Influence of ferredoxin levels on nitrate reductase activity in iron deficient lemon leaves

The relationship between nitrate reductase activity and ferredoxin levels in lemon tree leaves was studied. The experiments were carried out on leaves from full‐nutrient sufficient trees as the reference, and on leaves from trees with several nutritional stresses, mainly iron chlorosis from trees growing under Fe‐stressed conditions.

Iron deficiency reduced leaf ferredoxin concentration and consequently decreased nitrate reductase activity. Fe(II) infiltration treatments of intact leaves, as well as several incubation assays, permit to deduce the dependence of the enzymatic nitrate reduction of the leaf ferredoxin levels.