The objective of the study was to investigate the optimum conditions for in vitro regeneration of common juniper (Juniperus communis L.) by using indirect organogenesis approach. Throughout the study / callus induction, organogenesis, improved organogenesis and root induction experiments were performed sequentially. It was found that explant position, genotype, gender, treatments and sampling time had significant effects on callus induction rate in common juniper. The results of treatments indicated that IBA (indole-3-butyric acid) at concentration range 0.5-4.0 mg/l combined with MS medium supplemented with 0.1 mg/l BAP (benzylaminopurine), 3 % sucrose and 0.7% agar was the best one among the treatments to induce callus formation from common juniper explants collected as Spring buds. Also, a two-month culture was adequate period for the callus induction of common juniper regardless of position, before transferring the explants into organogenesis media. After a two-month culture in callus induction media, explants were transferred to organogenesis treatments in order to investigate adventitious bud development from callus tissues. There were significant differences among genotypes, treatments and explant-sampling times in initiation of organ development in common juniper. Additionally, it was found that excluding the auxin components while maintaining 1.0-2.0 mg/l BAP concentration in culture media, as refreshing after a month, stimulated the formation and development of adventitious buds and shoots. Among the treatments tested, it was found that 1.0 mg/l BAP plus 0.5 mg/l 2,4-D was the optimum culture media with adventitious bud formation capacity of 37.5% was though ageing of callus significantly affected the frequency of adventitious bud formation. Finally, rooting experiments were performed to investigate rooting efficiency of adventitious shoots. In the adventitious rooting experiments, no rooting was observed in any of the treatments used with common juniper explants. Although whole plantlet development from callus tissues could not be achieved as indirect organogenesis, the results of the study could aid to future studies dealing in vitro regeneration and production of secondary chemicals from common juniper.

Humboldt-Univ., Diss--Berlin, 2007.

Le phénomène de morphogenèse est le fruit de la division des cellules et de leur expansion, qui sont contrôlées de façon différentielle selon les types cellulaires et les tissus. Dans le cas des plantes, le méristème apical caulinaire (MAC) produit de façon continue les organes aériens à partir de primordia qui sont initiés suite à l’accumulation locale d’une hormone végétale, l’auxine. Pour étudier le processus de formation des organes aériens, nous utilisons l’inflorescence d’Arabidopsis thaliana, dont les fleurs sont mises en place selon un patron régulier à partir de cellules dérivées de cellules souches. Au cours de ce processus, ARF5/MP– un facteur de réponse à l’auxine se liant à l’ADN – joue un rôle central. Une fois activé, il induit l’expression des facteurs de transcription LEAFY, AINTEGUMENTA et AINTEGUMENTA-LIKE6, qui sont nécessaires pour la spécification de l’identité florale et pour la croissance proliférative. A l’échelle cellulaire, des excroissances latérales sont initiées suite à des hétérogénéités locales de croissance. Dans les cellules végétales, ces différences sont dues à des modifications de la paroi cellulaire impliquant l’auxine et ses cibles, qui induisent des variations dans la dynamique des microtubules corticaux résultant en des changements de direction de croissance. Dans une moindre mesure, l’auxine diminue la rigidité des parois cellulaires préalablement à la formation d’un nouvel organe, conduisant à des changements de taux de croissance. Ceci est corrélé à l’activation transcriptionnelle de nombreux gènes qui sont impliqués dans les modifications de la paroi. Ainsi, la voie de signalisation de l’auxine régule l’initiation des primordia en intégrant d’une part l’activation d’un réseau de régulation transcriptionnelle et, d’autre part, la rigidité et l’anisotropie de la paroi cellulaire, impactant directement le taux et la direction de croissance.Cette thèse soutient l’idée selon laquelle l’initiation des organes dans le MAC repose sur des boucles de rétroaction là où des changements locaux de propriétés de la paroi cellulaire influent sur le réseau moléculaire. Il est probable que d’autres hormones soient nécessaires afin de canaliser l’initiation des organes. / The process of morphogenesis is driven by cell division and expansion, which are controlled ina differential manner among cell types and tissues. In plants, the above ground organs arecontinuously produced by the shoot apical meristem (SAM), where the initiation of newprimordia is triggered by the local accumulation of the plant hormone auxin. We study theprocess of morphogenesis in the inflorescence of Arabidopsis thaliana, where flowers areformed in a regular pattern from the SAM.The DNA-binding auxin response factor ARF5/MP plays a central role in the initiation offlowers. After its activation, it induces the expression of LEAFY, AINTEGUMENTA andAINTEGUMENTA-LIKE6 transcription factors necessary for the specification of floralidentity and proliferative growth. However, at the cellular level, the initiation of lateraloutgrowths depends on regional differences in growth. In plant cells, these processes areregulated via modifications of the cell wall. Auxin and its downstream targets are also involvedin these processes, by activating changes in the dynamics of the cortical microtubules, whichresult in changes in growth direction. Auxin also slightly reduces wall rigidity prior to organoutgrowth in the SAM, which results in changes in growth rate. This is correlated with thetranscriptional activation of a number of cell wall modifying genes.Thus, auxin signaling regulates primordium initiation by integrating the activation of atranscriptional regulatory network and both the stiffness and anisotropy of the cell wall, whichdirectly influence the rate and direction of growth.The findings of this thesis provide evidence indicating that the mechanisms of organ initiationat the SAM involve feedbacks where changes in the local properties of the cell wall influencethe molecular regulation of the transcriptional regulatory network. Our results suggest that thismight require the influence from other hormones, different from auxin, that funnel theinitiation of lateral outgrowths.

Submitted by Claudia Rocha (claudia.rocha@udesc.br) on 2018-02-26T16:17:31Z No. of bitstreams: 1 PGPV16MA200.pdf: 1113645 bytes, checksum: ad53a7438be851b8f2e2c067e7da207c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-02-26T16:17:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PGPV16MA200.pdf: 1113645 bytes, checksum: ad53a7438be851b8f2e2c067e7da207c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-04-15 / Plants and other organisms can release primary and secondary metabolites from the leaves, roots and other plant parts, whose effects are studied in the field of allelopathy. The study of allelopathy is a field on the rise and of great importance to enable the researcher to identify possible causes of success or failure in development of a given crop. The aim of this study was to determine whether the plant residues of wheat, rye and oats in different amounts (50, 100 and 150%) and its aqueous extracts of fresh mass of shoots of wheat, rye and oats in different concentrations (0, 1 10, 25, 50 and 100 ml-1) affect seed germination and early growth of corn plants and soybeans. The first experiment was conducted in a growth chamber, where the shoots of winter crops was packed to the soil in pots, and later planted corn and soybeans. The second experiment was conducted in the laboratory by preparing aqueous extracts of wheat, rye and oats and tested on corn and soybean seeds. Sowing of maize and soybeans in soils with the presence of vegetable residues of wheat, mainly in the amount of 50% of weight, reduced seed germination and early seedling growth. The aqueous extracts of the three winter crops not adversely affected the germination and early growth of corn and soybeans, and the shoot length and root influenced according to the concentration used. It was concluded that seed germination and early growth of corn and soybean seedlings are influenced by the presence of fresh weight of winter crops, and with the shoot length and dry mass, and dependent on the type of waste used. / As plantas e os demais organismos podem liberar metabólitos primários e secundários a partir das folhas, raízes e outras partes da planta, cujo os efeitos são estudados no campo da alelopatia. O estudo da alelopatia é um campo em ascensão e de grande importância, ao possibilitar o pesquisador identificar possíveis causas do sucesso ou insucesso no desenvolvimento de determinada cultura agrícola. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar se os resíduos vegetais de trigo, azevém e aveia em diferentes quantidades (50, 100 e 150%) e seus extratos aquosos da massa fresca de parte aérea de trigo, azevém e aveia em diferentes concentrações (0, 1, 10, 25, 50 e 100 mL-1) influenciam a germinação de sementes e o crescimento inicial de plântulas de milho e soja. O primeiro experimento foi realizado em câmara de crescimento, onde a parte aérea das culturas de inverno foi acondicionada ao solo, em vasos, sendo posteriormente semeados milho e soja. O segundo experimento foi conduzido em laboratório através da elaboração de extratos aquosos das culturas de trigo, azevém e aveia e testados sobre as sementes de milho e soja. A semeadura de milho e soja em solo com a presença de resíduos vegetais de trigo, principalmente, na quantidade de 50% de massa fresca, reduziu a germinação de sementes e o crescimento inicial das plântulas. Os extratos aquosos das três culturas de inverno não influenciam negativamente a germinação e o crescimento inicial do milho e da soja, sendo o comprimento de parte aérea e de raiz influenciada de acordo com a concentração utilizada. Conclui-se que a germinação das sementes e o crescimento inicial das plântulas de milho e soja são influenciadas pela presença de massa fresca das culturas de inverno, assim com o comprimento de parte aérea e massa seca, sendo dependentes do tipo de resíduo utilizado

Submitted by Automa??o e Estat?stica (sst@bczm.ufrn.br) on 2017-11-01T21:47:48Z No. of bitstreams: 1 FranklinHebertSilvaDoNascimento_DISSERT.pdf: 1346492 bytes, checksum: 74f0a7a30f9331f1a05ee9589c4771b8 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Arlan Eloi Leite Silva (eloihistoriador@yahoo.com.br) on 2017-11-08T19:16:20Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 FranklinHebertSilvaDoNascimento_DISSERT.pdf: 1346492 bytes, checksum: 74f0a7a30f9331f1a05ee9589c4771b8 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-11-08T19:16:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 FranklinHebertSilvaDoNascimento_DISSERT.pdf: 1346492 bytes, checksum: 74f0a7a30f9331f1a05ee9589c4771b8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-06-30 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior (CAPES) / Os avan?os tecnol?gicos ocorridos nas ?ltimas d?cadas representam uma procura da humanidade por melhores condi??es relacionadas ? qualidade de vida. Todo o desenvolvimento obtido nas diversas ?reas do conhecimento humano, quase sempre, est? diretamente relacionado ? utiliza??o da energia el?trica, sendo, portanto, de fundamental import?ncia, a pesquisa voltada para gera??o e formas de utiliza??o da energia el?trica gerada. O trabalho desenvolvido ? voltado a apresentar a utiliza??o de um conversor do tipo fonte de imped?ncia utilizado para alimentar cargas monof?sicas a partir de um sistema de alimenta??o prim?rio, operando em modo isolado. O conversor ? formado por uma malha de imped?ncia na entrada composta por um diodo ultra r?pido, indutores e capacitores, al?m disso s?o usadas quatro chaves de pot?ncia para converter pot?ncia CC em pot?ncia CA. A tens?o de entrada da malha Z ? sintetizada a partir de um conjunto composto por uma fonte de tens?o senoidal trif?sica ajust?vel; uma ponte retificadora trif?sica a diodos, e um grande capacitor eletrol?tico de filtro. Ser? apresentada uma metodologia de projeto para dimensionamento do conversor, bem como apresentada a t?cnica de modula??o Boost simples e suas varia??es, utilizadas no acionamento do conversor. Al?m disso ser? apresentada uma nova t?cnica de modula??o proposta nesse trabalho. As t?cnicas de modula??o para o acionamento do conversor ser?o avaliadas por meio de simula??es e resultados experimentais. / Technological advances occurred in the past decades show the quest of mankind for better quality life conditions. All the development achieved in different areas of human knowledge, in many cases, are directly related to the use of electricity. Research related to the generation of electricity and about the ways electricity can be used is a very important and actual area. This work has the purpose to introduce the use of an impedance source converter to feed single-phase loads from a primary feed system, operating in standalone mode. The converter has an impedance network at the input terminals composed by an ultra fast diode, inductors and capacitors. There are used four power switches to convert DC power to AC power. The input voltage in Z-network is synthesized using a set composed by an adjustable AC voltage source, a three-phase rectifier bridge and a larger electrolytic capacitor of filter. A guide line for the design of power converters and output filters, as well as simple boost modulation technique and its variations will be presented. Besides that, a new modulation technique will be proposed. Also simulation and experimental results about the modulation techniques used to drive the impedance source converter will be presented.

Os microRNAs (miRNAs) são pequenos RNAs endógenos não codantes de 21-24 nucleotídeos (nt) que regulam a expressão gênica de genes-alvos. Eles estão envolvidos em diversos aspectos de desenvolvimento da planta, tanto na parte aérea, quanto no sistema radicular. Entre os miRNAs, o miRNA156 (miR156) regula a família de fatores de transcrição SQUAMOSA Promoter-Binding Protein-Like (SPL) afetando diferentes processos do desenvolvimento vegetal. Estudos recentes mostram que a via gênica miR156/SPL apresenta efeito positivo tanto no aumento da formação de raízes laterais, quanto no aumento de regeneração de brotos in vitro a partir de folhas e hipocótilos em Arabidopsis thaliana. Devido ao fato de que a origem da formação de raiz lateral e a regeneração in vitro de brotos a partir de raiz principal compartilham semelhanças anatômicas e moleculares, avaliou-se no presente estudo se a via miR156/SPL, da mesma forma que a partir de explantes aéreos, também é capaz de influenciar na regeneração de brotos in vitro a partir de explantes radiculares. Para tanto foram comparados taxa de regeneração, padrão de distribuição de auxina e citocinina, análises histológicas e histoquímicas das estruturas regeneradas em plantas com via miR156/SPL alterada, incluindo planta mutante hyl1, na qual a produção desse miRNA é severamente reduzida. Além disso, foi avaliado o padrão de expressão do miR156 e específicos genes SPL durante a regeneração de brotos in vitro a partir da raiz principal de Arabidopsis thaliana. No presente trabalho observou-se que a alteração da via gênica miR156/SPL é capaz de modular a capacidade de regeneração de brotos in vitro a partir de raiz principal de Arabidopsis thaliana e a distribuição de auxina e citocinina presente nas células e tecidos envolvidos no processo de regeneração. Plantas superexpressando o miR156 apresentaram redução no número de brotos regenerados, além de ter o plastochron reduzido quando comparado com plantas controle. Adicionalmente, plantas contento o gene SPL9 resistente à clivagem pelo miR156 (rSPL9) apresentaram severa redução na quantidade de brotos, além de terem o plastochron alongado. Interessantemente, plantas mutantes hyl1-2 e plantas rSPL10 não apresentaram regeneração de brotos ao longo da raiz principal, mas sim intensa formação de raízes laterais e protuberâncias, respectivamente, tendo essa última apresentado indícios de diferenciação celular precoce. Tomados em conjunto os dados sugerem que o miR156 apresenta importante papel no controle do processo de regeneração de brotos in vitro. Entretanto, esse efeito é mais complexo em regeneração in vitro a partir de raízes do que a partir de cotilédones ou hipocótilos. / MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous small non-coding RNAs of 21-24 nucleotides (nt) in length that regulate target gene expression. They are involved in many aspects of plant development, both in the shoot and in the root systems. Among miRNAs, miRNA156 (miR156) regulates SQUAMOSA Promoter Binding-Like (SPL) transcription factor family affecting different plant development processes. Recent studies have shown that the miR156/SPL pathway has a positive effect both in the increase of lateral root formation and regeneration of shoots from leaves and hypocotyls in Arabidopsis thaliana. Because the origin of lateral root formation and in vitro shoot regeneration from primary root share similar anatomical and molecular features, in the present study was evaluated whether the miR156/SPL pathway, in the same manner that from aerial explants, is also able to influence the in vitro shoot regeneration from root explants. For this, it was compared regeneration rates, distribution pattern of auxin and cytokinin, histological and histochemical analyses of the structures regenerated in plants in with the miR156/SPL pathway is modified, including the mutant hyl1-1, in which the biosynthesis of this miRNA is severely reduced. Besides that, it was evaluated the expression pattern of miR156 and specific SPL target genes during in vitro shoot regeneration from primary roots of Arabidopsis it was observed that the alteration on the miR156/SPL pathway is capable to modulate in vitro shoot regeneration from the primary root of Arabidopsis and the distribution of auxin and cytokinin at the tissues and cells involved in the regeneration process. Plants overexpressing the miR156a have shown reduction in the number of regenerated shoots, and displayed a reduction in plastochron when compared with wild type plants. Additionally, plants expressing cleavage-resistant form of SPL9 (rSPL9) presented severe reduction in the amount of shoots, and extended plastochron. Interestingly, mutant hyl1-2 and plants rSPL10 did not show any shoot regeneration along the root, but high formation of lateral roots and protuberances, respectively, having rSPL10 presented evidence of precocious cell differentiation. Taken together, these data suggest that de miR156 and SPLs have an important role in the control the in vitro shoot regeneration process. However, its effect is somehow more complex in roots than in cotyledons or hypocotyls.

No description available.

Genotypes adapted to contrasting environments are expected to behave differently when placed in common controlled conditions, if their sensitivity to environmental cues or intrinsic growth behaviour are set to different thresholds, or are limited at distinct levels. This allows natural variation to be exploited as an unlimited source of new alleles or genes for the study of the genetic basis of quantitative trait variation. My doctoral work focuses on analysing natural variation for shoot growth and response to the environment in A. thaliana. Natural variation analyses aim at understanding how molecular genetic or epigenetic diversity controls phenotypic variation at different scales and times of plant development and under different environmental conditions, and how selection or demographic processes influence the frequency of those molecular variants in populations for them to get adapted to their local environment. As such, the analysis of A. thaliana natural variation can be addressed using a variety of approaches, from genetics and molecular methods to ecology and evolutionary questions. During my PhD, I got the chance to tackle several of those aspects through my contributions to three independent projects which have in common to exploit A. thaliana natural variation. The first one is the analysis of the pattern of polymorphism from a set of 102 A. thaliana accessions at the MOT1 gene coding for a molybdate transporter (an essential micronutrient) and responsible for contrasted growth and fitness among accessions in response to Mo availability in the soil. I showed at different geographical scales that MOT1 pattern of polymorphisms is not consistent with neutral evolution and shows signs of diversifying selection. This work helped reinforce the hypothesis that in some populations, mutations in MOT1 have been selected to face soils rich in Mo and potentially deleterious despite their negative effect on Mo-limiting soils. The second project consists in the characterisation and functional analysis of two putative receptor-like kinases (RLKs) identified from their effect on shoot growth specifically under mannitol-supplemented media and not in response to other osmotic constraints. The function of such RLKs in A. thaliana, which is not known to synthesize mannitol was intriguing at first but, through different experiments, we built the hypothesis that those RLKs could be activated by the mannitol produced by some pathogens such as fungi and participate to plant defensive response. The third project, in collaboration with Michel Vincentz's team from CBMEG (Brasil) and Vincent Colot (IBENS, Paris), consists in the analysis of the occurrence of natural epigenetic variants of the QQS gene in different populations from Central Asia and their possible phenotypic and adaptive consequences. Overall, these analyses of the genetic and epigenetic molecular variation leading to the biomass phenotype(s) in interaction with the environment provide clues as to how and where in the pathways adaptation is shaping natural variation.

About 70% of the plant species in the temperate zone are characterised by clonal growth, clonal species are also in majority in the Arctic and Subarctic where they affect the structure and composition of the vegetation. It is therefore of great importance to increase our knowledge about clonal plants and their growth and life histories. I have investigated how ramets of the stoloniferous plant Linnaea borealis are affected by the naturally occurring variation in environmental factors, such as: light, nutrient and water availability. Moreover, I examined the seed set and how supplemental hand pollination affects seed set in L. borealis, and also investigated the significance of the apical meristem for shoot population fitness. All studies were performed under field conditions in northern Sweden in a Subarctic environment and most are experimental. The results show that nutrient resorption from senescing leaves is not significantly affecting the growth and nutrient pools of the ramet. This implies that the growth of L. borealis ramets is not governed by micro-site resource availability. However, removal of light competition resulted in increased branching and number of lateral meristems produced, reduced growth, and decreased root:shoot ratio on a per ramet basis. Thus, ramets of L. borealis can efficiently exploit favourable light patches through plastic growth. Apical dominance exerts a significant effect on shoot population fitness and can be lost through rodent grazing. However, loss of apical dominance is dependent on the timing of grazing, if the apical meristem is removed early in the autumn the ramet can repair the loss until the next summer. If grazing occur during spring the dry weight and leaf area production is affected negatively. Seed production in L. borealis in the Abisko area varies between years and sites, and was unaffected by supplemental hand pollination treatment, implying that there is no lack of pollinator activity.

O nitrogênio e o potássio são essenciais para o desenvolvimento das plantas, são os nutrientes extraídos em altas quantidades e sua disponibilidade pode alterar as características produtivas e nutricionais das plantas. Assim, objetivou-se estudar: a) as características morfogênicas e a produção de massa seca da parte aérea e das raízes da Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu e b) a concentração de nitrogênio, potássio, nitrato e amônio nas lâminas de folhas recém-expandidas e nas raízes, bem como o valor SPAD, a atividade da enzima redutase do nitrato, a distribuição percentual do nitrato e amônio nas partes da planta forrageira e a distribuição percentual de nitrato e amônio entre parte aérea e raízes na Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu, submetida a combinações de doses de nitrogênio e potássio. O experimento foi realizado em casa de vegetação em solução nutritiva empregando-se sílica como substrato no período de dezembro de 2007 a fevereiro de 2008. Utilizou-se o esquema fatorial 52 fracionado, com 13 combinações de nitrogênio e potássio, as quais foram distribuídas segundo o delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições. Foram realizados dois cortes nas plantas. A interação doses de nitrogênio x doses de potássio foi significativa para número de perfilhos e de folhas, área foliar, massa seca da parte aérea e de raízes, comprimento e superfície total radicular e comprimento e superfície específica das raízes. A produção de massa seca da parte aérea teve forte correlação positiva com os parâmetros produtivos. As doses de nitrogênio se mostraram moduladoras do desenvolvimento do sistema radicular, o comprimento e superfície específicos diminuíram com emprego de altas doses de nitrogênio e potássio. A interação doses de nitrogênio x doses de potássio foi significativa para as concentrações de nitrogênio, potássio, nitrato e amônio em lâminas de folhas recém-expandidas e nas raízes. A atividade da enzima redutase do nitrato sofreu incremento com aumento das doses de nitrogênio e de potássio, em si. A distribuição percentual de nitrato e amônio ocorreu na ordem: colmos mais bainhas > lâminas de folhas recém-expandidas > folhas em expansão > lâminas de folhas maduras, evidenciando os colmos mais bainhas como parte da planta de acúmulo de nitrato e amônio e de mais baixa atividade da enzima redutase do nitrato. As doses de nitrogênio mostraram-se grande influenciadoras do valor SPAD, que aumentou com incremento de nitrogênio na solução nutritiva. O nitrogênio e o potássio alteram as características morfogênicas do capim-Marandu sendo determinantes para produção de massa seca da parte aérea e das raízes e que o desenvolvimento do sistema radicular é dependente de adequada nutrição, principalmente com nitrogênio. O nitrogênio e o potássio influenciaram o estado nutricional do capim-Marandu sendo determinantes para incremento do valor SPAD, atividade da enzima redutase do nitrato e concentração de nitrogênio, potássio, nitrato e amônio na parte aérea e nas raízes dessa gramínea. / Nitrogen and potassium are essentials for plant development, are extracted by plants in high amounts and their availabilities may change the morphogenetic, productive and nutritional characteristics of plants. The objectives of this research were: a) to assess fertilization with nitrogen and potassium rates on morphogenetic and shoot and root dry matter production of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu; b) to evaluate the nitrogen, potassium, nitrate and ammonium concentration in the recently expanded leaf laminae and in the roots, SPAD values, and nitrate reductase activity, and ammonium and nitrate distribution in parts of Marandu palisadegrass in response to nitrogen and potassium rates combinations in nutrient solution. A greenhouse experiment was carried out, using ground quartz as a substrate, from December/2007 to February/2008. The experimental design used was fractionated 52 factorial, with 13 combinations of nitrogen and potassium rates, set in randomized block design with four replications. Two harvests were done in the plants. The nitrogen rates x potassium rates interaction was significant for the number of tiller, number of leaves, leaf area, above-ground, roots dry matter, total and specific root length, and total and specific root surface. Forage grass above-ground yield was positively correlated with number of tillers, number of leaves and leaf area. Nitrogen rates modulated the root system development, and the root specific length and surface decreased when high rates of both nitrogen and potassium were applied. Nitrogen rates x potassium rates interaction was significant for nitrogen, potassium, nitrate and ammonium concentrations in the recently expanded leaf laminae and in the roots. Nitrate reductase activity was increased with increasing the rates of both nitrogen and potassium. Nitrate and ammonium content in plant shoot were distributed following the order: culms+sheaths > recently expanded leaf laminae > emergent leaves > mature leaf laminae, showing culms+sheaths as a plant part of nitrate and ammonium a low nitrate reductase activity. Nitrogen rates highly influenced SPAD values, which increased with nitrogen rates in the nutrient solution. Nitrogen and potassium may affect the morphogenetic characteristics of Marandu palisadegrass, which were determinant for above-ground and root dry matter. The development of the root system depended on adequate plant nutrition, mainly in nitrogen. Nitrogen and potassium influenced the mineral nutrition status of Marandu palisadegrass and they increased the SPAD values, nitrate reductase activity, and nitrogen, potassium, nitrate and ammonium concentrations in shoots and roots of grass.