Some Relationships Between the Production of Carbon Dioxide by Roots and Lime Tolerance of Fruit Trees and Grape Vine Hybrids

Abstract

The effect of lime on the respiratory activity of leaves and roots of fruit trees and grape vine hybrids was studied. Inverse relations were found between the CO2 output of roots and lime tolerance. Roots of lime-sensitive rootstocks respire more intensively than lime-tolerant roots. It is indicated that the respiration rate of the roots might serve as criteria for the selection of lime-tolerant rootstocks. It is postulated that chlorosis-inducing bicarbonate ions are produced by interaction between soil-carbonate and respiratory CO2 at the soil-root interface, thus relating the cause and in particular the degree of lime-induced chlorosis to the respiratory activity of the roots.