脱氢酶的活性下降;N素施肥水平不改变花生植株各器官中硝酸还原酶(NR)、谷氨酰胺合成酶(GS)、谷氨酸脱氢酶(GDH)活性的变化趋势,但适量施N(B2、B3处理)使花生各营养器官中NR、GS活性提高;氮素水平对花生各叶片和籽仁中GDH活性的高低影响较大,但对茎和根中活性大小的影响则较小.     

Lettuce quality loss under conditions that favor the wilting phenomenon

While temperature management is a usual accepted practice and is the simplest and easiest way of delaying vegetable deterioration, maintenance of the recommended relative humidity (RH) during postharvest storage is not always carried out. The objectives of this work were to simulate two RH conditions: optimal (95–98%) and low (70–72%) during the storage of lettuce heads at recommended temperatures (0–2 °C), and to address how deviation of RH from optimal conditions affects lettuce quality indices. The effects of storage on quality parameters were assayed as follows: weight loss and water content as physical indices, chlorophyll content as a greenness index, native microflora (mesophilic bacteria, psychrotrophic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, total coliforms, yeast and molds) as microbiological quality indices, ascorbic acid retention as a nutritional quality index, and overall quality as a sensory acceptability index. Additionally, these indices (with the exception of weight loss) were analyzed in three lettuce sections: external (composed by outer and older leaves), middle (composed by mid leaves) and internal (composed by inner and younger leaves). Shelf-life of lettuce was significantly affected by RH. The exposure of lettuce heads to low RH drastically reduced shelf-life by 75%. Plants exposed to low RH had considerable weight loss from the first day to the end of storage. For both RHs, the middle and internal sections did not show chlorophyll changes during storage while the external section showed pigment degradation characterized by first order kinetics. Ascorbic acid underwent first order degradation for all situations (sections and RH conditions), but with different degradation rates. The microbial population counts were slightly affected by RH. The overall quality of lettuce stored at low RH decreased rapidly. The shelf-life of material stored at this relative humidity condition was 5 days, when the overall quality scores of middle and external sections were below the acceptability limit and only the internal section had a score above the limit. In addition, overall quality of lettuce stored at optimal RH decreased slowly. At day 5 of storage the three lettuce sections had high scores and the product was satisfactory. Only at day 20 did the external section show a score just on the acceptability limit.     

Ammonia Metabolism in the Leaves and Ears of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) During Growth and Development

The pattern of free NH₄⁺ accumulation and its metabolism was studied during the growth and development of field-grown wheat cv. HD 2204 at two applied N levels viz. 30 and 120 kg ha⁻¹. The study was confined to the 3rd, 5th and flag leaf blades and the developing ears, borne on the main shoot, during their ontogeny. The NH₄⁺ levels were considerably lower in young leaves and increased sharply as the leaves senesced when the activity of glutamine synthetase (GS) declined. In contrast to GS, glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) remained active even during senescence. Concentrations of protein, free amino acid and total reduced N declined with age in the leaves. An assessment of free NH₄⁺ pool, free amino acid content and the activity of GS and GDH in the floral parts revealed that glumes, awns and grains also were active sites of NH₄⁺ turnover. Higher applied N level not only increased leaf and grain N concentration but also led to higher free NH₄⁺ levels in leaves and in developing ears. Presence of NH₄⁺ in the entrapped transpirate revealed that NH₄⁺ is released from both leaves and ears during senescence.     

Baby-leaf and multi-leaf of green and red lettuces are suitable raw materials for the fresh-cut industry

Consumer demand for softer leaves with variation in taste, shape and colours has encouraged the development of new lettuce products of baby-sized leaves. The objective of this study was the comparison of whole-head lettuce, as the most common raw material for fresh-cut, with baby-leaf and multi-leaf as the newest baby-sized lettuce leaves. Lettuces (Lactuca sativa L.) of the types Green Leaf, Red Leaf and Lollo Rosso were cultivated in the same field with different plant densities, under commercial conditions. Although baby-leaf was subjected to far less wound damage than the shredded lettuce from the whole-head, leaf age could play an important role in increasing respiration rate and determining postharvest quality. After 9-11 d of storage, minimally processed products from the three types of raw material showed good visual quality without differences among them. However, over the 12-d storage period, quality decreased to the limit of marketability mainly due to browning of the cut edge surface of the fresh-cut product from whole-heads and decay due to the soft tissue in the case of baby-leaves. Additionally, with the processing of whole-heads, the increase in cut-damage surfaces and availability of cell nutrients provided conditions that favoured the growth of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and total coliforms compared to uncut surfaces of baby-sized leaves. The ratio between the oxidized and reduced forms of ascorbate (DHA/AA) increased 2-4 times after 9-11 d of storage. Furthermore, baby-sized leaves had higher phenolic contents than the shredded product from the whole-head which probably contributed to reaching a shelf-life of 11 d. In conclusion, the new green and red baby-sized leaves both at immature and mature stages provided high quality lettuce for the fresh-cut market, meeting specific requirements regarding visual quality, microbial load and high content of phytochemicals.     

Extension,anatomy and metabolic activity of leaves in minimally processed leek stalks

When leeks are processed as trimmed stalks, the major problem that arises is inner leaf extension. With the aim to study leaf extension in trimmed stalks, leek pseudostems were initially trimmed at 20 cm from their base and sorted into three experiments. In the first experiment, the stalks were further cut at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 or 18 cm from the base resulting in two complementary parts: the lower part of 0–2, 0–4, 0–6, 0–8, 0–10, 0–12, 0–14, 0–16 or 0–18 cm and the respective upper part of 2–20, 4–20, 6–20, 8–20, 10–20, 12–20, 14–20, 16–20 or 18–20 cm; in the second experiment, the leaves were detached from the stalk base and marked at 2 cm intervals (leaf-parts), and in the third experiment, detached leaves were grouped into inner (1st–4th), intermediate (5th–7th), and outer (8th–10th) leaves and all experimental material was then stored at 8 °C for 10 d. Maximum leaf extension and leaf-part extension were measured at the end of storage in the first and second experiments, respectively, while metabolic activity measured as CO₂ and C₂H₄ production was monitored during storage in the third experiment. Additionally, leaf material was sampled from the base and mid leaf area of an inner and an outer leaf for anatomical evaluation. The results showed that after 10 d storage at 8 °C of leek pseudostems with 10 leaves trimmed at 20 cm from the base, the inner four leaves were metabolically very active and had the highest leaf extension, which was restricted to the basal 0–8 cm leaf-part. This inner leaf-part constitutes the growth zone in trimmed leek stalks, where cell division and subsequent cell elongation occur, while the outer leaf tissues have already fully expanded.     

Transgenic soybeans expressing betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase from Atriplex canescens show increased drought tolerance

Betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH) catalyses the oxidation of betaine aldehyde to glycine betaine. To test whether BADH can increase drought tolerance in soybean (Glycine max), BADH from the drought‐tolerant plant Atriplex canescens (AcBADH) was introduced into the soybean cultivar ‘Jinong 17’ by Agrobacterium‐mediated cotyledon transformation. Eight independent AcBADH transgenic lines were subjected to drought stress. As expected, AcBADH was expressed in transgenic soybean leaves and not in the control. In transgenic plants, AcBADH expression increased following drought treatment. Under osmotic stress, the germination index was 6%–17% higher in the transgenic lines than in the control. Using a randomized block design, we measured drought‐related physiological indices and yield traits. The proline content in AcBADH transgenic soybeans increased by 12.5%–16.6%, peroxidase activity increased by 1%–7%, dry weight of plant increased by 15%–20% and malondialdehyde contents decreased by 1.5%–13%, compared to the control. Under drought conditions, two of the eight transgenic soybean lines had higher yields than the control, with increases of 7.59%–8.84%. Therefore, transgenic expression of AcBADH may provide a promising strategy to engineer drought tolerance without adverse consequences.     

不同基质和施肥类型对无土栽培生菜生长发育的影响

试验采用2种基质,3种不同的施肥类型对生菜进行盆栽试验。结果表明：与全无机肥和全有机肥比较,无机＋有机肥处理在两种基质中均能显著增加生菜叶鲜重和茎粗,并且生菜叶数、根鲜重、根系活力、叶绿素含量是各处理中最高的。全无机肥与全有机肥对于生菜根鲜重、叶数、叶鲜重、叶绿素含量影响并无显著差异。在两种基质中全无机肥处理的生菜根系活力显著高于全有机肥处理,但其在混合基质中栽培生菜的茎粗显著低于全有机肥处理。混合基质栽培生菜的根系活力、叶绿素含量均高于无机基质,而且与无机基质相比还极显著的增加了生菜的叶鲜重和叶数。以上结果说明以有机肥配以一定的无机肥混施在混合基质中栽培生菜是提高生菜产量的有效方式。     

Distribution,stability and fate of phenolic compounds in white and purple eggplants (Solanum melongena L.)

Eggplants rank among the vegetables richest in antioxidants, but little is known about the allocation, stability, and turnover of these metabolites. The distribution, accumulation and degradation of phenolic antioxidants in the inner and outer pulp of two commercially important eggplant types (white and dark purple), at harvest and after 14 and 30 d of refrigerated storage under non-chilling conditions (10 °C and 90% RH) were determined in this study. Chlorogenic acid (ChA) was histolocalized by fluorescence with 2-aminoethyl-diphenylborinate and the activity of phenolic compounds oxidizing enzymes (polyphenoloxidase, PPO and peroxidase, POD) as well as H₂O₂ concentration in both fruit regions was determined. During storage, dark purple fruit were more susceptible to dehydration and showed greater deterioration than white eggplants. Both genotypes accumulated higher sugar content in the inner pulp as opposed to acids, which were more concentrated in the outer region. At harvest, pulp antioxidant capacity was similar in both eggplant types. TEAC and DPPH assays and in situ localization, showed greater total antioxidants and ChA content in the core than in the outer pulp in both white and dark purple fruit. The stability of ChA was markedly different between genotypes. In white fruit, antioxidants increased during the first two weeks of storage, remaining stable afterwards. In contrast, in dark purple eggplants, phenolic compounds declined after an initial stage at which they accumulated. PPO and POD in vitro activities, associated mainly with fruit seeds, fibers, and vascular bundles did not correlate with pulp browning or loss of phenolic antioxidants. Instead, the reduction of ChA in the core of dark purple fruit was associated with increased production of H₂O₂. Results indicate that antioxidants are predominantly located in the inner pulp of eggplants regardless of the genotype, but are more stable in white fruit. Rather than being the result of browning reactions, substantial losses of phenolic antioxidants in whole eggplants under the recommended storage conditions likely result from seed coat development and vascular lignification in the immature fruit.     

钾肥减量分期施用对莴笋产量和品质的效应研究

通过大田试验研究了紫色菜园土壤钾肥减量分期施用对莴笋产量和品质的影响。结果表明：两个试验点钾肥减量10%~30%分期施用对莴笋产量有提高作用，各处理以K2（钾肥减量10%分期等量追施）效应最好，增产最大（4.2%和4.5%）、施肥利润最高（84923元/hm²和72075元/hm²）。两个试验点莴笋叶维生素C含量均呈下降趋势，K2处理较常规施肥(CK)处理均显著降低莴笋叶维生素C含量（8.0%和8.7%）；而莴笋茎维生素C含量变化规律不一致。钾肥减量分期施用降低两个试验点莴笋叶和茎硝酸盐含量，以K4处理（钾肥减量30%分期等量追施）降低作用最大；从莴笋叶和茎糖组分的均衡性看，以K3处理最好。钾肥减量分期施用对两个试验点莴笋叶必需氨基酸含量有显著增加作用，改善叶氨基酸品质性状，但降低莴笋茎必需氨基酸含量和品质性状；莴笋氨基酸品质性状以K4处理为最优，其次是K2处理。综合考虑莴笋产量和品质，紫色菜园土壤以K2处理（钾肥减量10%分期等量追施）最优。     

谷氨酸对烤烟氮素营养贡献及生理特性研究

为探究氨基酸态氮对烤烟生长及氮素营养贡献的影响，以南江三号为试验材料，以L-谷氨酸(Glu)为有机氮源，¹⁵NH₄¹⁵NO₃为无机氮源，设置不同氮源配比的5个处理：不施氮(CK)、100%无机氮(T1)、25%谷氨酸态氮+75%无机氮(T2)、50%谷氨酸态氮+50%无机氮(T3)、75%谷氨酸态氮+25%无机氮(T4)和100%谷氨酸态氮(T5)，测定烟株生物量、氮含量及相关酶的活性。结果表明，施用谷氨酸对生育前期烟株的生物量及氮素含量均有一定的抑制作用，团棵期抑制效果最明显；生育后期，25%～50%的氨基酸能促进烟株的生长；随谷氨酸比重的增加，上、中部烟叶全氮占比有不同程度的增加，而下部烟叶全氮占比从16.77%到8.03%逐渐降低，施用谷氨酸有利于烟株中、上部烟叶氮素含量的积累；烟株根、茎、叶的谷丙转氨酶和谷氨酸脱氢酶活性均随谷氨酸占比的增加呈增长趋势。可见，烤烟可以直接吸收且利用谷氨酸分子，低浓度谷氨酸与无机氮配施能促进烟株的生长，调节烟株体内氮素的分布，但高浓度谷氨酸则对烟株的生长起抑制作...     

不同品种羽衣甘蓝生长期色素含量变化规律研究

基于对彩叶植物羽衣甘蓝彩色形成机理的探索,以12个羽衣甘蓝品种为研究对象,分析了生长发育过程中其内叶（变色叶）、外叶（非变色叶）的叶绿素、类胡萝卜素和花青苷含量变化。试验结果表明,各品种外叶的叶绿素a、b及总量,类胡萝卜素含量在整个生长期内均呈现由高到低的变化规律。观赏期外叶叶绿素含量显著降低,至抽薹期‘名古屋红’叶绿素总量仅占幼苗期的65.7%。内叶叶绿素总量下降幅度大于外叶,降幅最大的是‘名古屋白’,观赏期含量比幼苗期降低了96.1%。内叶类胡萝卜素含量呈上升的变化趋势。内叶的叶绿素a/b比值和类胡萝卜素与叶绿素比值均高于外叶。品种间色素含量也存在较大差异。在幼苗期和观赏期,‘名古屋红’的外叶叶绿素总量、叶绿素a和类胡萝卜素含量最高,‘粉鹤’最低。幼苗期品种间类胡萝卜素含量差异不大,而其他时期则存在显著差异。所有羽衣甘蓝品种在幼苗期均未检测到花青苷,观赏期和抽薹期只有紫色品种的内叶检测到花青苷。花青苷含量由高到低依次是‘红鹤’、‘大阪红’、‘桃鹤’、‘名古屋红’、‘红寿’、‘红鸥’、‘粉鹤’。     

Physiological and quality responses of Chinese chive leaves to low oxygen atmosphere

Harvested leaves of Chinese chive were stored in 0, 1 or 3% O₂ (balance N₂), or air for 7 days at 20 °C to determine the effects of low O₂ atmospheres on their physiology and quality. Leaf yellowing was visible at day 5 in air, whereas low O₂ treatment delayed yellowing and retarded chlorophyll and protein degradation that accompanied leaf senescence. The respiration rates of leaves stored at low O₂ atmospheres were substantially lower than those of the control during storage. However, at 0% O₂, undesirable off-odors were induced and visible anaerobic injury appeared in stored leaves, presumably due to a high accumulation of acetaldehyde and ethanol in the tissue. The contents of acetaldehyde and ethanol were very low during storage at 1% O₂, 3% O₂, or air. At 0% O₂, ethanol and to a lesser extent acetaldehyde, rapidly accumulated in the leaf tissue. Pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC) activity greatly increased in leaves exposed to 0 or 1% O₂, while its activity in leaves exposed to 3% O₂ was only slightly higher than that of the control. Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity greatly increased in leaves exposed to 1 or 3% O₂, while its activity in leaves exposed to 0% O₂ was only slightly higher than that of the control. The activity of ADH was about 250 times that of PDC during storage. Changes in ADH isozymes correlated well with changes in ADH activity. The potential for using low O₂ atmospheres to help in maintaining the quality of Chinese chive leaves is discussed.     

Cytochemical investigation of long-term stored maize pollen

Summary Maize pollen quality was investigated after long-term storage both in a refrigerator and in liquid nitrogen by a combination of viability tests and cytochemical methods. Determination of the activities of a number of enzymes involved in important metabolic pathways was carried out. Quinone formation was also studied, as some products of secondary metabolism affect pollen grain viability. One year of pollen storage in liquid nitrogen had little effect on the activities of oxidoreductases and hydrolases and had no significant effect on pollen grain viability evaluated by acetocarmine, neutral red and acridine organe. Only the FCR test showed slightly decreased viability. After one and two years of storage in a refrigerator, pollen grain viability, tested using acetocarmine, neutral red and acridine orange, did not change substantially. Simultaneously the FCR test showed a considerable decrease in pollen grain viability. Long-term storage in a refrigerator resulted in the loss of cytochrome oxidase activity and rise of alcohol dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase, peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase activities as well as of quinone formation.Abbreviations ADH Alcohol dehydrogenase - DOPA L-3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine - FCR Fluorochromatic reaction - FDA Fluorescein diacetate - GDH Glutamate dehydrogenase - IDH Isocitrate dehydrogenase - LDH Lactate dehydrogenase - NADI reaction with -NAphthol and DImethyl-p-phenylenediamine hydrochloride - 6-PGDH 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase     

Suitability of aqueous chlorine dioxide versus sodium hypochlorite as an effective sanitizer for preserving quality of fresh-cut lettuce while avoiding by-product formation

Aqueous chlorine dioxide (ClO₂) has been postulated as an alternative to sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) for fresh-cut produce sanitization with the advantage of avoiding the risks associated with chlorination by-products. However, little is known about its influence on preserving quality and the potential formation of trihalomethanes (THMs) under typical processing conditions. The suitability of aqueous chlorine dioxide (3 mg L⁻¹) as an effective sanitizer of fresh-cut iceberg lettuce stored under active modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) at refrigerated conditions was determined and compared with sodium hypochlorite (100 mg L⁻¹). Fresh-cut lettuce washed with tap water was used as a control. The epiphytic microbiota were characterized by the evaluation of the major relevant microbial groups such as mesophiles, psychrophiles, Pseudomonas spp., Enterobacteriaceae, lactic acid bacteria, yeasts and moulds. Additionally, gas composition, sensory quality, vitamin C and individual and total phenolics were monitored after washing and during storage for 3 d at 4 °C followed by 7 d at 8 °C. In general, the natural microbiota of fresh-cut lettuce after washing and storage was equally affected by the different washing solutions, with the exception of yeasts which showed the highest growth after 10 d storage in samples washed with chlorine dioxide. None of the tested washings negatively affected sensory quality, which was acceptable after 10 d storage. Additionally, the content of bioactive compounds was not significantly affected either by washing solution or by storage time. The potential formation of THMs was evaluated by the analysis of lettuce washed in water with a chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 700 mg L⁻¹ treated for 30 min with sodium hypochlorite (100 mg L⁻¹) or chlorine dioxide (3.7 mg L⁻¹). Trihalomethane formation was only detected in the process water in which sodium hypochlorite was applied (217 ± 38 μg L⁻¹). However, THMs formation in fresh-cut lettuce was negligible despite the sanitation procedure. The formation of THMs was only detected in fresh-cut lettuce when sodium hypochlorite was used under very extreme conditions where lettuce was washed in water with a high level of organic matter (COD = 1800 mg L⁻¹), high sodium hypochlorite concentration (700 mg L⁻¹) and long contact time (60 min). Our data suggest that aqueous chlorine dioxide is as suitable as sodium hypochlorite for fresh-cut lettuce sanitation with the advantage of preventing the formation of THMs.     

Pre-harvest nitrogen and Azoxystrobin application enhances postharvest shelf-life in Butterhead lettuce

Two trials were carried out on Butterhead lettuce (March–May 2008 and April–June 2009) to investigate the effect of the application of nitrogen fertilizer (0, 50 and 100 kg ha⁻¹ of N) and of strobilurin (Azoxystrobin, methyl (E)-2-{2-[6-(2-cyanophenoxy)pyrimidin-4-yloxy]phenyl}-3-methoxyacrylate) on (i) yield and morphological traits at harvest, (ii) physical (weight loss and dry matter), visual (chlorophyll content and main colour indices), physiological (relative water content, osmotic potential, and electrolytic leakage), and nutritional (ascorbic acid, nitrate, and polyphenol content) quality of raw material and their changes after storage of fresh-cut leaves. Cool storage lasted 7 and 12 days in the first and second experiment, respectively. In the first cycle, under early-spring conditions, lettuce yield was lower by 38% and, even if the product was lighter coloured [higher L* (+6%) and lower CHL (−21%)], it had lower dry matter content (−32%), higher electrolyte leakage (EL) (+14%) and WL_Trans (+8%) compared with the raw product from the second cycle. In both years, the increase of N supply and the application of Azoxystrobin improved yield (by 8.5% and 10%, respectively). The response in N fertilization was more evident under early-spring (2008) compared to late-spring (2009) conditions (12.3% vs. 4.8%), and when (2008) the highest N rate interacted with the application of Azoxystrobin (+12.9% compared with the other treatments). The nitrate content in leaves was always reduced by Azoxystrobin application (−43%) and increased with the N supply (+53%). In the second experiment, when storage was prolonged for 12 days, strobilurin improved postharvest shelf-life by reducing chlorophyll degradation (−27%), senescence (−19%, measured as EL), and browning (−53%, measured as h° index decrease). Azoxystrobin lowered also the total polyphenol content of raw material (−12.5%), which can be linked to less browning during storage. During postharvest storage, irrespective to the preharvest dose, N supply kept the visual quality and physiological senescence indices constant (L*, h° and EL). The suitability of the Butterhead lettuce to fresh-cut processing depends on climatic growing conditions. Preharvest Azoxystrobin supply improves the nutritional quality of the raw material, reducing leaf nitrate content, and the shelf-life in prolonged storage. The N rate of 100 kg ha⁻¹ of N is suitable under less favourable growing conditions, while the rate of 50 kg ha⁻¹ is better for more favourable climatic conditions, especially if a moderate contribution in available N from soil organic matter mineralization and no leaching from heavy rains is expected.     

棉花子叶衰老过程中氮素的再利用

 以陆地棉早熟品种中棉所58和中熟品种邯郸109为材料,研究子叶衰老过程中氮素的再利用率（NRE）及氮代谢相关指标的变化。结果表明：子叶衰老过程中,单位面积总N含量（NPA）逐渐降低,中棉所58 NRE为69.26%,邯郸109为54.45%;叶绿素、可溶性蛋白质含量和硝酸还原酶（NR）活性先上升后降低,NR最先降低,中棉所58和邯郸109分别在9 d、14 d开始下降;中棉所58各指标比邯郸109早下降4～8 d。谷氨酸脱氢酶（GDH）活性先下降后上升,表明GDH可能是氮素再利用的关键酶。