Uptake and translocation of zinc absorbed through roots and fruiting organs in peanuts

Peanut plants (Arachis hypogaea L.) are known to absorb Ca, P and S through the fruiting organs, but information on Zn uptake pattern is lacking. Therefore, a green-house experiment was conducted to study the uptake and translocation of Zn when applied in the rooting and fruiting zones of peanut plants. To locate the pathway and distribution of radioactive Zn, autoradiographs of plants were also taken.Zinc uptake data and autoradiographs indicated that a substantial amount of⁶⁵Zn was absorbed through the fruiting organs (auxillary system). Of the total⁶⁵Zn in the whole plant, 55.2 per cent was absorbed through roots and remaining 44.8 per cent through fruiting organs. Zinc was translocated to all the plant parts regardless of its absorption through roots or fruiting organs. The highest zinc concentration was recorded in the kernels, followed by leaves, stem and the shell.Contribution from the Department of Soils, Haryana Agric. Univ., Hissar-India.