Root-Shoot Interactions: Functional Equilibria for Nutrient Uptake in Peach (Prunuspersica L. Batsch.)

Peach seedlings were grown in aerated nutrient solution in small(15 cm³) or large (500 cm³) containers. Subsequently, some plantswere transferred from the small containers to the large, orwere stressed by root pruning. Half the plants received a foliarspray of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) every 4 days. Analysis of all the results enabled correlations between growthand nutrient uptake to be made. These relationships supportedthe hypothesis that for nutrient uptake a functional equilibriumexisted between the root and the shoot systems. Data for individual nutrients showed that treatment with BAPaltered the functional equilibrium for some nutrients. In particularit was suggested that indirectly BAP depressed calcium uptakewhereas potassium uptake was increased. Prunus persica, peach, growth, nutrient uptake, root-shoot interactions