No abstract

Roots of rice (Oryza sativa L.) grown in stagnant de-oxygenated solution contain a 'tight' barrier to radial oxygen loss (ROL) in basal zones, whereas roots of plants grown in aerated solution do not. It is generally accepted that the barrier to ROL involves anatomical modifications in the apoplast of cell layers exterior to the aerenchyma. A possible drawback of this adaptation is a reduced capacity for nutrient uptake. Whether or not induction of a barrier to ROL influences the capacity of adventitious roots of rice to take up NO3– was determined in the present study, using NO3–-selective microelectrodes. When transferred into O2-free root medium, ROL from positions at 30–50 mm behind the tip of adventitious roots of plants raised in stagnant solution was only 4–6% of the rate from roots of plants raised in aerated solution, indicating the barrier to ROL was induced by growth in stagnant solution. For plants transferred into aerobic nutrient solution containing 0.1 mM NO3–, net NO3– uptake by these root zones, with or without a barrier to ROL, was the same. It is concluded that induction of a barrier to ROL had no effect on the capacity of adventitious roots of rice to take up NO3– from aerobic solution.

No abstract

Bmssica olemcea 1. was rather insensitive to atmospheric H2S growth was only negatively affected at 2 0 . 4~1 I-'. Shoots formed a sink for H2S and the uptake rate showed saturation kinetics with respect to the atmospheric concentration. The H, S uptake rate was high in comparison with other species, which may reflect the high sulfur need of Bmssica. The net uptake of sulfate by roots of hydroponically grown plants was substantially reduced after one week of exposure to 0.25 PI I-' H2S. indicating that plants switched in part from sulfate to H2S as sulfur source for plant growth. Plants were sulfur deficient after two weeks of sulfur deprivation, illustrated by reduced growth, which was more pronounced for shoots than for roots, and in enhanced shoot dry matter content. The latter could for the greater part be attributed to enhanced levels of soluble sugars and starch. Sulfur deficiency was further characterized by a low pigment content, extremely low levels of sulfate and water-soluble non-protein thiols. and by enhanced levels of nitrate and free amino acids. particularly in the shoots. Furthermore, sulfur deficient plants contained a lower total lipid content in shoots, whereas its content in roots was unaffected. The level of sulfolipids was decreased in both roots and shoots. When sulfur deprived plants were exposed to 0.25~1 I-' H2S for one week, all sulfur deficiency symptoms were abolished and growth was restored. Furthermore. plants were able to grow with 0 . 4~1 I-' H2S as the sole sulfur source. Water-soluble non-protein thiol content was enhanced in both shoots and roots of H2S exposed plants. irrespective of the sulfate supply to the roots, whereas plants grown with H2S as sole sulfur source contained very low sulfate levels. The interaction between atmospheric and pedospheric sulfur nutrition in plants is discussed.

Root growth and morphology were assessed weekly in hydroponically-grown seedlings of the halophyte Plantago maritima L. during exposure to 0, 50, 100 and 200 mm NaCl for 21 d. Relative growth rate was reduced by 25% at 200 mm NaCl. The lower NaCl treatments did not affect relative growth rates. Primary and lateral roots responded differently to NaCl. While primary-root length increased at all NaCl concentrations, total lateral-root length increased at 50 and was not affected at 100 mm but was considerably reduced at 200 mm NaCl. NaCl concentrations of 50 and 100 mm, which had no effect on relative growth rate or total lateral-root length, severely affected root branching pattern in that the number of first, second and third order laterals was reduced. At 200 mm NaCl third order laterals were not formed at all. However, mean lateral-root length was increased at all NaCl concentrations and was highest at 200 mm NaCl. We conclude that the increase in total lateral-root length in plants at 50 and 100 mm NaCl was mainly caused by increased length growth, while the decrease in total lateral-root length at 200 mm was the consequence of inhibition of lateral root primordia and / or the activation of apical meristems rather than reduced length growth.