Changes in specific area and energy of root surface of cereal plants in Al-solution cultures. Water vapor adsorption studies

Surface areas and energetic properties of the shooting stage roots of rye (Secale L.), triticale (Triticale), barley (Hordeum L.) and four wheat (Triticum L.) varieties were estimated from experimental water vapor adsorption data. Roots stressed during 10 days at pH 4 with aluminium concentrations ranging from 0 to 40 mg dm^–3 were studied. Roots grown continuously at pH 7 were taken as controls. The surface properties of the roots grown at pH 4 without Al addition were apparently the same as those of the control roots. With the increase of the concentration of the aluminium treatment the surface area of the roots increased for all of the plants, beginning at 5 mg Al dm^–3 for barley, at 10 mg Al dm^–3for wheat and triticale, and at 40 mg Al dm^–3 for rye. The average water vapor adsorption energy of the root surface decreased in general with the increase of Al stress concentration for all plants but triticale, for which this increased. The sensitive cereal varieties seem to have greater amount of high energy adsorption centers (more polar surface) than the resistant ones (lower surface polarity), however more data is needed to justify this hypothesis. For Al-sensitive roots, fraction of high energy adsorption sites decreased and fraction of low energy sites increased under the Al stress. Smaller changes in adsorption energy sites were noted for roots of Al-resistant plants.