Some Observations with a New Potometer on the Absorption of Water by Young Barley Plants

Abstract

A potometer, working on a syphon principle, is described for use with single, small plants where it is undesirable to flood the stem base. It has been shown that anoxia has very little effect on the water absorption of roots of intact barley plants, apart from an initial inhibition of short duration. The action of i X io-5 M dinitrophenol (pH 6-o) is similar. Neither treatment kills the roots. It is possible that permeability is maintained by fermentation reactions.