Role of Ether Soluble Organic Acids in the Cationanion Balance in Plants

Abstract

IntroductionFactors that influence salt absorption by plants have long been a subject of study. Only recently, however,(3,4,7,8,11, 16,20,23), have the effects of certain metabolic processes in the plant been recognized as intimately connected with salt absorption and accumulation.The present investigation has been concerned with the cation-anion balance in several species of crop plants with special reference to the role of ether soluble organic acids. Prior to the work of PUCHER, VICKERY, and WAKEMAN (13, 14, 15), on the quantitative determination of organic acids in plant material, lack of accurate methods had seriously curtailed investigation along these lines. A study has been made of the selective capacity of the various species with respect to inorganic ions; of the quantity and kinds of organic acids in the different species grown in similar culture medium; and of the correlation between inorganic cations and ether soluble organic acids in the different species as a group.

THE INFLUENCE OF LIGHT, TEMPERATURE, AND SOME ENZYME POISONS UPON THE TOTAL ORGANIC ACID CONTENT OF LEAF TISSUE OF KALANCHOE DAIGREMONTIANA (HAMET AND PERRIER)

“…Similar responses have been observed by other workers with other plant materials (10,12,27,28,35). It is unlikely that the organic acid changes described above are the result solely of such a differential in ion accumulation from the nutrient solution since the same anions, e.g., azide and iodoacetate, can inhibit both the formation and breakdown of organic acids.…”

“…The results are summarized in table III. In bob* of these experiments the acid decrease, both due to temperature and tithe combined effect of light and essentially as described above, except that the first series of samples was removed from the 11°incubator after 16 hours and the second series of samples was removed after 28 hours. Samples from both series were infiltrated with M/1000 solutions of sodium pyrophosphate, sodium fluoride, or sodium azide, and were then illuminated in the water bath at 250 C. The shaker speed was about 120 strokes per minute.…”

Potassium Deficiency and Excess in Guayule. Ii. Cation-Anion Balance in the Leaves

“…A relationship between the total organic acids and the excess of cations over inorganic anions in tobacco leaves of different ages and base composition was shown by PUCHER, VICKERY, and WAKEMAN (22). PIERCE and APPLEMAN (21) grew several species of plants in the same nutrient medium and showed a general correlation between the excess of cations and the total organic acids. In these correlations, however, were ineluded both soluble and insoluble constituents, and variations in insoluble oxalate and calcium contributed much to the variations in the total bases and organic acids.…”

Organic Acids of the Cotton Plant

“…By this time the plants had started to flower and they were taken outdoors until used on May 20. All floral buds were removed during the May [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] period to increase the store of carbohydrates and thereby equip the plants and their leaves to withstand better the prolonged period of darkness.…”

“…It has been suggested than an organic acid may be an intermediary in the photosynthetic process and also that these acids may be of significance in the initiation of reproduction. In either such role it seems doubtful that any great part of a mass constituting 10 or 20 per cent. of the dry weight of the leaves could be very active.…”