Effects of nitrogen deficiency on accumulation of fructan and fructan metabolizing enzyme activities in sink and source leaves of barley (Hordeum vulgare)

Seedlings of barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Agneta) were grown hydroponically under continuous light, constant temperature and relative humidity. During the first two weeks, the relative growth rate (RGR) was kept at 25% by limiting only the supply of nitrogen. The cultures were then transferred to nitrogen-free media and the amounts of fructan, starch, sucrose, glucose and fructose in sink and source leaves were measured at 0, 12, 24, 48, 72, 120 and 156 h. The activities of two key enzymes in fructan metabolism, sucrose:sucrose fructosyltransferase (SST), fructan exohydrolase (FEH), as well as acid invertase were also measured in the two types of leaves. The fructan and starch levels in both sink and source leaves increased during nitrogen deficiency. The highest increase in starch was 200% of the control, while for fructans a 700% increase was recorded. The activity of SST increased parallel to fructan accumulation in sink leaves. However, the FEH activity was constant and not affected by nitrogen deficiency. The invertase activity both in sink and source leaves was reduced by nitrogen deficiency. More fructans, as well as sucrose and fructose, accumulated in source leaves compared to sink leaves both before and after nitrogen starvation The results show that fructan is the major carbohydrate reserve accumulating under nitrogen deficiency both in sink and source leaves in barley plants. The induction of fructan accumulation in sink leaves caused by nitrogen deficiency is intimately connected with the regulation of SST.