The Influence of Nitrate and Chloride Uptake on Expressed Sap pH, Organic Acid Synthesis, and Potassium Accumulation in Higher Plants

Abstract

The influence of NO(3) (-) uptake and reduction on ionic balance in barley seedlings (Hordeum vulgare, cv. Compana) was studied. KNO(3) and KCl treatment solutions were used for comparison of cation and anion uptake. The rate of Cl(-) uptake was more rapid than the rate of NO(3) (-) uptake during the first 2 to 4 hours of treatment. There was an acceleration in rate of NO(3) (-) uptake after 4 hours resulting in a sustained rate of NO(3) (-) uptake which exceeded the rate of Cl(-) uptake. The initial (2 to 4 hours) rate of K(+) uptake appeared to be independent of the rate of anion uptake. After 4 hours the rate of K(+) uptake was greater with the KNO(3) treatment than with the KCl treatment, and the solution pH, cell sap pH, and organic acid levels with KNO(3) increased, relative to those with the KCl treatment. When absorption experiments were conducted in darkness, K(+) uptake from KNO(3) did not exceed K(+) uptake from KCl. We suggest that the greater uptake and accumulation of K(+) in NO(3) (-)-treated plants resulted from (a) a more rapid, sustained uptake and transport of NO(3) (-) providing a mobile counteranion for K(+) transport, and (b) the synthesis of organic acids in response to NO(3) (-) reduction increasing the capacity for K(+) accumulation by providing a source of nondiffusible organic anions.