Summary
The relationship between the fluorescent intensity of individual soybeanGlycine max (L.) Merr.} roots or root segments and their nutrient absorption capacity or elongation rate was investigated. Data are reported for the short-term (30 sec) absorption of rubidium, phosphate, and iron by roots of soybean plants which had been cultured in a soil solution system. Results indicate that the rates of absorption of Fe, was directly related to the fluorescent intensity, with the most rapid absorption per unit of root length or surface area occuring in regions of most intense fluorescence. Elongation rate was positively correlated to the intensity of root fluorescence. These relationships should be useful for estimating root elongation rates in soil systems and for evaluating the distribution of growth rates and nutrient absorption activities within a crop root system.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ambler J E, Brown J C and Gausch H G 1971 Sites of iron reduction in soybean plants. Agron. J. 63, 95–97.
Bowen G D and Rovira A D 1967 Phosphate uptake along attached and excised wheat roots measured by an automatic scanning method. Aust. J. Biol. Sci. 20, 369–378.
Brown D A and Noggle J C 1955 Ion exchange in soil-plant root environment: I. Measurement of suites of cations at various stages of nutrient uptake. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Proc. 19, 131–134.
Brown J C and Ambler J E 1973 “Reductants” released by roots of Fe-deficient soybeans. Agron. J. 65, 311–314.
Brown J C and Ambler J E 1974 Iron-stress response in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) 1. Sites of Fe reduction, absorption, and transport. Physiol. Plant. 31, 221–224.
Brown J C, Holmes R S and Tiffin L O 1961 Iron chlorosis in soybeans as related to the genotype of rootstalk: 3. chlorosis susceptibility and reductive capacity at, the root. Soil Sci. 91, 127–132.
Camp C R Jr and Lund Z F 1968 Effect of mechanical impedance on cotton root growth. Trans. Am. Soc. Agr. Engin. 11, 188–190.
Canning R E and Kramer P J 1958 Salt absorption and accumulation in various regions of roots. Am. J. Bot. 45, 378–382.
Clarkson D T and Sanderson J 1978 Sites of absorption and translocation of iron in barley roots. Tracer and microautoradiographic studies. Plant Physiol. 61, 731–736.
Clarkson D T, Sanderson J and Russell R S 1968 Ion uptake and root age. Nature, London 220, 805–806.
Fay P K and Duke W B 1977 An assessment of allelopathic potential in Avena germ plasm. Weed Sci. 25, 224–228.
Fehr W R and Giese J H 1971 Genetic control of root fluorescence in soybeans. Agron. J. 11, 771.
Goodwin R H and Kavanaugh F 1948 Fluorescing substances in roots. Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 75, 1–17.
Goodwin R H and Kavanaugh F 1949 The isolation of scopoletin, a blue-fluorescing compound from oat roots. Bull. Torrey Bot. Club. 76, 255–265.
Kramer P J and Wiebe H H 1952 Longitudinal gradients of P32 absorption in roots. Plant Physiol. 27, 661–764.
Mirreh H F and Ketcheson J W 1973 Influence of soil water matric potential and resistance to penetration on corn root elongation. Can. J. Soil Sci. 53, 383–388.
Overstreet R and Jackson L 1946 The absorption of rubidium and phosphate ions at extremely small concentrations as revealed by experiments with Rb86 and P32 prepared without inert carrier. Am. J. Bot. 33, 107–112.
Russell R S and Sanderson J 1967 Nutrient uptake by different parts of the intact roots of plants. J. Exp. Bot. 18, 491–508.
Sanders J L and Brown D A 1978 A new fiber-optic technique for measuring root growth of soybeans under field conditions. Agron. J. 70, 1073–1076.
Shapovalov A A 1970 The application of spectrofluorometry to the investigation of plant root excretions. Physiol. Biochem. Cultiv. Plants 2 135–137.
Shapovalov A A 1971 Effect of increased temperature on kinetics of fluorescent component exudation from soybean and oat roots. Soviet Plant Physiol. 18, 135–138.
Taylor H M and Gardner H R 1963 Penetration of cotton seedling taproots as influenced by bulk density, moisture content, and strength of soil. Soil Sci. 96, 153–156.
Taylor H M and Ratliff L F 1969 Root elongation rates of cotton and peanuts as a function of soil strength and soil water content. Soil Sci. 108, 113–119.
Taylor H M, Roberson G M and Parker J J Jr 1966 Soil strength-root penetration relations for medium-to coarse-textured soil materials. Soil Sci. 102, 18–22.
Taylor H M, Roberson G M and Parker J J Jr 1967 Cotton seedling taproot elongation as affected by soil strength changes induced by slurrying and water extraction. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Proc. 31, 700–704.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dyer, D., Brown, D.A. Relationship of fluorescent intensity to ion uptake and elongation rates of soybean roots. Plant Soil 72, 127–134 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02185102
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02185102