The negative effects of water stress on rice can be alleviated by NH4 + nutrition. However, the effects of mixed nitrogen (N) nutrition (NO3 - + NH4 + ) on resistance to water stress are still not well known. To investigate the response of rice growth to water stress and its relationship with photosynthetic characteristics, a hydroponic experiment supplying different N forms was conducted. Compared with NO3 - nutrition, mixed-N and NH4 + nutrition greatly alleviated the reduction of leaf area, chlorophyll content, and photosynthesis under water stress, whilst subsequently maintaining higher biomass. In contrast, water stress inhibited the root-shoot ratios in NH4 + - and mixed-N-supplied plants, indicating reduced root growth and higher photosynthate availability to shoots. The following key observations were made: (1) a similar stomatal limitation and low proportion of activated Rubisco were observed among the three different N nutrition regimes; (2) increased mesophyll conductance in NH4 + - and mixed-N-supplied plants simultaneously stimulated leaf photosynthesis and improved the water use efficiency and (3), the maximum carboxylation rate and actual photochemical efficiency of photosystem II in NH4 + - and mixed-N-supplied plants were significantly higher than that in NO3 - -supplied plants, thus resulting in higher photochemical efficiency under water stress. In conclusion, mixed-N and NH4 + nutrition may be used to develop strategies for improved water stress resistance and stimulated biomass production under conditions of osmotic stress and possibly drought.
© 2018 Scandinavian Plant Physiology Society.