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. 1990 Jun;93(2):578–583. doi: 10.1104/pp.93.2.578

X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy Surface Analysis of Aluminum Ion Stress in Barley Roots

Merle M Millard 1,2, Charles D Foy 1,2, Carol A Coradetti 1,2, Michael D Reinsel 1,2
PMCID: PMC1062553  PMID: 16667506

Abstract

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) has been used to analyze root surface changes when Dayton barley (Hordeum vulgare) (Al tolerant) and Kearney barley (Al sensitive) seedlings were grown in nutrient solution in the presence and absence of 37.0 micromolar Al. The electron spectra from root surfaces contained strong lines in order of decreasing intensity from organic forms of carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen and weak lines due to inorganic elements in the form of anions and cations on the surface. The surface composition of root tips from Kearney was C, 65.6%; 0, 26.8%; N, 4.4% and tips from Dayton was C, 72.7%; O, 23.6%; N, 1.9%, grown in the absence of aluminum. Electron lines characteristic of nitrate, potassium, chloride, phosphate were also present in the spectra from those roots. Dayton roots grown in the presence of 37.0 micromolar aluminum contained 2.1% aluminum while Kearney contained 1.3% aluminum. The ratio of aluminum to phosphate was close to 1.0. Dayton roots usually contained twice as much aluminum phosphate in the surface region as Kearney. Dayton may be less susceptible to Al toxic effects by accumulation of aluminum phosphate on the root surface which then acts as a barrier to the transport of aluminum into the interior of the roots.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Millard M. M., Bartholomew J. C. Surface studies of mammalian cells grown in culture by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Anal Chem. 1977 Aug;49(9):1290–1296. doi: 10.1021/ac50017a004. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

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