S. Schubert et F. Yan, Changes in net proton release by roots of intact maize plants after local nutrient supply in a split root system, J PLANT NU, 162(6), 1999, pp. 577-582
Citations number
30
Categorie Soggetti
Environment/Ecology
Journal title
JOURNAL OF PLANT NUTRITION AND SOIL SCIENCE-ZEITSCHRIFT FUR PFLANZENERNAHRUNG UND BODENKUNDE
The effect of local nutrient supply to maize roots (Zen mays L. cv. Blizzar
d) on net proton release was studied using the split root technique (SRNS,
SRCa) to compare plants that were cultivated with their roots completely in
either nutrient solution (NS) or 0.1 mM CaSO4 (Ca). Roots in NS released m
ore protons than roots in Ca. This higher net proton release was associated
with significantly higher ATP concentrations in the root tissue. Higher ne
t proton release and ATP concentrations were also observed after a 4 h lag
phase when 20 mu M abscisic acid were exogenously applied to roots in 0.1 m
M CaSO4. It is suggested that higher metabolic activity in roots supplied w
ith nutrients increased ATP concentrations and thus the substrate supply of
the plasma membrane H+ ATPase. When only half of the root system was suppl
ied with nutrient solution with the other half bathed in 0.1 mM CaSO4, the
roots in the SRNS compartment released significantly higher amounts of prot
ons relative to the NS control plants. Conversely, roots in the SRCa compar
tment showed net proton uptake in contrast to the roots of control plants i
n 0.1 mM CaSO4 which significantly acidified the root medium. These differe
nces in proton release by roots in the split root system and control roots
could not be explained in terms of differences in ATP concentrations. It is
therefore suggested that an internal signal may lead to a modification of
the plasma membrane H+ ATPase as :shown earlier during plant adaptation to
low pH in the root medium.