Sterol content and efficiency of ion uptake by roots of maize genotypes

Abstract

Data of compartmental analysis of sulphate were compared with the sterol content of roots of differently yielding maize genotypes. In conditions of steady state nutrient supply, sterol content was significantly correlated only with sulphate efflux (ϕco). This increased at increasing concentration of sterols in the roots. Influx to cytoplasm (ϕoc) was evaluated after sulphate deprivation leading to an induced rate of sulphate uptake. This was negatively correlated with sterol content, which was lower in the high than in the low yielding genotypes. When the highest yield genotype was grown at different sulphate concentrations, influx, efflux, root content of sulphate and sterols were positively correlated with the concentration of sulphate in the nutrient medium. Sterol content in roots appears to be controlled by both the genetic settlement and the nutritional status in maize. Low sterol content is connected with a high efficiency of sulphate utilization.