The Perception of Saltiness is Eliminated by NaCl Adaptation: Implications for Gustatory Transduction and Coding

The tastes of salts to humans are complex. NaCl is the mostpurely salty of all salts, but even this stimulus tastes sweetat low concentrations and somewhat sour at mid-range intensities.Other salts taste significantly sour or bitter in addition tosalty. Previous studies have shown that the saltiness of simplehalide salts is reduced by adaptation to NaCl, suggesting thata single mechanism might be responsible for the salty tasteof these stimuli. In electrophysiological studies in rodents,the response to NaCl is reduced by application to the tongueof the Na⁺- channel blocker amiloride. Organic Na⁺ salts aremore heavily dependent on this amiloride-sensitive transductioncomponent than NaCl, and are generally less salty and more sour.In order to investigate the relationship between NaCl saltinessand that evoked by other salts, we adapted the tongue to distilledH₂O and to 0.1 M NaCl and obtained direct magnitude estimatesof the taste intensity of 15 organic and inorganic Na⁺, Li⁺,K⁺ and Ca²⁺ salts, matched for total intensity. Subjects dividedthese magnitude estimates among the component taste qualities.Adaptation to NaCl abolished the taste of NaCl and LiCl, andeliminated the saltiness of all other salts. The magnitude estimatesof the bitterness and sourness of many salts increased afterNaCI adaptation. Since recent biophysical data suggest thatadaptation in taste receptors may involve whole-cell mechanisms,we propose that saltiness is reduced by NaCl adaptation becauseit originates in the subset of taste receptors responsive toNaCl. This implies that saltiness is coded within the CNS incells whose receptive fields include the NaCl-sensitive receptorcells and that the degree to which any salt tastes salty isdetermined by its ability to drive these receptors. This modelproposes, for example, that KCl has a salty component becauseit stimulates some of the same receptor cells as NaCl, eventhough the transduction mechanisms for KCl are different thanthose engaged by NaCl. Adaptation to NaCl blocks the saltinessof KCl and other salts because they stimulate NaCl-sensitivereceptor cells. Chem. Senses 20: 545–557, 1995.     

Effect of solvent adaptation on the antibiotic resistance in Pseudomonas putida S12

The effect of the adaptation to toluene on the␣resistance to different antibiotics was investigated in the␣solvent-resistant strain Pseudomonas putida S12. We␣followed the process of the solvent adaptation of P.␣putida S12 by cultivating the strain in the presence␣of␣increasing concentrations of toluene and studied␣the correlation of this gradual adaptation to the resistance towards antibiotics. It was shown that the tolerance to various chemically and structurally unrelated antibiotics, with different targets in the cell, increased during this gradual adaptation. The survival of P. putida S12 in the presence of antibiotics like tetracycline, nigericin, polymyxin B, piperacillin or chloramphenicol increased 30- to and 1000-fold after adaptation to 600 mg/l toluene. However, cells grown in the absence of any solvents lost their adaptation to toluene even when grown in the presence of antibiotics. Results are discussed in terms of the physico-chemical properties of membranes as affected by the observed cis/trans isomerization of unsaturated fatty acids, as well as in terms of the active efflux of molecules from the cytoplasmic membrane. Received: 9 May 1997 / Received revision: 4 July 1997 / Accepted: 4 July 1997     

Behavioral responses of the brittle star Ophiura ophiura to chemical stimuli during adaptation of amino acid chemoreceptors

Parts of the feeding behavior, the orienting movements and the‘walking’ behavior pattern in the brittle star Ophiuraophiura are released by several low-molecular-weight compounds.The behavioral responses of this animal were adapted to 10^–4molar concentrations of the following single stimulatory compounds:L(+;)lactic acid, glycine, sarcosine, L-alanine, L-cysteine,L-proline, L-valine, L-leucine, L-arginine and acetylcholineiodide. Complete adaptation of the behavioral response for theentire experimental group of animals occurred for most chemicalswithin the fifth to the ninth minute after the introductionof the adapting stimulus; however, for acetylcholine iodide,the time to behavioral adaptation was up to 15 min. The sameten and several other compounds were tested during each of theadaptations. Test concentrations were calculated to be below3 x 10^–5 molar at the animals' arms. Narrowly-tuned receptorsites were indicated for L-valine, L-leucine, L-arginine andacetylcholine iodide since behavioral responses to these chemicalswere not crossadapted by any of the other amino acid stimulitested. The ‘walking’ responses to L-proline, L-cysteineand L-alanine, which were the least effective substances tested,were cross-adapted by the majority of the adapting stimuli.Glycine and sarcosine did not cross-adapt the responses to eachother which indicated independent receptors for these stimuli.Independent receptor sites located on separate receptor cellswere suggested for L-proline, which stimulated the arm coilingresponse at high concentrations, and for ß-alanineand thioglicolic acid, which stimulated the tube feet walkingbehavior.     

Gustatory neural response latencies in the frog

The major rate limiting steps in bullfrog peripheral nerve gustatoryresponse latencies were studied by measuring glossopharyngealnerve multi-unit activity, detecting response onset times, andcalculating rates of stimulus diffusion to receptor cells andsignal propagation along first order neurons. The stimulus deliverytechnique minimized physicochemical and mechanical artifacts,as well as neural responses to mechanical stimulation of thetongue. Neural activity was processed in 10 ms bins. Responseonsets were determined by a criterion that compared the statisticalprobability of the neural events during stimulus liquid presentationswith those during both Ringer's solution presentations afteradaptation to Ringer's and no-stimulus control conditions. Thiscriterion yielded response latencies of 70–110 ms for10 mM CaCl₂, 2 mM quinine hydrochloride, and 10^–5 M and10^–6 M cantharidin or Ringer's, and H₂O. No responsesoccurred during presentations of 10^–7 M cantharidin orRinger's after adaptation to Ringer's, or during the no-stimuluscontrol condition. From the measured latencies and calculatedrates of stimulus diffusion to receptor cells, and signal propagationalong first order neurons, we conclude that taste receptor cellevents and not perireceptor or signal propagatiog events arethe major rate limiting steps in gustatory response latencies.     

Induction of Increased Salt Tolerance in Sorghum bicolor by NaCl Pretreatment

Following 20 d of exposure to 75 or 150 mol m^–3 NaCl Sorghumbicolor (L.) Moench plants become capable of growing in mediumcontaining 300 mol m^–3 NaCl. Control plants, which havenot been pretreated, or plants pretreated for less than 20 ddie within 2 weeks when exposed to 300 mol m^–3 NaCl. Weconsider this induction of a capacity to survive in and toleratea high NaCl concentration as an adaptation to salinity. We suggestthat adaptation to salinity is more than osmotic adjustmentand that it takes longer to develop than osmotic adjustment.Concomitantly with the appearance of the ability to grow inhigh salinity, adaptation also comprises the development ofa capacity to regulate internal Na⁺ and Cl^– concentrations,even when external salinity is high. Shoot mean relative growthrates are similar for both control plants and for adapted plantsgrowing in 300 mol m^–3 NaCl, although their shoot Na⁺and Cl^– concentrations are quite different. Based on thesedata, we propose that adaptation of Sorghum to high salinityresults from a modulation of genome expression occurring duringextended exposure to non-lethal NaCl concentrations. Key words: Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench, NaCl, salt tolerance, adaptation to salinity     

Salt Tolerance in the Triticeae: Solute Accumulation and Distribution in an Amphidiploid derived from Triticum aestivum cv. Chinese Spring and Thinopyrum bessarabicum

An amphidiploid derived by colchicine treatment of a hybridbetween Triticum aestivum cv Chinese Spring and Thinopyrum bessarabicumwas found to be more salt tolerant than the wheat cultivarsChinese Spring, Kharchia and Ciano 79 in terms of survival andgrain yield at 250 mol m^–3 NaCl. Tolerance was relatedto the ability of the amphidiploid to exclude Na and Cl fromthe shoots, and particularly from the young leaves, developinginflorescence and grain. There was no relationship between thesalt tolerance of the different species and varieties testedand changes in the concentrations of other solutes. The amphidiploiddid not inherit the high glycinebetaine concentrations characteristicof the wheatgrass parent. Amphidiploids produced from crossesbetween Thinopyrum species and wheat may be useful as stress-resistantnew crops. Key words: Salt stress, solute accumulation, Thinopyrum, Triticum     

Membrane fatty acids adaptive profile in the simultaneous presence of arsenic and toluene in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus</Emphasis> sp. ORAs2 and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas</Emphasis> sp. ORAs5 strains

Bacillus sp. ORAs2 and Pseudomonas sp. ORAs5, two arsenic-resistant bacterial strains previously isolated from sediments of the Orbetello Lagoon, Italy, were tested for their adaptation to mixed contaminants on the level of membrane fatty acid composition. The two bacterial strains were characterized by high levels of arsenic resistance, and Pseudomonas sp. ORAs5 was also shown to be solvent-tolerant. The bacterial strains were exposed to mixtures of two toxic compounds: arsenic at fixed concentrations and toluene in variable amounts or, alternatively, toluene at constant values along with arsenic added at variable concentrations. Both strains react to the contaminants by changing the composition of their membrane fatty acids. Bacillus sp. strain ORAs2 showed a correlation between growth rate decreases and fatty acids degree of saturation increases in both cases, although pointedly in the presence of 1, 2, and 3 mM of toluene and different additions of arsenic, counteracting membranes fluidity induced by toxic compounds. In Pseudomonas sp. ORAs5, adaptive changes in membrane composition was observed both in terms of increases in the degree of saturation and in the trans/cis ratio of unsaturated fatty acids in the presence of varying toluene and constant arsenic concentrations, whereas only minor changes occurred with increasing arsenic and constant toluene concentrations. Thus, on the level of membrane composition, Bacillus sp. ORAs2 showed a higher potential for adaptation to the presence of mixed pollutants, suggesting its probable suitability for bioremediation purposes.     

The fate of the carotenoid pigment fucoxanthin during passage through the copepod gut: pigment recovery as a function of copepod species, season and food concentration

The amount of fucoxanthin, a taxonomically diagnostic carotenoid,recovered after passage through the guts of the copepods Acartiacalifomiensis and Calanus pacificus, was determined after thecopepods had fed on low (50 µg Cl^–1) and high (350µg C1^–1 for Acartia; 500 ug C H for Calanus) concentrationsof the diatom Thalassiosira weissftogii, during spring (May)and winter (December). Changes in pigment concentrations andcell abundances were assessed in experimental (with copepods)and control (without copepods) samples by standard incubationexperiments. Pigment recovery was assessed by (i) comparingthe amount of ingested pigment recovered in the experimentalgroups with that predicted to have been ingested from cell countdata and (ii) comparing fuco-xanthin/cell ratios in controland experimental samples. Both techniques suggested that pigmentloss is substantial (usually 60–100%), regardless of species,food availability or season. Patterns of pigment conservationdiffered between species, although pigment recovery was alwayshigher at high, than at low, food concentrations. Pigment recoveryin Acartia was higher (9.4–28.0%) in the spring than duringthe winter (0 recovery), regardless of food concentration. InCalanus, however, pigment recovery was always higher at high(34.9–67.8%) than at low (0 recovery) food concentrations,regardless of season.     

Effects of protease, phospholipase and neuraminidase on the Ca2+- receptor of the frog tongue

Effects of some proteases, phospholipases and a neuraminidaseon the Ca²⁺-receptor of the frog tongue were studied by recordingneural responses from single fungiform papilla preparationsbefore and after application of the enzymes. The results obtainedwere as follows: 1) Trypsin, -chymotrypsin, pronase and highconcentrations of phospholipase-C inhibited the Ca²⁺-responseof the receptor irreversibly. 2) Ficin, phospholipase-D andlow concentrations of phospholipase-C inhibited the Ca²⁺-responsetemporarily, and the response recovered 10 to 20 min after removalof theenzymes. A similar temporal inhibition was produced byneuraminidase, but the recovery was more gradual than in thecases of ficin and phospholipases. 3) Phospholipase-A hardlyproduced any significant effects on the Ca²⁺-response. Basedon these results, the characteristics of the Ca²⁺- receptorof the frog tongue were considered.     

Modelling time-series of photosynthesis and comparisons with the fluorescence yield in Chlorella vulgaris: a study of adaptation, inhibition and recovery

Time-series of ¹⁴C uptake and fluorescence yield (i.e., thefluorescence enhancement after addition of the photosyntheticinhibitor DCMU) were measured in Chorella vulgaris at variouslight intensities. Adaptation and recovery processes after alterationof the light intensity were also studied. At a constant lightintensity, both the rate of ¹⁴C uptake and the fluorescenceyield decreased with time. Comparison of time-series data of¹⁴C uptake at different light intensities showed that this phenomenonconsisted of several processes (i.e., at low light intensitiessmall changes in uptake rates were mainly due to photoadaptation,while at higher light intensities relatively larger changesoccurred, as result of photoinhibition). Transfer of an algalsample to low light intensities after a period of exposure toinhibiting light intensities resulted in an exponential recoveryof the ¹⁴C uptake rate with time, coupled with an exponentialrecovery of the fluorescence yield. A mechanistic model is presented,which describes the algal ¹⁴C uptake rate as a function of timeand light intensity. The model includes adaptation, inhibitionand recovery. Six parameters, characterising the algal suspension,have to be estimated from the results of one P versus I curveand one time-series ¹⁴C uptake, which includes a period of recovery.Using these parameters the model can predict the time-courseof ¹⁴C uptake at every constant light intensity, as well aswhen the light intensity is changed during the experiment. Whenapplied to a culture of C. vulgaris, the theoretical valuesclosely approach the actual measurements. The resemblance betweenthe measured time-series of fluorescence yield and the rateof ¹⁴C uptake indicates, that the changes in the rate of ¹⁴Cuptake are due to changes in the photosynthetic apparatus, ratherthan to changes of diffusion of ¹⁴C into the cell.     

An Inwardly Rectifying Cation Current across the Plasma Membrane of the Green Alga Eremosphaera viridis

Ion currents across the plasma membrane of the unicellular greenalga Eremosphaera viridis were characterized with electrophysiologicalmethods, especially the two electrode voltage-clamp-technique.Under different conditions, at increased external Cl^–concentrations or after perfusion of different anion channelblockers (A9C (anthracen-9-carboxylic acid), NPPB ((5-nitro-2-3-phenylpropylamino)benzoic acid) and ZnCl₂), increased instantaneous negative currentswere observed. The negative currents were carried by cationfluxes into the cell. The transporter responsible had low selectivityamong potassium and sodium. Additionally also divalent cationswere transported. The cation influx was not affected by thepotassium channel inhibitors TEA (tetraethylammoniumsulfate),Ba²⁺ or Cs⁺ at concentrations of 1 mM, but was strongly reducedby 100 µM AlCl₃. Our results with E. viridis demonstrate,for the first time for an unicellular alga, the existence ofan inwardly rectifying cation current across the plasma membrane.Parallels and differences to inwardly rectifying cation currentsand channels described in plasma membranes of other plant cellsare discussed. (Received May 10, 1993; Accepted September 13, 1993)     

Re-export and metabolism of xylem-delivered ABA in attached maize leaves under different transpirational fluxes and xylem ABA concentrations

By feeding radioactive³H-ABA into attached maize leaves, there-export and metabolism of xylem-delivered ABA and their relationshipswith xylem ABA transpirational fluxes and concentrations wereinvestigated. ABA entering leaves in the transpirational streamwas re-exported out of leaves slowly. Within 24 h the proportionof fed radioactivity that was re-exported was less than 45%.When different concentrations of ³H-ABA (100 nM versus 500 nM)was fed, no difference between the two concentrations was foundin their rates of re-export of the fed radioactivity duringthe first 5 h. After 5 h, very little fed radioactivity wasre-exported in leaves that were fed with 100 nM ³H-ABA, whileleaves that were fed with 500 nM ³H-ABA continued to re-exportsuch that the final proportion remaining in leaves after 24h was less as a result, suggesting a concentration-stimulatedre-export. When ³H-ABA was fed at two different transpirationrates which were induced by different air humidity, a 4-folddifference in transpirational fluxes did not produce any differencein terms of re-exportation of fed radioactivity. The rate ofcatabol-ism of xylem-fed ³H-ABA in the attached leaves was muchfaster than that of re-export. On average fed ³H-ABA had a half-lifeof 2.2 h and only 8% remained unmodified after 24 h of incubation,suggesting that re-exported radioactivity might not be the intactform of ABA at all. Using the parameters obtained from the feeding experiment, wecalculated that in a real soil-drying situation the possiblemaximum amount of xylem-delivered ABA that could accumulatein leaves during a day. It was found that the proportion ofdaily accumulated ABA was only 5% of the leaf ABA in well-wateredplants. In soil-dried plants the maximum amount of daily accumulationby xylem ABA could reach 20% of the leaf ABA at the beginningof soil drying, but it soon declined to about 5% again. Thedeclined contribution was mainly due to a reduced transpirationand an increased total leaf ABA as a result of aggravated leafwater deficit. A tight relationship between leaf conductanceand the accumulation of xylem-delivered ABA was not found. Key words: Abscisic acid, ABA, ABA export, ABA metabolism, xylem-delivered ABA, maize     

Early Events in Plasma Membrane of Chara corallina after Electrical Stimulation. I. Studies under Current Clamp Conditions

Events in the early periods of the stimulus-response (current-voltage)relation of Chara corallina internodal cell were studied undercurrent clamp conditions. Whenever the internodal cell elicitedan action potential by a current stimulus, the voltage exhibitedan additional peak soon after application of the stimulus; thatis, the peak voltage preceded the threshold for the action potential.The strength-peak voltage relation was almost a straight linewhen the voltage was less negative than about –50 mV.The electromotive force at the peak voltage varied by 48.4 mVbetween 0.1 and 1.0 mM of external K⁺ concentration, and itwas within expected range of equilibrium potential for K⁺ ions.Even when the action potential was not elicited at a low externalCa²⁺ concentration, the peak voltage still appeared, keepingthe electromotive force within the range of equilibrium potentialfor K⁺ ions. We concluded that the K⁺ channel opens very earlyafter electrical stimulation and when the action potential iselicited under a sufficient external Ca²⁺ concentration, theentry of external Ca²⁺ ions necessary for the opening of theCa²⁺ activated Cl^– channel occurs after the peak voltage. (Received October 7, 1994; Accepted December 15, 1994)     

Responses in pigmentation and anti-oxidant expression in Arctic Daphnia along gradients of DOC and UV exposure

Responses in carapace melanization and expression of the majoranti-oxidant catalase (CAT) and glutathione transferase (GST)in Arctic Daphnia were assessed in enclosures along a gradientof dissolved organic carbon (DOC). This gradient was createdby adding freeze-dried humic matter to 2 m³ UV-transparent enclosures,yielding final nominal concentrations of 1, 2.5, 5 and 10 mgC l^-1. The UV attenuation was strongly affected by additionsof DOC, and attenuation coefficients at 320 nm increased from3.0 in the control to approximately 3.5 and 11.0 m^-1 in the1 and 10 mg DOC treatments respectively. Most Daphnia showedpronounced carapace melanization, and the absorbance of short-waveradiation through the carapace was strongly related to the degreeof melanization. Nevertheless, the different UV climate in theenclosures did not cause any short-term adaptation in Daphniapigmentation over a 3 week period. The levels of CAT and GSTwere assessed over time in the control and at 10 mg DOC. Theseenzymes displayed opposite patterns, with somewhat lower activitiesof CAT at low DOC (control) relative to 10 mg DOC, while theopposite was found for GST. There was also a significant negativecorrelation between CAT and solar irradiation for GST in bothbags, while no effects were found for GST.     

Effect of Phenolic Compounds on ABA-induced Changes in K+ Concentration of Guard Cells and in Epidermal Diffusive Resistance

The study of the structure-activity relationship of phenoliccompounds in reversing the ABA-effect on stomata led us to investigatethe changes in K⁺ concentrations in guard cells and in the epidermaldiffusive resistance of leaves, after treatment with ABA andphenolics. The amount of potassium localized in guard cells usually correspondsto stomatal aperture in different treatments. Umbelliferone,however, permits stomatal opening without retention of potassiumin the guard cells, which is an exception. The effect of phenolicsin retaining K⁺ in epidermal peels is matched by recorded epidermaldiffusive resistance changes in the leaves.Although flavonoidsand some other phenolics behave differently showing recoveryin epidermal peels with K⁺ in guard cells, epidermal diffusiveresistance is not recovered. Key words: Epidermal diffusive resistance, K⁺, ABA, phenolics, stomata     

Activation of calcium release assessed by calcium release-induced inactivation of calcium current in rat cardiac myocytes

In mammalian cardiac myocytes, calcium released into the dyadic space rapidly inactivates calcium current (I_Ca). We used this Ca²⁺ release-dependent inactivation (RDI) of I_Ca as a local probe of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ release activation. In whole cell patch-clamped rat ventricular myocytes, Ca²⁺ entry induced by short prepulses from —50 mV to positive voltages caused suppression of peak I_Ca during a test pulse. The negative correlation between peak I_Ca suppression and I_Ca inactivation during the test pulse indicated that RDI evoked by the prepulse affected only calcium channels in those dyads in which calcium release was activated. Ca²⁺ ions injected during the prepulse and during the subsequent tail current suppressed peak I_Ca in the test pulse to a different extent. Quantitative analysis indicated that equal Ca²⁺ charge was 3.5 times less effective in inducing release when entering during the prepulse than when entering during the tail. Tail Ca²⁺ charge injected by the first voltage-dependent calcium channel (DHPR) openings was three times less effective than that injected by DHPR reopenings. These findings suggest that calcium release activation can be profoundly influenced by the recent history of L-type Ca²⁺ channel activity due to potentiation of ryanodine receptors (RyRs) by previous calcium influx. This conclusion was confirmed at the level of single RyRs in planar lipid bilayers: using flash photolysis of the calcium cage NP-EGTA to generate two sequential calcium stimuli, we showed that RyR activation in response to the second stimulus was four times higher than that in response to the first stimulus. excitation-contraction coupling     

Ion Transport and the Effects of Acetic Acid in White Clover: II. POTASSIUM ABSORPTION

Dunlop, J., Knighton, M. V. and White, D. W. R. 1988. Ion transportand the effects of acetic acid in white clover. II. Potassiumabsorption.—J. exp. Bot. 39: 89–96. Acetic acid stimulated K⁺ influx into cells of white cloverin suspension culture and net K⁺ influx by roots of intact whiteclover plants. At concentrations of acetic acid up to 2·0mol m^–3 the stimulation continued unabated for at least2 h. However, at higher concentrations the rate of absorptiondeclined to near zero values after 2 h. When acetic acid wasremoved from the solution there was a net efflux of K⁺. Thestimulation was pH dependent with a maximum at pH 5·0.There was maximum stimulation at an acetic acid concentrationof 2·0 mol m^–3 Net H⁺ efflux was reduced by 1·0 mol m^–3 aceticacid. When Rb⁺ uptake and H⁺ efflux were measured at a rangeof RbCl concentrations Rb⁺ uptake increased with concentrationwhereas H⁺ efflux was maximum in the absence of Rb⁺ (and K⁺)and decreased as RbCl concentration was increased Acetic acid caused a hyperpolarization of the membrane electricalpotential difference (E) of about 25 mV. In 1·0 mol m^–3acetic acid the hyperpolarization persisted for at least 2 hwhereas at 10 mol m^–3 d E subsequently depolarized tovalues around –80 mV. With a slight lag, the time courseof the stimulation of the rate of K⁺ absorption followed thepolarization and depolarization of E. These results imply thatthe linkage between K⁺ and H⁺ movements is probably throughE. Key words: Proton efflux, membrane electrical potential difference, Trifolium repens     

Relationship Between the Development and Growth of Rye (Secale cereale L.) and the Potassium Concentration in Solution

The development and growth of rye (Secale cereale L. cv. Rheidol)was studied in seedlings grown hydroponically in complete nutrientsolutions containing between 10 and 600 µM K⁺. The phyllochron(defined as the interval between the appearance of successiveleaves) was used as a developmental timescale to compare plants.The pattern of both shoot and root development was strictlyordered on a phyllochron basis and was unaffected by solutionK⁺ concentration, with the exception that tillers in plantsgrown at the lowest K⁺ concentrations were occasionally eithernot initiated or aborted at an early stage of development. However,both the rate of leaf appearance on the main stem and successivetillers and the rate of tiller appearance were slower in plantsgrown at lower K⁺ concentrations. The rate of leaf appearanceon the main stem was reduced to below 90% of its maximal valueat solution concentrations below about 50 µM K⁺. Plantrelative growth rate (RGR) was also reduced by lowering theK⁺ concentration of the nutrient solution and fell to below90% of its maximal value at solution concentrations below about200 µM K⁺. There was a complex relationship between tissueK⁺ concentration and the K⁺ concentration of the nutrient solution,which differed between leaves and root. Leaf K⁺ concentrationincreased steadily from about 50 µmol g^-1 f. wt to about200 µmol g^-1 f. wt as solution K⁺ concentration was increasedfrom 10 to 400 µM. In contrast, root K⁺ concentrationexhibited a sigmoidal dependence on solution K⁺ concentration,maintaining a minimal value of approximately 20 µmol g^-1f. wt at concentration below 100 µM K⁺, then increasingprogressively to about 120 µmol g^-1 f. wt at a solutionconcentration of 600 µM K⁺. The 'critical' leaf K⁺ concentration,i.e. the concentration at which either plant RGR or plant developmentwas reduced 90% of its maximal value, was 86 µmol g^-1f. wt for plant RGR and 150 µmol g^-1 f. wt for plant development.The 'critical' root K⁺ concentration was 24 µmol g^-1 f.wt K⁺ for both RGR and development. A decline in tissue K⁺ concentrationbelow these thresholds reduced plant growth considerably. RootK⁺ concentration was a sensitive indicator of the K⁺ statusof the plant with respect to potential growth since plant growthdeclined abruptly as root K⁺ concentration approached its 'critical'value, whereas plant growth showed a less defined relationshipwith shoot K⁺ concentration.Copyright 1993, 1999 Academic Press Critical K⁺ concentration, development, potassium, relative growth rate (RGR), rye, Secale cereale L. cv. Rheidol     

Changes in Partitioning of Current Assimilate During Tuber Bulking in Potato (Solarium tuberosum L.) cv Maris Piper

Potato plants were labelled with ¹⁴CO₂ at six stages duringtuber bulking and changes in current assimilate partitioning(20 h after ¹⁴CO₂ assimilation) were examined in relation toincreasing tuber size on a plant. There was no relationshipbetween the node of origin of a tuber and the amount of ¹⁴Cwhich entered it, and those tubers on a plant which importedthe most ¹⁴C did not all belong to the same stem. However, competitionwithin a node was evident as many tubers borne on second-orderstolons were smaller and contained significantly lower concentrationsof ¹⁴C than those on primary stolons. Two weeks after tuberinitiation there was an almost linear relationship between thefresh weights of the tubers and their ¹⁴C content but the correlationbecame less good at subsequent harvests. Within the tubers theratio of ¹⁴C starch: soluble fell over the course of the experimentand was reflected in an increase in the percentage of ¹⁴C sucroseappearing in the tubers at each harvest. At any one harvest,however, the ¹⁴C starch: soluble ratios were similar but notrelated to the rates of ¹⁴C import of the tubers. The data areconsistent with the view that sucrose is compartmentalized inpotato tubers. Assimilate, ¹⁴Carbon, potato, sugars, tuber