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Articles

Differential Uptake of Mercury Vapor by Gramineous C₃ and C₄ Plants ¹

Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Environmental Health Sciences Center, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331

The uptake of mercury vapor by six gramineous plant species was compared under uniform conditions using a whole-plant chamber and ²⁰³Hg-labeled mercury at a low atmospheric concentration. Mean Hg uptake by leaves of the C₃ species oats (Avena sativa), barley (Hordeum vulgare), and wheat (Triticum aestivum) was 5 times greater than that by leaves of the C₄ species corn (Zea mays), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), and crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis). Although there was a difference in resistances associated with vapor entry into the leaves, as shown by estimates of gas exchange, the differential uptake by C₃ and C₄ species was largely attributable to internal resistances to Hg vapor binding. The nature of the internal resistances and the site or sites of Hg vapor binding remain unspecified.

¹ Supported by United States Environmental Protection Agency Grant No. R-803948. Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station Technical Paper No. 6786.