There was a decrease in nitrate reductase activity (NRA) measured in vivo in rice roots (Oryza sativa cv. Tongil) grown in anaerobic culture solution. But it was reversed by addition of malonate to the in vivo nitrate reduction assay medium. Malonate increased the in vivo NRA during 2-5 hours incubation and decreased it in longer incubation hours. In vivo NRA was stimulated by addition of NaHCO3 to the assay medium, but not by Na2CO3. The stimulation of NRA by NaHCO3 was not observed in shoot removed rice roots. It is suggested that CO2 from NaHCO3 is carboxylated by phosphoenol pyruvate carboxylase, results in increasing the malate contents in the roots, and stimulates the in vivo NRA. NADH needed in nitrate reduction is supported by malate oxidation. In rice roots, it seems probable that malate oxidation in the mitochondria is more important to nitrate reduction than malae oxidation in cytoplasm.