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An Anomaly in Potassium Accumulation by Barley Roots

I. Effect of Anions, Sodium Concentration, and Length of Absorption Period ¹

^a Department of Agronomy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506

Excised barley roots accumulated 40 to 50% more K⁺ from 0.04 mM than from 0.06 mM KCl when incubated for 24 hours in KCl solutions containing 0.2 mM CaSO₄. This phenomenon was not markedly influenced by the rate of absorption of the counteranion. The presence of Na⁺ in the treatment solutions decreased total K accumulation but did not alter the K⁺ concentration at which the accumulation peak occurred. Short interval studies indicated that this phenomenon is easily observable after 4 hours and begins to become apparent within 2 hours. In comparison with barley, accumulation of K⁺ by excised wheat roots decreased as KCl concentration was increased from 0.02 to 0.06 mM; but K⁺ accumulation curve for corn roots showed no peaks or depressions in the concentration range of 0.01 to 0.1 mM. A normal hyperbolic curve was noted for the accumulation of Na⁺ from 0.01 to 1 mM NaCl by barley roots.