Nitrogen and Boron Dosage Effects on Arginine Accumulation in Scots Pine Needles

Free arginine (Arg) content was observed to multiply when the level of nitrogen (N) nutrition was high, and additional fertilization with boron (B) potentiated this effect. Owing to this feature, conifers can be suggested for use as bioproducers of Arg. Concentrations of Arg in relation to N and B fertilization needed to be better understood. The effect of soil fertilization with N and B on accumulation of these elements and free Arg in one-year-old needles of 16-year-old Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) trees was determined in this study. Plantations were fertilized with doses of N from 0 to 1000 kg ha(-1) and B from 0 to 6 kg ha(-1). Fertilization with 3 kg ha(-1) B at N doses of 200-500 kg ha(-1) stimulated the accumulation of N in needles of up to 3.1-3.6% dry weight (DW). The level of Arg in needles increased from 74.7 to 175.9 mu mol g(-1) DW at these levels of N and B.

Automated summary

The content of free arginine (Arg) increases when nitrogen (N) nutrition level is high, and this effect is potentiated by additional boron (B) fertilization. This study investigates the effects of soil fertilization with N and B on the accumulation of these elements and free Arg in one-year-old needles of 16-year-old Scots pine trees. It was found that fertilization with 3 kg ha(-1) B at N doses of 200-500 kg ha(-1) stimulates the accumulation of N in needles and increases the level of Arg.