GENERAL NATURE OF THE PROCESS OF SALT ACCUMULATION BY ROOTS WITH DESCRIPTION OF EXPERIMENTAL METHODS

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Abstract
A technique is described for the study of salt accumulation by excised barley roots. Under proper conditions K salts accumulate rapidly in the sap against concentration gradients. A number of variables must be carefully controlled or evaluated in expts. on salt accumulation by excised roots, particularly age of roots and proportion of actively metabolizing cells, initial salt content of roots, dependent on supply of nutrient salts provided during preliminary growth period, seasonal effects on development of root system, available carbohydrate, variability of material. Accumulation of salt is associated with active aerobic respiration of the roots. An adequate supply of O2 is indispensable for both cation and anion accumulation. Temp. coefficients were high, but evidence of this could be obtained only under exptl. conditions carefully chosen to eliminate certain complicating factors. Attention is directed to the importance of the results on salt accumulation by root cells relative to other problems such as root pressure, translocation of salts, and the general metabolism of root cells.