Robert A. Steinberg 377 



for potassium deficiency in the pineapple are shown in Table XII (4/, 

 42). Here again will be seen a relative increase in amino acids and 

 reducing sugars in all parts of the plants supplied with nitrate nitrogen 

 or with ammonium nitrogen. Protein has increased in the leaves but 

 diminished in the stems. It may be noted here that the assumption 



TABLE XII 



Effect of Potassium Deficiency on the Protein and Carbohydrate Content 



of the Pineapple* 



*Computed from data of Sideris and Young (41, 42) 

 fSugars plus starch 



that potassium deficiency owes its action to a "locking" of nitrate (//) 

 is not borne out by the appearance of potassium deficiency symptoms 

 in the absence of nitrate nitrogen. 



Definite gradients in ratios may be noted in the pineapple plant that 

 has a potassium deficiency. The values for young and old leaves tend to 

 show a lesser increase in nitrogen and carbohydrate constituents. Amino 

 acids and carbohydrates decrease from the apex to the base of the stem. 



