Abstract:To investigate NH3 compensation point (χs) and its differences in leaves of three flue-cured tobacco genotypes and the related N metabolization, foliar apoplastic NH4+ concentration and pH were measured by apoplast extraction technique, the χs (25℃) was calculated on the basis of measurements, and the activities of related enzymes and nitrogen parameters were also assayed. In the leaves of the three cultivars, an increase in χs was observed as the onset of senescence. Compared with the leaves of slow-senescing cultivar, the leaves of the rapid-senescing tobacco cultivar with lower N status had a stronger decrease in glutamine synthetase activity (GS, EC 6.3.1.2) and a more substantial increase in χs. These results indicate that the rapid-senescing cultivar may have a high potential for NH3 emission from senescing leaves into the atmosphere, and the difference in χs values is related with the N metabolism of the cultivars.