Water Influx Characteristics and Hydraulic Conductivity for Roots of Agave deserti Engelm.

Various plant and environmental factors influence the hydraulicproperties for roots, which were examined using negative hydrostaticpressures applied to the proximal ends of individual excisedroots of a common succulent perennial from the Sonoran Desert,Agave deserti Engelm. The root hydraulic conductivity, L^p, increasedsubstantially with temperature, the approximately 4-fold increasefrom 0.5°C to 40°C representing a Q¹⁰ of 1.45. Suchvariations in L_p with temperature must be taken into accountwhen modelling water uptake, as soil temperatures in the rootzone of such a shallow-rooted species vary substantially bothdaily and seasonally. At 20°C, L_p was 2.3 x 10^–7 ms^{macron}1MPa^{macron}1for 3-week-old roots, decreasing to abouthalf this value at 10 weeks and then becoming approximatelyhalved again at 6 months. For a given root age, L_p for rainroots that are induced by watering as lateral branches on theestablished roots (which arise from the stem base) was aboutthe same as L_p for established roots. Hence, the conventionalbelief that rain roots have a higher L_p than do establishedroots is more a reflection of root age, as the rain roots tendto be shed following drought and thus on average are much youngerthan are established roots. Unlike previous measurements onroot respiration, lowering the gas-phase oxygen concentrationfrom 21% to 0% or raising the carbon dioxide concentration from0.1% to 2% had no detectable effect on L_p for rain roots andestablished roots. L_p for rain roots and established roots wasdecreased by an average of 11% and 35% by lowering the soilwater potential from wet conditions (_soil=0 kPa) to {macron}40kPa and {macron}80 kPa, respectively. Such decreases in L_p mayreflect reduced water contact between soil particles and theroot surface and should be taken into account when predictingwater uptake by A. deserti. Key words: Gas phase, rain roots, root age, soil, temperature, water potential     

Effects of Edaphic Factors on the Soluble Carbohydrate Content of Roots of Lolium perenneL. and Trifolium repens L.

In a 3³x2² factorial experiment with Lolium perenne L. and Trifoliumrepens L. grown at three soil moisture tensions, three levelsof nitrogen and three levels of phosphorus, there was a widerange of percentage soluble carbohydrate (TSC) in the roots.The significant positive correlations between percentage ofTSC and root weight suggest that root growth-rate was proportionalto the concentration of TSC in the roots. In other experiments with Lolium perenne grown at five constantsoil temperatures and factorial combinations with three soilmoisture treatments with and without manure, there was declinein the percentage of TSC with increasing temperature. This impliedthat the respiration sink strength in the roots did not controlthe partitioning of photosynthate to the roots. No firm conclusions can be drawn from this work, but it is inferredthat there is a dynamic balancing mechanism in the foliage whichcontrols the partitioning of photosynthate between foliage androot growth. This mechanism appears to divert carbohydrate toroots in inverse proportion to root activity.     

Ionic Relations of Garden Orache, A triplex hortensis L.: Growth and Ion Distribution at Moderate Salinity and the Function of Bladder Hairs

The growth of garden orache, A triplex hortensis was studiedunder conditions of mild NaCl or Na₂SO₄ salinity. Growth, drymatter production and leaf size were substantially stimulatedat 10 mM and 50 mM Na⁺ salts. Increased growth, however, appearedto be due to a K⁺-sparing effect of Na⁺ rather than to salinityper se. The distribution of K⁺ and Na⁺ in the plant revealeda remarkable preference for K+ in the roots and the hypocotyl.In the shoot the K/Na ratio decreased strongly with leaf age.However, the inverse changes in K⁺ and Na⁺ content with leafage were dependent on the presence of bladder hairs, which removedalmost all of the Na⁺ from the young leaf lamina. Measurementsof net fluxes of K⁺ and Na⁺ into roots and shoots of growingAtriplex plants showed a higher K/Na selectivity of the netion flux to the root compared to the shoot. With increasingsalinity the selectivity ratio S_{K, Na}^* of net ion fluxes tothe roots and to the shoots was increased. The data suggestthat recirculation of K⁺ from leaves to roots is an importantlink in establishing the K/Na selectivity in A. hortensis plants.The importance of K⁺ recirculation and phloem transport forsalt tolerance is discussed. Key words: Atriplex hortensis, Salinity, Potassium, Sodium, K⁺ retranslocation, Bladder hairs, Growth stimulation     

Sodium Recirculation and Loss from Phaseolus vulgaris L.

In a split-root experiment, ²²Na was supplied to Phaseolus vulgarisL. roots emerging from the stem, 2.5 cm above the main roots.Sodium exported from these upper roots was translocated a shortdistance upward in the stem and downward to the main roots.Most of the ²²Na arriving in the main roots was lost to themedium. Sodium loss from P. vulgaris roots into KCI or NaCl was similarand was not affected by oligomycin. The results confirm a previous hypothesis regarding the mechanismof sodium exclusion from the tops of sodium non-accumulatorplants. Phaseolus vulgaris L., bean, sodium transport     

Carbon Loss from the Roots of Forage Rape (Brassica napus L.) Seedlings Following Pulse-labelling with 14CO2

The loss of organic material from the roots of forage rape (Brassicanapus L.,) was studied by pulse-labelling 25-d-old non-sterilesand-grown plants with ¹⁴CO₂. The distribution of ¹⁴C withinthe plant was measured at 0, 6 and 13 d after labelling whilst¹⁴ C accumulating in the root-zone was measured at more frequentintervals. The rates of ¹⁴C release into the rhizosphere, andloss of ¹⁴CO₂ from the rhizosphere were also determined. Thesedata were used to estimate the accumulative loss of ¹⁴C fromroots and loss respiratory ¹⁴CO₂ from both roots and associatedmicro-organisms. Approximately 17-19% of fixed ¹⁴CO₂ was translocatedto the roots over 2 weeks, of which 30-34% was released intothe rhizosphere, and 23-24% was respired by the roots as ¹⁴CO₂. Of the ¹⁴C released into the rhizosphere, between 35-51%was assimilated and respired by rhizosphere micro-organisms.Copyright1993, 1999 Academic Press Brassica napus L., carbon loss, carbon partitioning, microbial nutrition, microbial respiration, forage rape, pulse-labelling, rhizodeposition, root respiration, sand culture     

不同生态型东南景天对土壤中Cd的生长反应及吸收积累的差异性

 采用盆栽方法研究了两种生态型东南景天(Sedum alfredii)对土壤中不同含量Cd(即对照, 12.5, 25, 50, 100, 200, 300, 400 mg&;#8226;kg^－1)的生 长反应、吸收和积累Cd的差异性。结果表明,土壤添加重金属Cd后,矿山生态型东南景天生长正常,地上部和根系Cd含量随着土壤中Cd含量的 增加而增加,在400 mg&;#8226;kg^－1 Cd处理下含量分别高达2 900和500 mg&;#8226;kg^－1,其地上部显著大于根部;然而,土壤添加Cd后,非矿山生态型东 南景天的生长受到抑制,地上部和根部的生物量显著降低。当土壤Cd含量为50～100 mg&;#8226;kg^－1 时,非矿山生态型东南景天的地上部和根系Cd含 量随着土壤中Cd含量的增加而增加,而且根系Cd含量则大于地上部。当土壤Cd≤50 mg&;#8226;kg^－1时,矿山生态型东南景天根系Cd含量比非矿山生态 型高 ,但当土壤Cd≥100 mg&;#8226;kg^－1,两者之间无显著差异;然而,但在同一Cd处理水平下,矿山生态型东南景天地上部Cd含量总是高于非矿山 生态型。这些结果表明,矿山生态型东南景天有很强的忍耐和吸收土壤Cd的能力,再次证明其为一种Cd超积累植物。     

Phytochemical studies on tobacco alkaloids XIV. The occurrence and properties of putrescine N-methyltransferase in tobacco roots

Putrescine N-methyltransferase, a new enzyme catalyzing theformation of N-methylputrescine from putrescine and S-adenosyl-L-methioninewas found in roots of tobacco plants. The enzyme was purified30-fold from crude extracts of tobacco roots. NMethylputrescinewas identified as the reaction product by comparison with theauthentic compound. The enzyme had a pH optimum between pH 8and 9, and a molecular weight of about 60,000, as determinedby gel filtration. Km values for putrescine and 5-adenosyl-L-methioninewere 4.0 x 10^–4 M and 1.1 x 10^–4 M, respectively.Enzyme activity was inhibited by N-chloromercuribenzoate andAg⁺. No cofactors were required. Of the various substrates tested,only putrescine served as a methyl acceptor. The enzyme waslocalized exclusively in the roots and its activity was greadyenhanced by decapitation. The presence of putrescine N-methyltransferase in tobacco rootsstrongly suggests that N-methylputrescine participates as anintermediate in nicotine biosynthesis. (Received March 2, 1971; )     

Vacuolar Na/K Exchange, its Occurrence in Root Cells of Hordeum, Atriplex and Zea and its Significance for K/Na Discrimination in Roots

Using excised low-salt roots of barley and Atriplex hortenslsthe transport of endogenous potassium through the xylem vesselswas studied It was enhanced by nitrate and additionally by sodiumions which apparently replaced vacuolar potassium which wasthen available in the symplasm of root cells for transport tothe shoot Vacuolar Na/K exchange also has been investigatedby measurements of longitudinal ion profiles in single rootsof both species. In Atriplex roots a change in the externalsolution from K⁺ to Na⁺ induced an exchange of vacuolar K⁺ forNa⁺, in particular in the subapical root tissues and led toincreased K⁺ transport and loss of K⁺ from the cortex. In inverseexperiments a change from Na⁺ to K⁺ did not induce an exchangeof vacuolar Na⁺; merely in meristematic tissues Na⁺—apparentlyfrom the cytoplasm—was extruded in exchange for K⁺. Inroots of barley seedlings without caryopsis, as in excised roots,a massive exchange of K⁺ for Na⁺ was observed in the continuouspresence of external 1.0 mM Na and 0.2 mM K. This exchange alsowas attributed to the vacuole and was most pronounced in theyoung subapical tissues. It did not occur, however, in the correspondingtissues in roots of fully intact barley seedlings. In these,the young tissues retained a relatively high K/Na ratio alsoin their vacuoles. Similarly, contrasting results were obtainedwith intact and excised roots of Zea mays L. Based on theseresults a scheme of the events that lead to selective cationuptake in intact barley roots is proposed. In this scheme acrucial factor of selectivity is sufficient phloem recirculationof K⁺ by the aid of which K⁺ rich cortical cells are formednear the root tip. When matured these cells are suggested tomaintain a high cytoplasmic K/Na ratio due to K⁺ dependent sodiumextrusion at the plasmalemma and due to recovery of vacuolarK⁺ by Na/K exchange across the tonoplast. Key words: Potassium/Sodium selectivity, Vacuolar exchange, Xylem transport, Hordeum, Zea, Atriplex     

Comparison of the Respiratory Metabolism of Plantago lanceolata L. and Plantago major L.

Bryce, J. H. and ap Rees, T. 1985. Comparison of the respiratorymetabolism of Plantago lanceolata L. and Plantago major L.—J.exp. Bot. 36 1559–1565. The aim of this work was to discover if the respiratory metabolismof the roots of Plantago lanceolata L. differed from that ofthe roots of Plantago major L. Measurements of oxygen uptakeand dry weight of excised root systems during growth of seedlingsprovided evidence that the two species differed in the amountof respiration needed to support a given increase in dry weight.Excised root systems were given a 6-h pulse in [U-¹⁴C]sucrosefollowed by a 16.5-h chase in sucrose. The detailed distributionof ¹⁴C amongst the major components of the roots at the endof the pulse and the chase revealed no significant differencebetween the two species. Patterns of ¹⁴CO₂ production from [1-¹⁴C],[2-¹⁴C], [3,4-¹⁴C], and [6-¹⁴C]glucose of excised root systemsfrom plants of three ages were similar for the two species.It is suggested that there is no conclusive evidence for anysignificant inherent difference in the respiratory metabolismof the roots of the two species. Key words: ¹⁴C sugar metabolism, respiration, roots, Plantago     

The Effect of Clipping on Net Photosynthesis and Dark Respiration Rates of Plants from an Upland Grassland, with Reference to Carbon Partitioning in Festuca ovina

Four co-existing species (Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina,Juncus squarrosus and Nardus stricta) were subjected to clippingand the net photosynthetic and dark respiration rates were followedafter this treatment for 50 d. Concurrently carbon partitioningin F. ovina plants clipped initially and again at 50 and 100d was examined. An expansion of new leaf lamina was observed with F. ovina,which had a greater net photsynthetic rate per unit leaf areathan unclipped lamina. The remaining leaf lamina (stubble) afterclipping also showed net photosynthetic and dark respirationrates greater than unclipped lamina; these responses were uniqueto F. ovina plants. N. stricta was the only other species toattain a pre-clipping photosynthetic rate within 6 d. Clipped F. ovina plants showed a change in carbon allocationpattern, with a reduction in carbon allocated to roots. ¹⁴Caccumulated in roots and stubble was shown to have a role inregrowth, as was current assimilate via the production of newleaf lamina. Plants initially clipped before exposure to ¹⁴C,redistributed less ¹⁴C to new shoot growth and, therefore, lostless when subsequently clipped. Further redistribution of ¹⁴Ccame from leaf stubble tissue and not at the expense of roots.The variation between species in clipping response are discussedin terms of the implications for coexistence. Carbon partitioning, clipping, gas exchange, grasses     

Root Distribution, Growth, Respiration, and Hydraulic Conductivity for Two Highly Productive Agaves

Cultivated Agave mapisaga and A. salmiana can have an extremelyhigh above-ground dry-weight productivity of 40 Mg ha^–1yr^–1. To help understand the below-ground capabilitiesthat support the high above-ground productivity of these Crassulaceanacid metabolism plants, roots were studied in the laboratoryand in plantations near Mexico City. For approximately 15-year-oldplants, the lateral spread of roots from the plant base averaged1.3 m and the maximal root depth was 0.8 m, both considerablygreater than for desert succulents of the same age. Root andshoot growth occurred all year, although the increase in shootgrowth at the beginning of the wet season preceded the increasein growth of main roots. New lateral roots branching from themain roots were more common at the beginning of the wet season,which favoured water uptake with a minimal biomass investment,whereas growth of new main roots occurred later in the growingseason. The root: shoot dry weight ratio was extremely low,less than 0.07 for 6-year-old plants of both species, and decreasedwith plant age. The elongation rates of main roots and lateralroots were 10 to 17 mm d^–1, higher than for various desertsucculents but similar to elongation rates for roots of highlyproductive C₃ and C₄ agronomic species. The respiration rateof attached main roots was 32 µmol CO₂ evolved kg^–1dry weight s^–1 at 4 weeks of age, that of lateral rootswas about 70% higher, and both rates decreased with root age.Such respiration rates are 4- to 5-fold higher than for Agavedeserti, but similar to rates for C₃ and C₄ agronomic species.The root hydraulic conductivity had a maximal value of 3 x 10^–7ms^–1 MPa^–1 at 4 weeks of age, similar to A. deserti.The radial hydraulic conductivity from the root surface to thexylem decreased and the axial conductivity along the xylem increasedwith root age, again similar to A. deserti. Thus, although rootsof A. mapisaga and A. salmiana had hydraulic properties perunit length similar to those of a desert agave, their highergrowth rates, their higher respiration rates, and the greatersoil volume explored by their roots than for various desertsucculents apparently helped support their high above-groundbiomass productivity Key words: Crassulacean acid metabolism, productivity, root elongation rate, root system, water uptake     

Hydraulic and osmotic properties of spruce roots

Hydraulic and osmotic properties of roots of 2-year-old Norwayspruce seedlings (Plcea abiea (L.) Karst) were investigatedusing different techniques (steady flow, pressure probe, andstop flow technique). Root pressures were measured using theroot pressure probe. Compared to roots of herbaceous plantsor deciduous trees, excised root systems of spruce did not developappreciable root pressure (-0.001 to 0.004 MPa or -10 to 40cm of water column). When hydrostatic pressure gradients wereused to drive water flows across the roots, hydraulic conductivities(Lp_r) were determined in two types of experiments: (i) rootpressure relaxations (using the root pressure probe) and (ii)steady flow experiments (pneumatic pressures applied to theroot system or xylem or partial vacuum applied to the xylem).Root Lp_r ranged between 0.2 and 810^–8m s^–1 MPa^–1(on average) depending on the conditions. In steady flow experiments,Lpr depended on the pressure applied (or on the flow acrossthe roots) and equalled (0.190.12) to (1.21.7)10^–8m s^–1 MPa^–1 at pressures between 0.2 and 0.4 MPaand (1.51.3)10^–8 m s^–1 MPa^–1 at appliedpressures between 0.8 and 1.0 MPa. When pressures or vacuumwere applied to the xylem, Lp_r values were similar. The hydraulicconductivity measured during pressure relaxations (transientwater flows) was similar to that obtained at high pressures(and water flows). Although there was a considerable scatterin the data, there was a tendency of the hydraulic conductivityof the roots to decrease with increasing size of the root system.When osmotic gradients were used to drive water flows, Lp_r valuesobtained with the root pressure probe were much smaller thanthose measured in the presence of hydrostatic gradients. Onaverage, a root Lp_r=0.01710^–8 was found for osmotic andLp_r=6.410^–8 m s^–1 MPa^–1 in correspondinghydrostatic experiments, i.e. the two values differed by a factorwhich was as large as 380. The same hydraulic conductivity asthat obtained in osmotic experiments using the pressure probewas obtained by the 'stop flow techniquel. In this technique,the suction created by an osmoticum applied to the root wasbalanced by a vacuum applied to the xylem. Lp_r values of rootsystems did not change significantly when measured for up to5 d. In osmotic experiments with different solutes (Na₂S0₄,K₂S0₄, Ca(NO₃)₂, mannitol), no passive uptake of solutes couldbe detected, i.e. the solute permeability was very low whichwas different from earlier findings on roots of herbs. Reflectioncoefficients of spruce roots (O were low for solutes for whichplant cell membranes exhibit values of virtually unity (     

Water Transport in Isolated Maize Roots

A simple model has been devised which predicts the concentration,C^x_s, of salt (e.g. KCl) in the exudate from isolated roots asa function of the salt concentration, C⁰_s, in the medium. Thechief assumption, made in deriving the relationship betweenC^x_s and C⁰₅, is that the exudation of water, J, from the rootsconsists of two components (one being osmotic, Ø, inorigin and the other, Ø⁰, flowing in the absence of anosmotic gradient). The exudation of salt, J_s, calculated asJ C^x_s, was found to be dependent on C⁰_s. Our investigationson maize roots were concerned with estimations of L_p and Ø^vand determinations of C^x_s as a function of C⁰_s. Satisfactoryagreement between prediction and experiment was found in thesepreliminary studies. It is considered that water movement inisolated roots can be explained by a simple osmotic model withthe additional possibility that a relatively small non-osmoticwater flow occurs.     

Growth and swainsonine production of Swainsona galegifolia (Andr.) R. Br. untransformed and transformed root cultures

Untransformed and transformed root cultures of Swainsona galegifollawere established for swainsonine production. Transformed rootsgrew faster and produced higher swainsonine levels (62.3 µgg^–1 DW) than untransformed roots (23.6 ,µg g^–1DW) or roots of intact plants (8.7 µg g^–1 DW). Transformationof a number of plant genotypes using A. rhizogenes strain LBA9402 showed that plant genotype Influences swainsonine levelin transformed roots but that a wide range of swainsonine levelscan be induced by separate transformation events in the samegenotype. Enhancement of swainsonine production was attemptedby treatment with sugars and induction of polyploid roots. Key words: Agrobacterium rhizogenes, root cultures, Swainsona galegifolia, swainsonine     

Na+/H+ Antiporter in Tonoplast Vesicles from Rice Roots

The Na⁺/H ⁺ antiporter in vacuolar membranes transports Na⁺from the cytoplasm to vacuoles using a pH gradient generatedby proton pumps; it is considered to be related to salinitytolerance. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a salt-sensitive crop whosevacuolar antiporter is unknown. The vacuolar pH of rice roots,determined by ³¹P-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), increasedfrom 5.34 to 5.58 in response to 0.1 M NaCl treatment. Transportof protons into the tonoplast vesicles from rice roots was fluorometricallymeasured. Efflux of protons was accelerated by the additionof Na⁺. Furthermore, the influx of ²²Na⁺ into the tonoplastvesicles was accelerated by a pH gradient generated by proton-translocatingadenosine 5'-triphosphatase (H⁺-ATPase) and proton-translocatinginorganic pyro-phosphatase (H⁺-PPase). We concluded that thisNa⁺/H⁺antiporter functioned as a Na⁺ transporter in the vacuolarmembranes. The antiporter had a K_m of 10 mM for Na⁺ and wascompetitively inhibited by amiloride and its analogues. TheKⁱ values for 5-(N-methyl-N-isobutyl)-amiloride (MIA), 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyI)-amiloride(EIPA), and 5-(N, N-hexamethylene)-amiloride (HMA) were 2.2,5.9, and 2.9 µ M, respectively. Unlike barley, a salt-tolerantcrop, NaCl treatment did not activate the antiporter in riceroots. The amount of antiporter in the vacuolar membranes maybe one of the most important factors determining salt tolerance. ¹This work was supported by a grant from Bio-Media Project ofthe Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries(BMP96-III-1).     

Root Hydraulic Conductivity of Two Cactus Species in Relation to Root Age, Temperature, and Soil Water Status

The effects of root age, temperature, and soil water statuson root hydraulic conductivity (L_P) were investigated for twocactus species, Ferocactus acanthodes and Opuntia ficus-indica.The volumetric flux density of water was measured for excisedroot segments, either using negative hydrostatic pressures appliedto the proximal end or using reverse flow of water from theroot to the soil. For both species, L_P at 20 ?C increased withroot age, average values reaching a maximum of 3.9 ? 10^–7m s^–1 MPa^–1 for F. acanthodes and 5.2 ? 10^–7m s^–1 MPa^–1 for O.ficus-indica at 11 to 17 weeksof age; L_P subsequently declined with increasing root age forboth species. L_P was maximal at a temperature of about 10 ?Cfor the youngest roots (1–3 weeks), this optimum shiftingto 40 ?C for 8-week-old roots of both species. For older roots(up to 1.5-years-old), L_P increased with temperature from 0?C to 50 ?C, with a Q₁₀ of 1.3 between 20 ?C and 30 ?C. At asoil water potential (_soil) of –0.016 MPa, root L_P wasindependent of the direction of water flow for both species.Depending on root age, L_P declined 45- to 500-fold for F. acanthodesand 90- to 800-fold for O.ficus-indica as _soil was reduced from–0.016 to –1.06 MPa, consistent with a rectifier-likebehaviour with respect to water movement between soil and roots.Incorporation of such responses into water uptake models shouldlead to a better understanding of root function. Key words: Ferocactus acanthodes, Opuntia ficus-indica, water potential, tension, reverse flow     

Calcium Movement, Graviresponsiveness and the Structure of Columella Cells and Columella Tissues in Roots of Allium cepa L.

Roots of Allium cepa L. cv. Yellow are differentially responsiveto gravity. Long (e.g. 40 mm) roots are strongly graviresponsive,while short (e.g. 4 mm) roots are minimally responsive to gravity.Although columella cells of graviresponsive roots are largerthan those of nongraviresponsive roots, they partition theirvolumes to cellular organelles similarly. The movement of amyloplastsand nuclei in columella cells of horizontally-oriented rootscorrelates positively with the onset of gravicurvature. Furthermore,there is no significant difference in the rates of organellarredistribution when graviresponsive and nongraviresponsive rootsare oriented horizontally. The more pronounced graviresponsivenessof longer roots correlates positively with (1) their caps being9.6 times more voluminous, (2) their columella tissues being42 times more voluminous, (3) their caps having 15 times morecolumella cells, and (4) their columella tissues having relativevolumes 4·4 times larger than those of shorter, nongraviresponsiveroots. Graviresponsive roots that are oriented horizontallyare characterized by a strongly polar movement of ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ acrossthe root tip from the upper to the lower side, while similarlyoriented nongraviresponsive roots exhibit only a minimal polartransport of ⁴⁵Ca²⁺. These results indicate that the differentialgraviresponsiveness of roots of A. cepa is probably not dueto either (1) ultrastructural differences in their columellacells, or (2) differences in the rates of organellar redistributionwhen roots are oriented horizontally. Rather, these resultsindicate that graviresponsiveness may require an extensive columellatissue, which, in turn, may be necessary for polar movementof ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ across the root tip. Allium cepa, onion, root, columella tissue, columella cell, gravitropism, calcium, ultrastructure     

Proton-Chloride Symport in Barley Roots

An increase in the acidity of the incubation medium from pH6 5 to pH 4.0 increased Cl- flux into ATP-depleted Hordeum vulgareL roots more than three times This pH-dependent Cl^– fluxwas inhibited by p-chloromercuriphenyl sulphonic acid. The effectof pH on Cl- influx was eliminated when the pH gradient wasdissipated by addition of salts of permeable weak acids, andin K-loaded roots in the presence of a protonophore togetherwith valinomycin The results support the assumption that a H⁺-Cl^–symportsystem is present in barley root cells Hordeum vulgare L., barley, excised roots, ion transport, proton-chloride symport     

H+ Efflux and Trans-Root Potential Measured while Increasing the Temperature of Solutions Bathing Excised Roots of Zea mays

Kennedy, C. D. and Gonsalves, F. A. N. 1988. H⁺ efflux and trans-rootpotential measured while increasing the temperature of solutionsbathing excised roots of Zea mays.—J. exp. Bot. 39: 37–49. Novel temperature-ramp procedures have been used to measureH⁺ efflux and trans-root potential of excised roots of Zea mays(var. Fronica). Two types of experiment were performed: (1),increasing temperature from 17°C, and (2), pre-cooling theroots to 1°C before starting the temperature ramp. The ratesof increase of temperature for H⁺ efflux and trans-root potentialexperiments were 0·5 and 2·1°C min^–1respectively The H⁺ scans revealed strong sharp maxima at 30°C and 32°C,for non-pre-cooled and pre-cooled roots respectively, the latterbeing significantly smaller. The trans-root potential scansfor the pre-cooled roots showed a corresponding maximum at 30°C,which was inhibited by KCN (1-0 mmol dm^–3) with or withoutSHAM (10 mmol dm^–3), or Hg²⁺ (1, 10, 100 µmol dm^–3)in the bathing solutions. Some of the evidence suggests thatthese maxima are associated with electrogenic H⁺ pumping, mediatedby a plasma membrane-bound ATPase. However, no correspondingmaximum was observed in the trans-root potential scans for non-pre-cooledroots, the potential remaining at about — 75 m V from20°C to 35°C. As there is a 7-fold increase in H⁺ effluxbetween 20°C and 30°C, the relationship between netH+ efflux and electrogenic proton pumping in these roots isby no means clear. Some possibilities are considered here. Pre-cooled and non-pre-cooled roots show clear maxima in thetrans-root potential scans at about 46°C, at which temperaturethere is a slight net H⁺ influx. This, and other less prominentfeatures observed, are briefly discussed. Key words: H⁺ efflux, trans-root potential, temperature-ramp procedure, Zea mays, roots