This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Web of Science (69) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Yan, F. Articles by Mengel, K. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Yan, F. Articles by Mengel, K. Agricola Articles by Yan, F. Articles by Mengel, K.

Environmental and Stress Physiology

Effect of Low Root Medium pH on Net Proton Release, Root Respiration, and Root Growth of Corn (Zea mays L.) and Broad Bean (Vicia faba L.) ¹

Institute of Plant Nutrition, Justus Liebig University, Suedanlage 6, D-6300 Giessen, Germany

The effect of low pH on net H⁺ release and root growth of corn (Zea mays L.) and broad bean (Vicia faba L.) seedlings was investigated in short-term experiments at constant pH. Broad bean was more sensitive to low pH than corn: the critical values (pH values below which net H⁺ release and root growth ceased) were pH 4.00 (broad bean) and pH 3.50 (corn) at 1 millimolar Ca²⁺. Both proton release and root growth were progressively inhibited as the medium pH declined. Additional Ca²⁺ in the root medium helped to overcome the limitations of low pH for net H⁺ release and root growth. Potassium (for corn) and abscisic acid (for broad bean) increased both net H⁺ release and root growth rate at the critical pH value. It is concluded that poor root growth at low pH is caused by a lack of net H⁺ release that may decrease cytoplasmic pH values. Inhibited net H⁺ release at high external H⁺ activity is not due to a shortage of energy supply to the H⁺ ATPase. Instead, a displacement of Ca²⁺ by H⁺ at the external side of the plasmalemma may enhance reentry of H⁺ into root cells.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Y. Sawaki, S. Iuchi, Y. Kobayashi, Y. Kobayashi, T. Ikka, N. Sakurai, M. Fujita, K. Shinozaki, D. Shibata, M. Kobayashi, et al. STOP1 Regulates Multiple Genes That Protect Arabidopsis from Proton and Aluminum Toxicities Plant Physiology, May 1, 2009; 150(1): 281 - 294. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Yamashita, T. Mimura, and K.-i. Shimazaki Evidence for Nucleotide-Dependent Passive H+ Transport Protein in the Plasma Membrane of Barley Roots Plant Cell Physiol., January 15, 2003; 44(1): 55 - 61. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Brix, K. Dyhr-Jensen, and B. Lorenzen Root-zone acidity and nitrogen source affects Typha latifolia L. growth and uptake kinetics of ammonium and nitrate J. Exp. Bot., December 1, 2002; 53(379): 2441 - 2450. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. R. Facanha and A. L. Okorokova-Facanha Inhibition of Phosphate Uptake in Corn Roots by Aluminum-Fluoride Complexes Plant Physiology, August 1, 2002; 129(4): 1763 - 1772. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. S. Kidd and J. Proctor Effects of aluminium on the growth and mineral composition of Betula pendula Roth J. Exp. Bot., June 1, 2000; 51(347): 1057 - 1066. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. H. Nielsen and J. K. Schjoerring Regulation of Apoplastic NH4+ Concentration in Leaves of Oilseed Rape Plant Physiology, December 1, 1998; 118(4): 1361 - 1368. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				T. B. Kinraide Three Mechanisms for the Calcium Alleviation of Mineral Toxicities Plant Physiology, October 1, 1998; 118(2): 513 - 520. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				F. Yan, R. Feuerle, S. Schäffer, H. Fortmeier, and S. Schubert Adaptation of Active Proton Pumping and Plasmalemma ATPase Activity of Corn Roots to Low Root Medium pH Plant Physiology, May 1, 1998; 117(1): 311 - 319. [Abstract] [Full Text]