C 6~6 , R., BORDELEAU, L. M., LAPOINTE, J., and GRODZINSKI, B. 1989. Carbon partitioning in nodulated alfalfa in the presence of nitrate. Can. J. Bot. 67: 1998Bot. 67: -2004. Photosynthetic carbon partitioning from a fully expanded upper canopy leaf of nodulated alfalfa was examined in plants in which nitrogenase activity and leghemoglobin content were reduced by 70 and 50%, respectively, in the presence of 10 mM KNO,. The nitrite level in nodules of nitrate-treated plants was 12.5 + 0.5 pg Nlg FW and 0.3 f 0.4 pg Nlg FW in the control plants. Growth of axillary shoots and roots was markedly enhanced in treated plants, as were steady state leaf photosynthesis (54 f 4 to 113 f 8 pmol CO,/(mg chlorophyll. h)) and translocation speed (0.37 f 0.05 to 0.56 + 0.05 cm . min-I). Nodules received 5 % of the newly fixed carbon of the feed leaf 7 days after transfer to NO;, compared with less than 1 % for the control plants maintained on NO;-free medium. Sucrose was the major 14C-labelled photoassimilate, although small amounts of labelled raffinose-series sugars were detected in leaves of treated plants. The specific activity of asparagine in the leaf increased dramatically, consistent with a reduction in both nitrogen fixation and the import of unlabelled asparagine from nodules. Concentrations of alanine, y-amino butyric acid, glutamic acid, and aspartic acid were greater in all tissues of treated plants. However, pools of asparagine, glutamine, serine, glycine, threonine, and arginine were lower in leaf, shoot, and root tissue of the treated plants. The levels of all amides and amino acids in the nodules remained high in treated plants. The high levels of nitrite and amino acids in nodules of treated plants were correlated with reduced leghemoglobin content and nitrogenase activity, but this does not explain directly the mechanism of suppression of nitrogen fixation in alfalfa exposed to nitrate. Nevertheless, the ability of alfalfa nodules, which have an indeterminate growth pattern, to compete for carbon from upper leaves in the canopy may explain their longevity under NO; stress in the field.Key words: partitioning, photosynthesis, 14C0,, alfalfa, nitrate, nitrogenase, amino acids. C~T E , R., BORDELEAU, L. M., LAPOINTE, J., et GRODZINSKI, B. 1989. Carbon partitioning in nodulated alfalfa in the presence of nitrate. Can. J. Bot. 67 : 1998-2004.La rtpartition des composCs carbonks photosynthttisCs 2 partir d'une feuille mature de la partie suptrieure de la tige principale a Ctt CtudiCe chez la luzerne nodulte. L'activitt nitrogtnasique et la concentration en leghtmoglobine diminuent de 70 et 50%, respectivement, suite i une application de 10 mM KNO, pendant 7 jours. La concentration en nitrite dans les nodules des plants traitts est de 12,5 f 0,5 pg Nlg mf et de moins de 0,3 f 0,4 pg Nlg mf chez les plantes contrales. Chez les plants trait&, on observe une stimulation de la croissance des tiges axillaires et des racines de mCme qu'une augmentation du taux de photosynthkse 2 1'Cquilibre (54 + 4 2 113 + 8 pmol CO,/(mg ...