Summary
The uptake of14C labelled polymaleic acid (PMA) by tomato and wheat plants cultured under axenic conditions was estimated during 48 d growth for tomato and 17 d for wheat seedlings. The concentrations of PMA, calculated from14C data, reached values of over 1 mg g−1 FW for root tissue and over 0.2 mg g−1 FW for shoots. Freeze-dried roots were shown to take up a substantial amount of PMA over short periods demonstrating a major non-metabolic adsorption. PMA was adsorbed by carboxymethyl cellulose, used as a model system for plant roots, in amounts comparable with freeze-dried roots. The adsorptive capacity of carboxymethyl cellulose was increased by treatment with solutions of metal ions. Especially effective in this respect were Cu, Fe and Al. It is suggested that at least two mechanisms are involved in the adsorption of PMA by polysaccharides and by plant roots. One, possibly hydrogen bonding, being independent of the presence of metal ions and another depending on the presence of multivalent cations.
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Linehan, D.J. The uptake by plants of polymaleic acid: A polycarboxylic acid structurally related to those of soils. Plant Soil 50, 625–632 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02107214
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02107214