APPLICATIONS OF CONTINUOUS AND STEADY-STATE METHODS TO ROOT BIOLOGY by J.G. Torrey (Editor), L.J. Winship (Editor) ( 9780792300243 )

Item Details

Title:

APPLICATIONS OF CONTINUOUS AND STEADY-STATE METHODS TO ROOT BIOLOGY

By:

J.G. Torrey (Editor), L.J. Winship (Editor)

Format:

Hardback

List price:	£149.99
We currently do not stock this item, please contact the publisher directly for further information.

ISBN 10:

0792300246

ISBN 13:

9780792300243

Publisher:

SPRINGER

Pub. date:

27 April, 1989

Edition:

1989 ed.

Series:

Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences 34

Pages:

248

Synopsis:

This book provides an excellent illustration of the interrelationship between progress in scientific methodology and conceptual advances, and its publica- tion should contribute to further advances. It is well known that major advances in understanding often follow the development of new methods. The development of the acetylene reduction assay for nitrogenase activity provides a good example of this interrelationship between theory and methods. Theoretical knowledge led to a search for substrates for nitro- genase that could be assayed for more easily than ammonium, the normal product of the enzyme. The discovery of the reduction of acetylene to ethylene by nitrogenase provided the ideal answer to the problem by provid- ing a rapid, specific, nondestructive, and inexpensive assay for nitrogenase activity. This assay is now used by almost every laboratory doing research on nitrogen fixation. However, further use and development of the acetylene reduction assay has shown that it can underestimate nitrogenase activity and can even give incorrect relative values under some circumstances. The major problem is that exposure of legume nodules to acetylene can cause a large increase in the resistance to oxygen diffusion into the nodule. This reduced supply of oxygen decreases the rate of nitrogenase activity within a few minutes.

Illustrations:

XVI, 248 p.

Publication:

Netherlands

Imprint:

Springer

Returns:

Non-returnable

Some other items by this author:

APPLICATIONS OF CONTINUOUS AND STEADY-STATE METHODS TO ROOT BIOLOGY (PB)