Abstract
The uptake by plants of trace elements from the soil depends to a large extent on root characteristics and activities. Differences between plant species and varieties in the uptake of trace elements are well known. Less understood, however, are the mechanisms governing these differences and the relative significance of various root parameters.
Spinach and bean varieties were, therefore, compared with respect to their root lengths and number of root apices, and to the uptake of Mn, Fe and Zn from soil-sand mixtures. The results showed significant differences among the varieties tested, both in root characteristics and in the uptake of trace elements. However, no relationships were evident between the trace element uptake by spinach varieties and their root characteristics. Contrary to this the Fe-uptake by bean varieies exhibited a clear dependence on the total number of root apices. The uptake of Mn and Zn showed a similar relationship with some exceptions. Whether the apical regions of individual roots are the most active sites of uptake or rather affect the solubility of trace elements will be the subject of further investigations.
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Helal, H.M., Arisha, H. & Rietz, E. The uptake of trace elements by spinach and bean varieties of different root parameters. Plant Soil 123, 229–232 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00011273
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00011273