Sulfate metabolism. I. Sulfate uptake and redistribution of acid rain sulfate by edible plants

Journal Article · Mon Mar 23 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Life Sci.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0024-3205(87)90232-3· OSTI ID:6693161

Dallam, R D

Sulfur is the major component of polluted air in industrialized societies. Atmospheric sulfur is converted to sulfuric acid through a series of chemical reactions which can eventually reenter many ecosystems. When edible plants are grown in soils containing varying amounts of sulfate, the roots take up and transport inorganic sulfate to the stems and leaves. The sulfate taken up by the roots and the amount transported to the stem and leaves was found to be a function of the concentration of sulfate in the soil. Inorganic sulfate taken up by a corn plant seedling can be rapidly converted to organic sulfate by the root system. Nine days after one of a pair of pea plants was inoculated with artificial acid rain sulfate (dilute H/sub 2//sup 35/SO/sub 4/) it was found that the sulfate was translocated not only in the inoculated plant, but also to the uninoculated pea plant in the same container. Also, when the leaves of a mature potato plant were inoculated with artificial acid rain sulfate it was found that the sulfate was translocated into the edible potatoes. Fractionation of the potatoes showed that most of the sulfate was water soluble of which 30% was inorganic sulfate and 70% was in the form of organic sulfur. One third of the non-water soluble translocated acid rain sulfate was equally divided between lipid and non-lipid organic sulfur of the potato. 9 references, 2 figures, 5 tables.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Louisville, KY
• OSTI ID: 6693161
• Journal Information: Life Sci.; (United States), Journal Name: Life Sci.; (United States) Vol. 40:12; ISSN LIFSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550501 -- Metabolism-- Tracer Techniques
560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ABSORPTION
ACID RAIN
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
BACTERIA
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CEREALS
DATA
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DISTRIBUTION
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GRASS
INFORMATION
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
LEGUMINOSAE
LIGHT NUCLEI
MAIZE
MEMBRANE TRANSPORT
METABOLISM
MICROORGANISMS
NUCLEI
NUMERICAL DATA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PISUM
PLANTS
RADIOISOTOPES
RAIN
RHIZOBIUM
ROOT ABSORPTION
SOILS
SOLANUM
SOLANUM TUBEROSUM
SULFATES
SULFUR 35
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR ISOTOPES
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
TRACER TECHNIQUES
UPTAKE