Changes in Membrane Lipids of Roots Associated with Changes in Permeability

Abstract
Previous work has shown that undissociated forms of organic acids, such as formic, acetic, and propionic acids, increase the permeability of barley roots to ions. The work here was undertaken to test whether these undissociated acids affect the lipids from the root membranes in such a way as to account for the permeability increase. Relative amounts of the principal fatty acids from barley root membranes were measured as a function of organic acid concentration, pH, and time of treatment of barley roots under conditions similar to those of the previous studies.