In-situ determination of the P-relations around the primary root of maize with respect to inorganic and phytate-P

Autoradiographs of soil slices mapping the distribution of phytate-derived³³P around the primary root of 6-day-old maize seedlings were used to investigate the uptake of phytate by the root. Analysis of the autoradiographs with a laser densitometer and processing of the data with image analysing software resulted in a resolution of 40 μm. The effect of³³P-crossfire was corrected by analysis of the apparent³³P-gradient around a phosphate-impermeable teflon tube that was inserted into the labeled soil as a standard. In spite of the high resolution achieved, a significant depletion zone could not be detected when the soil was equilibrated with³³P-phytate. However, with³³P-inorganic phosphate, 2 concentric zones were obvious. Within the inner zone, P was accumulated by about 20%, while in the outer zone a corresponding depletion of P could be detected. The accumulation zone coincided with the extension of the root hair cylinder, whereas the depleted area was clearly beyond the range of the root hairs.