EFFECTS OF P DEFICIENCY ON THE UPTAKE, FLOWS AND UTILIZATION OF C, N AND H2O WITHIN INTACT PLANTS OF RICINUS-COMMUNIS L

The influence of P deficiency on the uptake, flow and utilization of C , N and H2O by intact NO3-fed castor bean plants (Ricinus communis L.) was studied over a 9 d period in the middle of their vegetative growt h. The modelling techniques incorporated data on net increments or los ses of C, N and H2O in plant parts, photosynthetic gains in and respir atory losses of C, molar C:N ratios of solutes in phloem and xylem sap and transpirational losses of H2O. Plant growth was inhibited within 3 d of withholding P supply and dry matter production was less than on e-third of the controls. Leaf growth was particularly depressed, while root growth was much less affected than that of the shoot. Shoot:root ratio of low-P plants was 1.5 compared with 2.6 under P supply. Over the 9 d study period total plant C and N increased by 560 and 47 mmol, respectively, in the controls, but by only 113 and 6.9 mmol in the lo w-P treatment. The particularly low increment of N in P-deficient plan ts was due principally to decreased NO3- uptake. Flows of C and N duri ng the study period were markedly different between control and P-defi cient plants. The partitioning profile for C in P-deficient plants sho wed a dramatic inhibition of net photosynthesis and attendant photoass imilate flow. Proportional downward to upward allocation of carbon inc reased with increase in sink size of the root relative to shoot. This was reflected in greater relative allocation of C to root dry matter a nd root respiration than in P-sufficient plants, and suppressed cyclin g of C from root to shoot via xylem. Nitrogen intake and xylem transpo rt to the shoot of P-deficient plants were only 15% of the control and , as in the case of C, downward allocation of N predominated over upwa rd phloem translocation. Apart from these severe changes, however, the basic patterns of N flows including xylem-to-phloem and xylem-to-xyle m transfer of N were not changed, a feature highlighting the vital nat ure of these transfer processes even under deficiency conditions. The alterations in flows and partitioning of C, N and H2O in response to l ow-P conditions are discussed in relation to the corresponding effects of moderate salt stress in Ricinus and the conclusion is reached that changes in nutrient flows under P deficiency were more highly co-ordi nated than when plants experience salt stress. Flow profiles under P d eficiency which favour root growth and activity are viewed as a means for increasing the potential capability of the plant to acquire P from the nutrient medium.