Poster: Late and Moved Abstracts
Abs #
936: A New Micro Assay Method for Measuring Nitrate Reductase Activity In Cytokinin- and Red Light-treated Leaves of Barley (Hordeum vulgare)
A new micro assay experimental protocol was developed for determination of nitrate reductase (NR) activity in barley leaves. The NR micro assay was performed in 96-wells micro plates using only μL quantities of reagents. The NR activity was determined by measuring the intensity of the pink color, developed by the reaction of nitrite ions with the color reagent, using a micro plate reader. The effect of three cytokinins, viz. 6-benzylamino purine (BAP), zeatin (Z), and thidiazuron (TDZ) and red light on NR activity in barley (Hordeum vulgare) leaves was investigated using the micro assay method. BAP (10-4 M) was the most effective cytokinin in increasing NR activity in dark-grown barley leaves, showing a 100% increase in activity. BAP (10-3 M) was more effective in enhancing NR activity when dark-grown barley leaves were exposed to 24 hours of white light. A 5-minute red light exposure enhanced the NR activity in barley leaves, whereas, exposure to red light for longer periods had little or no effect on the NR activity. The new micro assay method of determining the NR activity in plant tissues is more convenient, rapid, space saving, and less expensive than the traditional macro assay.
