Root-Shoot Interactions: Functional Equilibria for Nutrient Uptake in Peach (Prunuspersica L. Batsch.)

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Peach seedlings were grown in aerated nutrient solution in small (15 cm 3 ) or large (500 cm 3 ) containers. Subsequently, some plants were transferred from the small containers to the large, or were stressed by root pruning. Half the plants received a foliar spray of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) every 4 days. Analysis of all the results enabled correlations between growth and nutrient uptake to be made. These relationships supported the hypothesis that for nutrient uptake a functional equilibrium existed between the root and the shoot systems. Data for individual nutrients showed that treatment with BAP altered the functional equilibrium for some nutrients. In particular it was suggested that indirectly BAP depressed calcium uptake whereas potassium uptake was increased.