Summary
Sites of phosphate uptake, translocation and loss along sterile roots of 5-day-old wheat seedlings were obtained using an automatic scanning method. Highest uptake occurred in the apical centimetre of the primary root and in the lateral root zone although appreciable uptake occurred along the whole of the root. 68% of absorbed phosphate was translocated from the apex, 84% from the midroot portion and 87% from the lateral root zone after 24 hr. Profuse production of lateral roots is seen as important in phosphate uptake and translocation.
Losses of absorbed phosphate from root to solution were small and the patterns of such losses along the root corresponded with the patterns of uptake by the root. Patterns of net flux of phosphate along the root are likely to be identical with those for influx. Patterns of phosphate loss along the root are in marked contrast to those reported for chloride efflux and loss of organic materials.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barber, D. A., Loughman, B. C.: The effect of micro-organisms on the absorption of inorganic nutrients by intact plants II. Uptake and utilization of phosphate by barley plants grown under sterile and non-sterile conditions. J. exp. Bot. 18, 170–176 (1967).
Bowen, G. D.: Chloride efflux along Pinus radiata roots. Nature (Lond.) 218, 686–687 (1968).
—: The uptake of orthophosphate and its incorporation into organic phosphates along roots of Pinus radiata. Aust. J. Biol. Sci. 22, 1125–1136 (1969).
—, Rovira, A. D.: Microbial factor in short-term phosphate uptake studies with plants roots. Nature (Lond.) 211, 665–666 (1966).
——: Phosphate uptake along attached and excised wheat roots measured by an automatic scanning method. Aust. J. Biol. Sci. 20, 369–378 (1967).
——: New techniques to study nutrient relations in plants. Atomic Energy in Australia 12, 2–7 (1969).
Crosset, R. N., Loughman, B. C.: The absorption and translocation of phosphorus by seedlings of Hordeum vulgare (L). New Phytologist 65, 459–468 (1966).
Hoagland, D. R., Arnon, D. I. The water culture method for growing plants without soil. Univ. Calif. Agr. Exp. St. Circ. No 347 (1938, revised 1950).
Rovira, A. D.: Diffusion of carbon compounds away from wheat roots. Aust. J. Biol. Sci. 22, 1287–1290 (1969).
—, Bowen, G. D.: Anion uptake by plant roots: Distribution of anions and effects of micro-organisms. (Trans. 9th Inter. Congr. Soil Sci. Adelaide. 2, 209–217 (1968a).
——: Anion uptake by the apical region of seminal wheat roots. Nature (Lond.) 218, 685–686 (1968b).
Russell, R. S., Sanderson, J.: Nutrient uptake by different parts of the intact roots of plants. J. exp. Bot. 18, 491–508 (1967).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rovira, A.D., Bowen, G.D. Translocation and loss of phosphate along roots of wheat seedlings. Planta 93, 15–25 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00387648
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00387648