DISTRIBUTION AND INTRACELLULAR-LOCALIZATION OF TITANIUM IN PLANTS AFTER TITANIUM TREATMENT

The physiological role of titanium in plants has not been elucidated y et, but a higher rate of growth, greater chlorophyll content and highe r productivity, among others, may be attributed to this element. We ha ve investigated the distribution of titanium in wheat seedlings after Titavit (a Ti-ascorbate containing plant conditioner) treatment applie d either through the leaf or through the root. In field experiments, w e also sprayed spinach plants with Titavit. We have found a practicall y unidirectional translocation of Ti from the shoot into the root, and a preferential localization of Ti in the nuclear cell fraction as see n by ICP-AES (inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry) . Electron microscopic X-ray microanalysis after chemical fixation sho wed little or no accumulation of Ti in the cells of the treated organs . However, if there was an appreciable X-ray emission at 4.5 keV (Ti), it was recorded from the nucleoplasm and nucleolus. The comparison of ICP-AES and X-ray analyses leads us to the conclusion that the majori ty of Ti may be in a diffusible form in the treated cells, except the nuclei, where Ti may be bound firmly.