NUTRIENT STATUS EFFECTS ON LOSS OF AMIDES AND AMINO ACIDS FROM PINE ROOTS

Loss of amides and amino acids from pine roots was two and a half times greater from roots grown in phosphate-deficient nutrient solution than from those grown in complete nutrient solution and ten times greater than from plants grown in nitrogen-deficient solution. The major factor in increased loss from phosphate-deficient plants was an increase in free amides and amino acids in these plants. Increased amide and amino acid loss from phosphate-deficient plants may have important consequences in micro-organism-plant interactions. © 1969 Martinus Nijhoff.