Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 June 2017
Nitrate reductase activity of seed leaves and the first three true leaves of tall morningglory [Ipomoea purpurea (L.) Roth] was shown to increase rapidly initially then gradually decrease. The greatest level of reductase activity of each true leaf was reached at the fourth to fifth day after unfolding. A subsequent leveling off of enzyme activity corresponded to the acceleration of leaf growth. Leaf nitrates were correlated with enzyme activity. The sum of leaf activities was used to estimate the total reductive capacity of the plant leaf tissue at each sampling date.