Differential utilization of nitrates by solanaceous species,crops (tomato and pepper) and weeds (black nightshade and thorn apple)

Summary

The capacity of nitrate absorption, accumulation and reduction was studied in four species of the Solanaceae. Two were cultivated species, tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) and pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), and two weed species, black nightshade (Solanum nigrum L.) and thorn apple (Datura ferox L.), which often infest these crops. Black nightshade and thorn apple absorbed nitrates most rapidly. Maximum nitrate accumulation was observed earlier in tomato than in the other species, and as in pepper coincided with the flower bud stage. Maximum nitrate accumulation in black nightshade and thorn apple took place during flowering. Only in tomato and thorn apple did maximum nitrate reductase activity occur at the time of maximum nitrate accumulation. Growth and soil nitrate absorption was slowest in pepper, but nitrate accumulation by the plant and nitrate reductase activity was more sustained than in the other species. It was concluded that if these weeds emerge simultaneously with the crops, competition for nitrates by thorn apple, and especially black nightshade, would be greater than for the tomato crop and even more so for the pepper crop.