Abstract
For in vivo demonstration of acid phosphatase activity in the rhizosphere of soil-grown plants filter papers were treated with a mixture of 1-naphthyl phosphate as substrate and the diazonium salt Fast Red TR as an indicator. After enzymatic hydrolysis, 1-naphthol forms a red complex with Fast Red TR. This method was applied to 8-day old maize plants and 3-year old Norway spruce plants growing in rhizoboxes in soil under non-sterile conditions. The treated filter paper is placed at the surface of roots and soil and acid phosphatase activity is visualized as a red-coloured ‘root print’ on the filter paper. The method can be used as a qualitative analysis of acid phosphatase in the rhizosphere. It also allows a rough estimate of phosphatase activity in different root zones.
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Dinkelaker, B., Marschner, H. In vivo demonstration of acid phosphatase activity in the rhizosphere of soil-grown plants. Plant Soil 144, 199–205 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00012876
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00012876