Lolium multiflorum uptake of iron supplied as different synthetic chelates

The plant availability of Fe from synthetic chelates has not been examined extensively for plants having the second strategy in iron uptake. Since these plants also excrete chelating agents, competition between natural and synthetic ligands is expected. This research was conducted to study the efficiency of different iron-chelates (Fe-EDTA, Fe-DTPA, Fe-EDDHA and a commercial product, Rexene) inLolium multiflorum iron nutrition. Plants were grown in a greenhouse with hydroponic culture using a buffered nutrient solution at pH 8. Initial iron concentration in the nutrient solution was near 0.5 mgl^–1 and solutions were replaced weekly. In an other Fe-EDTA treatment the same amount of chelate was supplied by four additions during each week.Changes of iron concentration in the nutrient solution, harvestable yield, Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn content in plant tissue and chlorophylllevels in leaves are discussed as parameters to evaluate chelate efficacy. Fe-EDDHA, without inorganic iron in the medium was not as effective as the commercial product Rexene, containing Fe-EDDHA and some extra weakly complex iron, which gave the highest yields. Fe-EDTA applied once a week with fresh nutrient solution was less effective than a four part addition as seen from Chl₁/[Fe] ratios.     

毛果苔草湿地植物营养元素分布及其相关性

研究生物与环境中化学因子之间的相互作用过程 ,主要是指化学物质在生态系统中的运移、转化及归趋与效应。化学物质包括营养物质、污染物质和在生物与环境之间、生物与生物之间起媒介作用的次生代谢物质[1] 。对植物不同组织营养成分的季节性变化研究多集中于叶子 ,但对其他部分的研究则较少[10 ] ,分解过程并不是完全始于凋落物到达地面 ,在凋落前就受到渗滤、裂解和真菌的作用[12 ] ;对枯落物中的有机物质和营养物质浓度的了解可以预测枯落物的分解速率[11] 。目前 ,湿地的研究偏重于资源的开发与利用 ,而对湿地生态系统的生态过程的定位…     

Changes in biomass and photosynthetic parameters of tomato plants exposed to trivalent and hexavalent chromium

Tomato plants were treated for two weeks with different concentrations of Cr(III) or Cr(VI) compounds to compare their toxic effects. The concentration of total Cr in plant tissues increased linearly with its concentration in the growth medium and Cr accumulated largely in the roots, regardless of the form in which it was supplied to the plant. All measured plant growth parameters were negatively affected by Cr, but Cr(VI) showed much more pronounced toxic effects. Leaf net photosynthetic rate (P_N) was decreased by both Cr forms, and the decrease was also greater for Cr(VI). Cr(III) caused no significant effect on leaf stomatal conductance, whereas Cr(VI) reduced it. Cr(VI) also markedly reduced the variable to maximum chlorophyll a fluorescence ratio, measured in dark-adapted leaves.     

Absorption of radiocaesium by flooded rice: relative importance of roots and shoot base in the transfer of radioactivity

Summary Lowland rice plants were grown in double isolated containers, where shoot base was dipped in Cs¹³⁷ contaminated water and roots in Cs¹³⁴ contaminated nutrient solution andvice versa. The plants were collected after six weeks and plant sample activity determined by γ-spectrometry. Radiocaesium is absorbed by the shoot base and distributed in the different organs of the plant; the transfer coefficient being higher for water-plant than between nutrient solution-plant. Concentration factors obtained and exchangeability of Cs fixed by the plant vary with the radioisotope. Such a behavior may find an explanation in the stable Cs content of the medium. No equilibrium is observed in the plant between two radioisotopes of the same element absorbed by different plant organ. This publication is contribution no. 691 of the EURATOM Biology Division.     

穗花牡荆花芽分化过程中形态和生理指标变化

以穗花牡荆为研究材料,通过探究其花芽分化进程和生理特性,为花期调控技术提供成花机理。采用物候期观察和石蜡切片相结合的方法并测定花芽分化过程中相关生理指标,研究花发育过程中的形态和生理变化。结果表明,穗花牡荆花芽分化为一年多次分化型,其进程可划分为七个时期：未分化期、总轴花序原基分化期、初级分轴花序原基分化期、次级分轴花序原基分化期、小花原基分化期、花器官分化前期和花器官分化后期。同一植株不同位置花芽及同一花序中不同单花分化的进程不同,第一季花期后各阶段的花芽分化形态常存在重叠。花芽分化过程中不同时期叶片和花芽的可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白质含量均有上升下降的变化,总体上叶片中营养物质含量高于花芽保证营养供应。花芽分化过程中,IAA、ABA、CTK和GA3整体水平上先升后降有利于花芽分化进行。研究认为,花芽中大量的可溶性糖和蛋白质积累及较高的碳氮比,有利于穗花牡荆花芽形态分化顺利完成。低水平的GA3/ABA和IAA/CTK有利于花序的形成,ABA/CTK和ABA/IAA比值升高促进小花原基和小花萼片原基的分化, GA3/CTK、GA3/ABA和GA3/IAA比值升高促进花瓣原基、雄雌蕊原基发育。     

Role of leaf apoplast in silicon-mediated manganese tolerance of Cucumis sativus L.

Silicon (Si) supplied as sodium silicate (1·8 mm ) clearly decreased symptoms of manganese (Mn) toxicity in Cucumis sativus L. (cv. Chinesische Schlange) grown in nutrient solution with low to elevated Mn concentrations (0·5–1000 µm ). Despite approximately the same total Mn content in the leaves, plants not treated with Si had higher Mn concentrations in the intercellular washing fluid (IWF) compared with plants treated with Si, especially in the BaCl₂‐ and DTPA‐exchangeable fraction of the leaf apoplast. The Mn concentration of the IWF correlated positively with the severity of Mn‐toxicity symptoms and negatively with the Si supply. Furthermore, in Si‐treated plants less Mn was located in the symplast (< 10%) and more Mn was bound to the cell wall (> 90%) compared with non‐Si‐treated plants (about 50% in each compartment). Manganese present in Si‐treated plants is therefore less available and for this reason less toxic than in plants not treated with Si. It is concluded that Si‐mediated tolerance of Mn in C. sativus is a consequence of stronger binding of Mn to cell walls and a lowering of Mn concentration within the symplast. These results support the role of Si as an important beneficial element in plant nutrition.     

元谋干热河谷燥红土和变性土上植物叶片的元素含量及其重吸收效率

采用盆栽试验,研究元谋干热河谷燥红土和变性土上生长的植物叶片以及凋落叶营养元素含量,并分析养分重吸收效率对土壤类型与物种互作的响应.结果表明: 土壤类型对叶片N、P、Ca、Mg、Cu、Zn、Fe、N∶P以及凋落叶N、P、Mn、N∶P均有显著影响;燥红土植物叶片与凋落叶N、Mn含量和N∶P显著高于变性土,而燥红土植物叶片P、Ca、Mg、Fe、Cu、Zn和凋落叶P含量显著低于变性土.燥红土植物叶片N含量较变性土高34.8%,而P含量低40.0%;在叶片凋落时,N、P、K表现为重吸收,而其他元素呈富集状态.燥红土凋落叶Ca、Mg、Mn富集系数显著高于变性土.物种仅对叶片N含量有显著影响,物种与土壤交互作用对植物叶片和凋落叶元素含量影响不显著,表明各土壤类型对不同物种元素含量的影响方式较为一致.土壤类型对植物元素含量的影响可进一步作用于干热河谷植物凋落物分解、植物-土壤的养分反馈以及生物地球化学循环.     

The interactions between MnO2+/Mn3+ complexes and ascorbates. A pulse radiolysis study

The reactivity between various MnO2+/Mn3+ complexes and ascorbic acid/ascorbate were studied using pulse radiolysis. Experimental results indicate that Mn3+-sulfate reacts with both AH2/AH- via metal-ascorbate complexes. MnO2+-formate and Mn3+-pyrophosphate both appear to react by electron transfer with no evidence of complex formation. All of these metal complexes, with the exception of Mn3+-pyrophosphate, react as fast or faster with ascorbate than free O2-. The significance of this observation in light of metal-induced oxygen toxicity will be discussed.     

Characterization of reactions catalyzed by manganese peroxidase from Phanerochaete chrysosporium

Manganese peroxidase (MnP) is one of two extracellular peroxidases believed to be involved in lignin biodegradation by the white-rot basidiomycete Phanerochaete chrysosporium. The enzyme oxidizes Mn(II) to Mn(III), which accumulates in the presence of Mn(III) stabilizing ligands. The Mn(III) complex in turn can oxidize a variety of organic substrates. The stoichiometry of Mn(III) complex formed per hydrogen peroxide consumed approaches 2:1 as enzyme concentration increases at a fixed concentration of peroxide or as peroxide concentration decreases at a fixed enzyme concentration. Reduced stoichiometry below 2:1 is shown to be due to Mn(III) complex decomposition by hydrogen peroxide. Reaction of Mn(III) with peroxide is catalyzed by Cu(II), which explains an apparent inhibition of MnP by Cu(II). The net decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to form molecular oxygen also appears to be the only observable reaction in buffers that do not serve as Mn(III) stabilizing ligands. The nonproductive decomposition of both Mn(III) and peroxide is an important finding with implications for proposed in vitro uses of the enzyme and for its role in lignin degradation. Steady-state kinetics of Mn(III) tartrate and Mn(III) malate formation by the enzyme are also described in this paper, with results largely corroborating earlier findings by others. Based on a comparison of pH effects on the kinetics of enzymatic Mn(III) tartrate and Mn(III) malate formation, it appears that pH effects are not due to ionizations of the Mn(III) complexing ligand.     

The Influence of Two Lithium Forms on the Growth, l-Ascorbic Acid Content and Lithium Accumulation in Lettuce Plants

Lithium (Li) is a trace element that is essential in the human diet due to its importance for health and proper functioning of an organism. However, the biological activity of this metal in crop plants, which are the primary dietary sources of Li, is still poorly understood. The aim of the presented study was to comparatively analyse two Li chemical forms on the growth, as well as the l-ascorbic acid content, the Li accumulation and translocation in butterhead lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. capitata) cv. Justyna. The plants were grown in a nutrient solution enriched with Li in the form of LiCl or LiOH at the following concentrations: 0, 2.5, 20, 50 or 100 mg?Li?dm^?3. The obtained results indicate that the presence of Li⁺ ions in the root environment reduced the yield of edible parts of the lettuce if the Li concentration in a nutrient solution had reached 20 mg?Li?dm^?3. However, a yield reduction under these conditions was found to be significant only for LiOH. In plants exposed to 50 mg?Li?dm^?3, both shoot and root fresh weights (FW) significantly decreased, regardless of the supplied Li chemical form. On the other hand, under the lowest LiOH dose, a significant increase in the root FW was noted, suggesting beneficial effects of Li on the growth of lettuce plants. However, applied Li concentrations and forms did not affect the l-ascorbic acid content in the lettuce leaves. Regardless of which Li form was used, Li accumulated mainly in the root tissues. An exception was the higher concentration of this metal in the shoots than in the roots of plants supplied with 100 mg?Li?dm^?3 in LiCl, and there were almost the same Li concentrations in both examined organs of plants supplied with 100 mg?Li?dm^?3 in LiOH. The effectiveness of Li translocation from roots to shoots rose with increasing Li concentrations in the growth medium, and this suggests a relatively ready translocation of this metal throughout the plant. Moreover, these results suggest that Li toxicity in lettuce plants is related to a high accumulation of this element in the root and shoot tissues, causing a drastic reduction in the yield, in the presence either of LiCl or LiOH, but not affecting the l-ascorbic acid accumulation in the leaves.     

Isolation and characterization of Mn(III) tartrate from Phanerochaete chrysosporium culture broth

High initial Mn(II) concentration results in accumulation of a Mn(III) tartrate complex in the growth medium of Phanerochaete chrysosporium. Since Mn(III) is the major oxidant in ligninolysis by manganese peroxidase, the role of accumulated complex should not be neglected when degradation experiments by a crude culture filtrate are performed. To study the Mn(III) complex oxidative potential it was isolated by absorption to polyamide followed by desorption with an alkaline methanol solution. High performance liquid chromatography analysis and atomic absorption spectroscopy confirmed that the isolate was Mn(III) tartrate. Oxidation of 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenz-thiazoline-6-sulfonate) was used for testing the temperature and pH stability of the isolate that also intensively oxidized 2,6-dimethoxyphenol. In comparison with the non-isolated complex in the culture filtrate, the isolate showed increased temperature and pH stability. The oxidative potential of the isolated Mn(III) tartrate was additionally tested by decolorization of the synthetic dye Indigo carmine.     

硝态氮(NO-3)对水稻侧根生长及其氮吸收的影响

侧根是植物吸收利用土壤养分的重要器官,其生长发育受内部遗传因子和外部环境矿质养分的影响.通过琼脂分层培养发现:局部供应NO-3可以诱导水稻( Oryza sativa L.)主根或不定根上侧根的生长.为研究旱种条件下NO-3对水稻侧根发育及其N吸收的影响,设置了3个蛭石培养实验:分根处理、全株缺N、全株供N处理.分根处理(一半根系供应3 mmol/L KNO3,另一半根系供应3 mmol/L KCl)结果表明:局部供应NO-3 能够促进水稻侧根生长.而在全株处理下,N饥饿诱导了侧根的伸长.水稻根系对NO-3的这两种反应都存在着显著的基因型差异.同时对地上部N浓度、可溶性总糖含量及N含量分析表明,这些生理指标在分根处理与全株加N处理中的差异均不显著,表明分根处理也能基本满足植株正常生长对N的需求.在分根处理中,水稻的N含量与分根处理中供N一侧的平均侧根长度存在显著正相关,这表明在养分不均一的介质中,侧根长度对水稻N素吸收具有十分重要的作用.而在N素充足的条件下,两者之间的相关性并不显著,这暗示在养分充足的环境下,侧根长度可能并不是决定根系吸收N素的主要因素.     

Soil-plant element relationships in a tundra ecosystem

The objectives of this study were to (1) provide a baseline estimate of soil and plant element concentrations for an intensive research site at Imnavait Creek in northern Alaska, and (2) examine the relationships between soil and plant elements in an arctic ecosystem. Soil and plant element concentrations were highly variable along biotic, spatial, and temporal axes. Deciduous shrubs had higher leaf concentration of N, P. K and Mg, whereas an evergreen shrub had higher leaf concentrations of Ca, Mn, Al and Si. Based on high required solution phase turnover rates, the most likely elemental deficiencies are N > P > K > Ca = Mg. Based on low required solution phase turnover rates and high soil concentrations. Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu deficiencies are unlikely. Manganese could be present in toxic concentrations. The nutrient bottleneck in tundra ecosystems appears to be the rate of nutrient movement to the solution phase.     

局部根区水分胁迫下氮形态与供给部位对玉米幼苗生长的影响

通过向玉米幼苗分根装置一侧根室的营养液中加入聚乙二醇(PEG 6000)来模拟植物水分胁迫,并设3种供氮形态(硝态氮、铵态氮、两者各占50%的混合氮),且只加入到一侧根室(当氮加入到和PEG同侧时为水氮异区,加入到无PEG一侧时为水氮同区),测定各处理的光合、生理指标,以研究局部根区水分胁迫下氮形态与供给部位对玉米幼苗生长的影响.结果表明:同一氮形态供给下水氮同区植株的光合速率(Pn)、最大净光合速率(Pmax)、光饱和点(LSP)、CO2饱和点(CSP)、叶绿素a、b及叶绿素总含量、根系活力、氮含量和生物量高于水氮异区,光呼吸速率(Rp)、CO2补偿点(CCP)、木质部汁液脱落酸(ABA)浓度、氮利用效率、水分利用效率低于水氮异区;供混合氮和硝态氮的植株Pn、Pmax、LSP、CSP、氮含量和生物量高于供铵态氮的植株,而CCP、Rp、木质部汁液ABA浓度、氮利用效率、水分利用效率变化趋势则相反.可见,同一供氮形态下,水氮同区比水氮异区更利于植物生长,而水氮利用效率在水氮异区下较高;混合氮和硝态氮对植物生长的促进作用优于单一供给铵态氮,但铵态氮更有利于提高水氮利用效率.     

Effect of Trichoderma asperellum strain T34 on iron, copper, manganese, and zinc uptake by wheat grown on a calcareous medium

Rhizosphere microbes may enhance nutrient uptake by plants. Here we studied the effect of Trichoderma asperellum inoculation on the uptake of Fe, Cu, Mn, and Zn by wheat (Triticum aestivum L) grown in a calcareous medium. To this end, an experiment involving two factors, namely Fe enrichment (ferrihydrite enrichment and non-enrichment of the growing medium), and inoculation/non-inoculation with Trichoderma asperellum strain T34, was performed twice under the same conditions. The increase in Fe availability as a result of ferrihydrite enrichment did not enhance plant dry matter production. The effect of T34 on the concentration of Fe, Cu, Mn and Zn, and the total amount of Cu, Mn, and Zn in the aerial parts differed depending on the degree of ferrihydrite enrichment. Inoculation with T34 increased Fe concentration in Fe-deficient media, thus revealing a positive effect of this microorganism on Fe nutrition in wheat. However, T34 significantly decreased the concentration and total amount of Cu, Mn, and Zn in the aerial parts, but only in ferrihydrite-enriched medium. This adverse effect of T34 on Cu, Mn, and Zn uptake by wheat plants may have been related to conditions of restricted availability where potential competition for nutrients between microorganisms and plants can be more marked.     

Alleviation of nickel toxicity by ammonium supply to sunflower plants

Phytotoxicity of nickel (Ni) varies within plant species and cultivars as well as with the concentration of Ni in the rooting medium. Moreover, it is known that several nutrients can modify the plant response to excess Ni. Nitrogen can be absorbed by plants as different N forms and because N metabolism and Ni are closely related, a hydroponic experiment was conducted to study the effect of Ni toxicity on the growth, nutrient status of the different plant parts and leaf chlorophyll concentrations in sunflower plants (Helianthus annuus L.) cv Quipu grown with different forms of N supply. The plants were grown under controlled conditions for 35 days. Depending on the N source supplied, there were significant differences in the sensitivity of sunflower plants to excess Ni. Tolerance was lowest when grown with NO₃ ⁻ alone. A high Ni and NO₃ ⁻ as the only N source resulted in reduced dry weight and significant decreases in nutrient concentration. Plants supplied with a mixture of NO₃ ⁻ and NH₄ ⁺ absorbed in the presence of Ni in solution about three times less Ni than those supplied with NO₃ ⁻ alone. Consequently, there were great differences in Ni concentrations between treatments. With a N nutrition of 100% NO₃ ⁻-N, Ni supply led to severe growth inhibition. Just contrary, simultaneous supply of NO₃ ⁻ and NH₄ ⁺ not only reduced Ni toxicity, but growth was even stimulated by Ni if supplied to plants fed with NO₃ ⁻ and NH₄ ⁺. This indicates the significant role of the N form supplied in the behaviour of Ni toxicity in sunflower plants. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Orotate phosphoribosyltransferase and hypoxanthine/guanine phosphoribosyltransferase from yeast: nuclear magnetic relaxation studies of the structures of enzyme-bound phosphoribosyl 1-pyrophosphate

Nuclear magnetic relaxation rate measurements have been performed on the protons and phosphorus atoms of phosphoribosyl 1-pyrophosphate (PRibPP) in the presence and absence of paramagnetic chromium(III), cobalt(II), and manganese(II) ions. The longitudinal relaxation rates were then used to calculate interatomic distances between the magnetic nuclei and these paramagnetic probes, from which was devised a conformation of the PRibPP-metal ion complex in solution. Thereafter, the experiments were accomplished in the presence of Mn(II) and a series of orotate phosphoribosyltransferase (OPRTase) and hypoxanthine/guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRTase) concentrations, and from these data were estimated the distances between Mn(II) and the PRibPP nuclei at the active sites of these two enzymes from yeast. Comparisons between the Mn(II)-PRibPP conformation in solution and this structure at the active sites of OPRTase and HGPRTase revealed that the metal ion remained coordinated with the pyrophosphate group of PRibPP in all instances, whereas the overall distances between the ribose ring and Mn(II) at the enzyme active sites were approximately 1 A further from the metal ion. Model building studies also revealed that the 5'-phosphate group of PRibPP is positioned directly over the ribose ring in solution and at the OPRTase and HGPRTase active sites and may protect the 1'-carbon of PRibPP against on-line displacements of pyrophosphate under these conditions, where the PRibPP-to-Mn(II) concentration ratio is greater than 2000.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of different iron-, potassium-, phosphate-, and calcium-manganese relationships on the growth and chemical composition of aromatic strain of bidi tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.)

Summary In order to study the Mn nutrition ofbidi tobacco plant (Nicotiana tabacum L. aromatic strain 2-1) when it is supplied with nutrient solutions containing different ratios of Mn with Fe, P, K and Ca, a sand-culture experiment was carried out in four different series viz. Fe-Mn, K-Mn, P-Mn and Ca-Mn. No characteristic deficiency symptoms except general loss of green colour and diminished growth were observed at 0.1 ppm Mn in the nutrient solution. Toxicity was observed when Mn in the nutrient solution was 100 ppm and severity of the symptoms decreased with increase in Fe-Mn or K-Mn ratios, but it increased when P-Mn ratio increased while in Ca-Mn series it first decreased and then increased at still higher concentration of Ca on account of chloride ion effect as CaCl₂ had to be added to bring about 500 ppm concentration of Ca necessary for the treatment. No symptoms of deficiency or toxicity were observed when Mn in nutrient solution varied from 1 to 10 ppm and Fe-Mn ratio for the leaf varied from 0.4 to 6.1 and its Mn content varied from 190 to 1575 ppm. Slight loss of green colour and plant vigour appeared when Fe-Mn ratio for the leaf was higher than 12.8 even though the Mn content was as high as 90 ppm. Toxic effect due to excessive Mn was felt when Fe-Mn ratio was 0.35 or less and leaf content 1875 ppm or more. Nicotine content was inversely related to the intensity of Mn-toxicity.Contribution from the Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science Division, Institute of Agriculture, Anand, G.S., India.Prof. and Head of the Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science Division, and Lecturer in Agricultural Chemistry, respectively.     

The influence of arsenic chemical form and concentration on Spartina patens and Spartina alterniflora growth and tissue arsenic concentration

Arsenic (As) uptake by two perennial coastal marsh grasses growing in hydroponic conditions was studied in relation to the chemical form and concentration of As added to nutrient solution. A 4×3×2 factorial experiment was conducted with treatments consisting of four As chemical forms [arsenite, As(III); arsenate, As(V); monomethyl arsonic acid, MMAA; and dimethyl arsinic acid, DMAA], three As concentrations (0.2, 0.8, and 2.0 mg As L^-1) and two plant species (Spartina patens and Spartina alterniflora). Arsenic phytoavailability and phytotoxicity were primarily determined by the As chemical form present in the nutrient solution, though As concentration also influenced both As availability and toxicity. Application of As(V) increased root, shoot and total dry matter production; this positive plant growth response may be linked with P nutrition. Organic arsenicals and As(III) were the most phytotoxic species to both marsh grasses when plant growth was considered. Arsenic uptake and transport in plant were species-specific. Phytoavailability of As followed the trend DMAA MMAA As(V) < As(III). Root and shoot As concentrations significantly increased with increasing As application rates to the rooting medium, regardless of the As chemical form. Upon absorption, inorganic arsenicals and MMAA were mainly accumulated in the root system, while DMAA was readily translocated to the shoot.     

Boron Mobility and Nutrition in Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica

Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica cv Premium Crop) plantswere germinated in soil, transferred to vermiculite three weekslater and grown in the glasshouse, then either supplied continuouslywith boron levels ranging from 0.0 (deficient) to 12.5 (toxic)mg l^–1 of nutrient solution or transferred from 2.5 to0.0 mg B l^–1 at the initiation of inflorescence development.At commercial maturity the concentrations of various inorganicand organic solutes in phloem exudates and xylem saps, as wellas plant characteristics and elemental composition of the variousplant parts, were determined. Under deficient B levels leaf midrib and stem corkiness wereevident, together with signs of stem pith breakdown, symptomswhich resemble the initiation of the hollow stem disorder. Thexylem sap B concentration declined by about 50 % when B wasnot supplied or was removed after a period of adequate supply;the phloem concentration was unaffected. Also, the decreasingB concentration gradients from mature transpiring tissues toyoung developing sinks disappeared. Therefore, it is concludedthat when B is deficient, it is retranslocated from source leavesin the phloem stream supplying the developing leaves and inflorescence.The data also suggested that at toxic levels B undergoes extensivelateral transfer, probably from xylem to xylem, thereby enhancingthe B concentration of developing sinks. The B regime influenced dry-matter partitioning, retranslocationof some elements, and the synthesis and distribution of aminoacids and sugars, reflecting the general nature of B involvementin plant processes. Brassica oleracea var., italica, broccoli, phloem, mobility, retranslocation, boron nutrition, transport fluids, concentration gradients