TRIPHENYLTETRAZOLIUM CHLORIDE AS AN INDICATOR OF FINE-ROOT VITALITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL-STRESS IN CONIFEROUS FOREST STANDS - APPLICATIONS ANDLIMITATIONS

Citation
A. Clemenssonlindell, TRIPHENYLTETRAZOLIUM CHLORIDE AS AN INDICATOR OF FINE-ROOT VITALITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL-STRESS IN CONIFEROUS FOREST STANDS - APPLICATIONS ANDLIMITATIONS, Plant and soil, 159(2), 1994, pp. 297-300
Citations number
12
Categorie Soggetti
Agriculture Soil Science","Plant Sciences",Agriculture
Journal title
ISSN journal
0032079X
Volume
159
Issue
2
Year of publication
1994
Pages
297 - 300
Database
ISI
SICI code
0032-079X(1994)159:2<297:TCAAIO>2.0.ZU;2-X
Abstract
The present study is an attempt to investigate whether triphenyltetraz olium chloride (TTC), a chemical compound which measures dehydrogenase activity, could be used to study fine-root vitality from two differen t points of view: (i) in relation to ageing; (ii) as an indicator of e nvironmental stress, in this case of excess nitrogen. The study was pe rformed with excavated fine-roots from middle-aged Norway spruce and S cots pine stands. The ageing aspect was investigated by applying TTC t o fine roots separated into different vitality classes, based on certa in morphological characteristics. A significant difference in activity was demonstrated only in the case of roots that could be referred to as living and dead, respectively. The use of TTC on fine roots grown a t different nitrogen supply levels indicates a possible increase in de hydrogenase activity with increasing nitrogen supply.