The absorption characteristics and mechanisms of pertechnetate (TcO47) uptake by hydroponically grown soybean seedlings (Glycinemax cv Williams) were determined. Absorption from 10 micromolar solutioDs was linear for at least 6 hours, with 30% of the absorbed TcO47 being transferred to the shoot. Evaluation of concentration-dependent absorption rates from solutions containing 0.02 to 10 micromolar Technetium-99 is currently projected to be one of the most important isotopes associated with the nuclear fuel cycle based on potential long-term dose to man. This is based on a number of criteria including fission yield (6%), long half-life (2.13 x l0 year), mobility and persistence in soils as the pertechnetate ion (TcO4-), and its comparatively high availability for plant absorption (11,19 for radiation-induced damage and suggested an interaction or substitution of Tc for an essential nutrient. Pertechnetate has been shown to be toxic to a number of algae and bacteria, and interfere with both respiration and photosynthesis (9) at concentrations in excess of 1 mm. The potential interaction of Tc with nutrient ion metabolism is supported by uptake inhibition studies which showed 9Tc4O uptake to be reduced by the presence of sulfate, selenate, phosphate, and molybdate (6).The purpose ofthe present study is to evaluate the parameters associated with TcO4-absorption by plant roots, and the kinetics of its interaction with essential nutrient elements and nonnutrient elements with chemical similarities.MATERIALS AND METHODS Plant Culture. Seeds of Glycine max cv Williams were germinated on moist filter paper and individual seedlings transferred to 600-ml beakers containing 500 ml ofaerated nutrient solution 3 d following germination. The nutrient solution contained 150 mg of KCI, 120 mg of MgSO4, 946 mg of Ca(N03)2 4H20, 68 mg of KH2PO4, 0.06 mg of ZnSO4.7H20, 0.69 mg of H3BO3, 0.017 mg of CuC12-2H20, 0.024 mg of Na2MoO4-2H20, 0.022 mg of MnCl2-4H20, and 0.60 mg of Fe+3 (as Fe EDDHA) per liter. The pH was adjusted to 6.8 with KOH and solutions changed three times a week. Plants were maintained in controlled-environment chambers with a 16-h light cycle (-500 ME m-2 s ', PAR, at leaf surface), a day/night temperature cycle of 26/22C, and 50% RH.Technetium Uptake. Evaluation of the absorption behavior of Tc was performed using 10-to 12-d-old plants. Prior to use, plants were transferred from nutrient solutions to 0.5 mM CaCl2 solutions (pH 6.8) for 12 h to allow for desorption of possible interfering ions from root surfaces. Individual plants were transferred to aerated solutions containing 500 ml 0.5 mm CaC12 (MCB, suprapure) and various concentrations of NH49Tc04. Following the absorption period, which was 2 h except as noted, plants were transferred to either complete nutrient solution or 0.5 mM CaC12 solutions containing 10 mm KH2PO4 or K2S04. Ions were desorbed from roots using three changes of solution for a total of 20 min.The influence of H+ concentration on Tc absorption and transfer from root to shoot was d...