The ionic composition in the leaves of some glycophyte plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L., Lycopersicon esculentum L., and Amaranthus cruentus L.) was studied during leaf development. Plants were grown in a stationary hydroponic culture; a growth medium contained equimolar concentrations of inorganic ions (NO 3 - , Cl-, SO 4 2- , H2PO 4 - , K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, and Na+) equal to 5 mg-equiv./l for each ion. In the juvenile leaf, the main ions were K+ and water-soluble anions of organic acids represented mainly by di-and tricarboxylic acids in kidney bean and tomato and oxalic acid in amaranth. An increase in the total amount of organic anions, coinciding with the accumulation of bivalent cations, was registered in leaves of glycophytes during their development. Mature and senescing leaves of tomato and kidney bean accumulated mainly di-and tricarboxylic acid salts with the prevalence of Ca2+ ions. In amaranth leaves, the formation of water-insoluble (acid-soluble) oxalate pool containing Ca2+ ions (mature leaves) or Ca2+ and Mg 2+ ions (senescing leaves) was registered. The priority role of the metabolism of organic acids in the formation of the ionic composition of glycophyte leaves during their development is discussed. It is supposed that the species-specific ionic composition of glycophyte leaves at different developmental stages is due mainly to the pattern of carbon metabolism causing the accumulation either of di-and tricarboxylic acids or oxalic acid.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)336-342
Number of pages7
JournalRussian Journal of Plant Physiology
Volume54
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2007

    Scopus subject areas

  • Plant Science

    Research areas

  • Amaranthus cruentus, Development, Glycophytes, Ionic composition, Leaf, Lycopersicon esculentum, Organic acids, Phaseolus vulgaris

ID: 71609766