EFFECTS OF FLUORIDE AND ACIDITY ON EARLY PLANT-GROWTH

Interactions between acidity and fluoride on early growth of Lolium pe renne (cultivar S23) and Triticum aestivum (cultivar 'Perinarth') were assessed by simple solution culture and pot experiments. Culture solu tion experiments demonstrated a synergistic interaction between acidit y and fluoride. It is suggested that this occurred because fluoride is in non-ionic form at low pH, hence more readily taken up by cell memb ranes. Pot trials showed a significant effect of fluoride in two artif icial soil mixtures, but no effect of simulated acid rain or any inter action. This probably reflected the buffering and fluoride fixation ca pacities of the soils used.