Abstract
This study concerned the degree to which Na or Rb could substitute for K in the growth of sugar beet plants when K in the culture solution was low (1 meq/liter) or high (12 meq/liter).
Sodium at high concentrations increased the growth of plants in a basal nutrient medium when either deficient in K or when adequately supplied with K alone. Redistribution of K from petioles to blades could not fully explain these results. Therefore, the essentiality of Na per se for growth of sugar beet plants may be inferred.
Rubidium increased the growth of plants significantly when supplied in small doses to a nutrient medium deficient or adequately supplied with K. The amount of K added and the mode of Rb addition to solution cultures should be carefully considered when studying the effect of Rb on growth. High Rb concentrations were toxic, especially to the growth of fibrous roots.
Sodium or Rb have been shown to enhance the growth of sugar beet plants under either low or high K conditions. Essentiality of either Na and/or Rb per se for growth of sugar beets may be inferred, but other criteria should be fulfilled also for conclusive proof.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Brownell P. F. Sodium as an Essential Micronutrient Element for a Higher Plant (A triplex vesicaria). Plant Physiol. 1965 May;40(3):460–468. doi: 10.1104/pp.40.3.460. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Green A. L., Taylor C. B. Kinetics of (Na+ + K+)-stimulated ATPase of rabbit kidney microsomes. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1964;14:118–123. doi: 10.1016/0006-291x(64)90240-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hurd-Karrer A. M. ANTAGONISM OF CERTAIN ELEMENTS ESSENTIAL TO PLANTS TOWARD CHEMICALLY RELATED TOXIC ELEMENTS. Plant Physiol. 1939 Jan;14(1):9–29. doi: 10.1104/pp.14.1.9. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Jacobson L. MAINTENANCE OF IRON SUPPLY IN NUTRIENT SOLUTIONS BY A SINGLE ADDITION OF FERRIC POTASSIUM ETHYLENEDIAMINE TETRA-ACETATE. Plant Physiol. 1951 Apr;26(2):411–413. doi: 10.1104/pp.26.2.411. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Williams M. C. Effect of Sodium and Potassium Salts on Growth and Oxalate Content of Halogeton. Plant Physiol. 1960 Jul;35(4):500–505. doi: 10.1104/pp.35.4.500. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Woolley J. T. Sodium and Silicon as Nutrients for the Tomato Plant. Plant Physiol. 1957 Jul;32(4):317–321. doi: 10.1104/pp.32.4.317. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]