Plant Root Environment Research Articles

The Effect of Plant Root Environment on the Activity of Dolichos biflorus Lectin

The Effect of Plant Root Environment on the Activity of Dolichos biflorus Lectin

The Significance of the Suspension Effect in the Uptake of Cations by Plants from Soil‐Water Systems

AbstractThe significance of the suspension effect (greater cation concentration or activity in the soil suspension than in the equilibrium dialyzate) in determining the uptake of cations by plant roots was evaluated by comparing the rate of uptake of Rb+ and Ca++ by excised roots of barley and mung beans from a suspension of clay or cation‐exchange resin with that from the corresponding equilibrium dialyzate. Although the cation concentration of the clay or resin suspension greatly exceeded that of the corresponding equilibrium dialyzate, the rate of uptake of Rb+ or Ca++ by the roots was found to be exactly the same from both the suspension and its equilibrium dialyzate.The results of this study are at variance with the prediction of the contact‐exchange theory but are in agreement with the deductions based on theoretical considerations of the consequences of the root surface or volume charge distribution. The significant conclusion that may be drawn, however, is that the composition of the soil solution or the equilibrium dialyzate should completely characterize the ionic environment of plant roots in soil‐water systems.

Absorption and translocation of mammalian viruses by plants: I. Survival of mouse encephalomyelitis and poliomyelitis viruses in soil and plant root environment

Abstract The rates of degradation at 30° of strains FA and GD VII mouse encephalomyelitis viruses and of types 1 (Mahoney) and 2 (YSK) polioviruses in liquid and sand suspensions and in soil were determined. Mouse encephalomyelitis virus, strain FA, survived 3–4 weeks in sterile or nonsterile soil; virus in sterile or nonsterile liquid suspension survived for from 7 to 12 days. Soil pH influenced survival of GD VII virus which persisted for 3–4 weeks in alkaline soil, at least 5 weeks in neutral soil, but could not be recovered from acid soil after incubation for 24 hours. Type 1 poliovirus was recoverable from sterlle soil for 6–7 weeks, and from nonsterile soil for 2–3 weeks. Soil and soil clays adsorbed and held firmly large quantities of poliovirus. In the environment of roots of tomato plants cultivated hydroponically: (a) types 1 and 2 polioviruses were inactivated at similar rates, and (b) type 1 virus from cell culture was inactivated more rapidly than virus in monkey brain suspension. Monkey brain type 1 virus was inactivated more rapidly in the environment of pea roots than in that of tomato roots.

Studies on the Complementary Ion Effects between Magnesium and Other Cations in the Ionic Environment of Plant Roots (Part 3) : On the Adsorption of Cations by Barley Roots

Studies on the Complementary Ion Effects between Magnesium and Other Cations in the Ionic Environment of Plant Roots (Part 3) : On the Adsorption of Cations by Barley Roots

Studies on Complementary Ion Effects between Magnesium and Other Cations in Ionic Environment of Plant Roots (Part 2) : On the Adsorption of Cations by Excised Barley Roots

Studies on Complementary Ion Effects between Magnesium and Other Cations in Ionic Environment of Plant Roots (Part 2) : On the Adsorption of Cations by Excised Barley Roots

Studies on the Complementary Ion Effects between Mg and Other Cations in the Ionic Environment of Plant Roots. (Part 1) : Release of Exchangeable Mg, K and Ca from Clays

Studies on the Complementary Ion Effects between Mg and Other Cations in the Ionic Environment of Plant Roots. (Part 1) : Release of Exchangeable Mg, K and Ca from Clays