Nitrogen metabolism and relative enzyme activities of the peanut relay-cropped with wheat

Nitrogen metabolism and relative enzyme activities of peanut were studied by comparing relay-cropped peanut (RP) with wheat and mono-cropped peanut (MP) under filed condition. The tested peanut cultivar was Huayu 22. The results showed that, free amino acids and nitrogen contents in leaves and roots, soluble protein contents were higher in roots of RP compared to MP. However, soluble protein content was lower in RP leaves than in MP leaves. Nitrate reductase(NRase) activities and glutamate dehydrogenase(GDH) activities in leaves and roots, glutamine synthetase(GS) activities and glutamate pyruvate transaminase(GPT) activities (except for 25 days after sowing) were significantly lower in leaves of RP than those of MP during the wheat and peanut symbiotic period. GS activities and GPT activities were higher in roots of RP than those of MP during the entire growth period. It can be concluded that wheat shading in RP affected nitrogen metabolism and enzymatic activities at seedling stage.