Effect of lead on nitrate reductase activity and nitrate assimilation in pea leaves

Abstract

The effect of Pb on nitrate reductase activity, protein, total organic nitrogen and on the chlorophyll content in excised and intact leaf tissues of Pisum sativum was examine. Enzyme activity assayed in vitro or in vivo in the excised leaves showed marked increase at lower concentrations of Pb while being inhibited at higher concentrations. In intact leaf tissues, the enzyme activity (in vivo or in vitro) was unaffected at lower concentrations but was inhibited at higher concentrations of Pb. Chlorophyll, carotenoids (non-nitrogenous pigments), soluble protein and organic nitrogen contents remained almost unaffected at all concentrations of Pb tested. It seems that nitrate reductase has a different response towards Pb pollution in this species, which is more tolerant to heavy metal pollution, especially Pb.