A study was made on the patterns of root growth and the kinetics of N-uptake of the cultivars of tropical rice Agulha and Bico Ganga, from the Northeastern state of Maranhão, Brazil. Plants (25 and 50 days old) were grown in a greenhouse in nutrient solution. Four levels of N were used (20, 40, 60 and 80 mg L-1). Vmax, K M and Cmin were determined by a mathematical graphic process. Bico Ganga had the highest Vmax and the lowest Cmin, both at 25 and 50 days at 20 and 40 mg L-1 of N. However, at higher levels of N (60 and 80 mg L-1 ) the inverse was observed, Agulha had higher Vmax and lower Cmin. At 25 and 50 days Bico Ganga showed higher total root area and higher root dry and fresh weight. Also, Bico Ganga was more efficient in N accumulation and protein synthesis. As Bico Ganga is an older local variety than Agulha, it seems that those characteristics indicate a better adaptation of the former to the nutrient stress of the tropical environment were it has been grown.
Oryza sativa; root systems; nutrient solutions; nutrient uptake; nitrogen
