Excretion products of maize roots from seedling to seed development stage

Abstract

Excretion products of maize roots (Zea mays cv. Koshu) were estimated. All excreted products were the highest by fresh weight basis at the young seedling stage. In amino acids excreted, glutamic acid accounting for 60% of the total was the highest and followed by alanine. These two amino acids showed the diverse fluctuation according to the growing age, that is, glutamic acid increased while alanine decreased. Stachyose was a main soluble sugar excepting the stage prior to the heading. At this stages, glucose and fructose together with stachyose were observed. Lactic acid was the most dominant organic acid through whole growing stages. These excreted materials could be positive factors for the growth ofSpirillum lipoferum which can fix nitrogen non-symbiotically at the rhizosphere of maize.