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. 1974 May;53(5):723–727. doi: 10.1104/pp.53.5.723

Cation Penetration through Isolated Leaf Cuticles 1

James C McFarlane a, Wade L Berry b
PMCID: PMC541433  PMID: 16658777

Abstract

The rates of penetration of various cations through isolated apricot Prunus armeniaca L. leaf cuticles were determined. Steady state rates were measured by using a specially constructed flow-through diffusion cell. The penetration rates of the monovalent cations in group IA followed a normal lyotropic series, i.e., CS+ ≥ Rb+ > K+ > Na+ > Li+. The divalent cations all penetrated through the cuticle more slowly than the monovalent cations. Comparison of the relative values of k (permeability coefficient) and D (diffusion coefficient) indicates that the penetration of ions through isolated cuticles took place by diffusion and was impeded by charge interactions between the solute and charge sites in the penetration pathway. Cuticular penetration rates of K+ and H2O at pH above 9 were of similar magnitude. At pH 5.5 H2O penetration was not affected but that of K+ was greatly reduced. From this observation and from data on cuticle titration and ion adsorption studies, we hypothesize that cuticular pores are lined with a substance (perhaps a protein) which has exposed positively charged sites.

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Selected References

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

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