Influence of Foliar Leaching on Root Uptake and Translocation of Calcium-45 to the Stems and Foliage of Phaseolus vulgaris

Abstract

Young bean plants were placed in Ca45-labeled nutrient solution and were immediately leached with an atomized distilled water mist for up to 96 hours. Other bean plants in the Ca45-labeled solution were grown without leaching in 4 different environments. The rate of root uptake and translocation of Ca45 to the stems and foliage (including Ca45 in leachates) was greater per g dry weight in plants which were leached than in plants which were not leached. This was true whether the leached plants grew (dry wt.) faster than, slower than, or the same as the nonleached plants. Foliar leaching reduced the dry weight accumulation of stems and foliage, but not of roots. Thirty to 40% of the recently root-absorbed Ca was leached during a 4-day leaching period.