The Kinetics of Potassium Accumulation by Corn Roots as a Function of Cell Maturity.

Abstract

The kinetics of K accumulation by serial sections from corn root tips have been investigated. The kinetic constants, Km and Vm, change with growth and maturation, and the nature and extent of the change is conditioned by the presence or absence of Ca ion. The velocity of K accumulation per unit protein N is least in the meristematic region. It is deduced that K is accumulated by a complex of carriers operating independently or sequentially, and that elements of the complex are changed during growth and maturation.