Uptake, transport and assimilation of 15 N-nitrate and 15 N-ammonium in tea ( Camellia sinensis L.) plants

15N studies were conducted using hydroponically grown tea (Camellia sinensis L.) plants to clarify the characteristics of uptake, transport and assimilation of nitrate and ammonium. From the culture solution containing 50 mg L-1 N03-N and 50 mg L-1 NH.-N, the uptake of NH3-N after 24 h was twice as high as that of NO3-N, while the uptake of N03-N from the culture solution containing 90 mg N03-N and 10 mg NH3-N was twice that of NH4-N. The presence of 0.4 mM Al had no significant effect on the N03-N and NH4-N uptake from the culture solutions containing 50 mg L-1 N03-N and 50 mg L-1 NH4-N, 90 mg L-1 N03-N and 10 mg L-1 NH4-N or 99 mg L-1 N03-N and 1 mg L-1 NH4-N. Transport of N03-derived N to young leaves was much more rapid than that of NH4-derived NO3 and NH4-derived N was largely retained in the roots and lower stem. Young and mature shoots separated from the roots absorbed more N03-N than intact plants. Nitrate assimilation occurred in both, roots and young as well as mature leaves. Internal cycling of N03-derived Nand NH4-derived N from one root part to another part was not appreciable after 28 h, suggesting that a longer of time is required for cycling in woody plants.