EFFECT OF VARIOUS ANIONS ON THE TRANSPORT OF STRONTIUM WITHIN PLANTS

With a view to finding a means of reducing contamination offoods by radiostrontium, the inhibiting effects of various anionson the transport of strontium in plants are investigated. Pea and bean plants were pretreated with silicate, phosphateand nitrate ions, and the distribution of strontium in variousparts of the plants was examined.

1. In the case of pretreatment with silicate or phosphate ions,strontium absorption by the plant was decreased even if theseanions were absent in the culture solution at the time of applicationof ⁸⁹Sr.
2. The absorption of strontium by the plants pretreatedwith nitrateions was similar to that of the controls.
3. Strontiumabsorbed by the plants pretreated with silicate orphosphatewas found to be accumulated in the roots and its quantitytransportedto the aboveground parts was remarkably small; especiallyinthe case of application of silicate, no measurable amountofstrontium was transported to the upper parts of the plant.
4. Inthe control and nitrate-pretreated plants, strontium absorbedin the roots was readily transported to the aboveground parts.

(Received March 15, 1965; )