CHAPTER 



O The Nature of the Process 

 of Inorganic Solute Ac- 

 cumulation in Roots 



T. C. BROYER 



T 



he economic aspect of this symposium, sponsored by the 

 University of Wisconsin, widely known for its agricultural research, and 

 by the National Fertilizer Association, is the seeking of information on 

 practices toward adequate production of plant material, for food, shel- 

 ter, etc., most reasonably under favorable conditions. The mineral nutri- 

 tion of plants is one phase of a larger field of interest, recognized by the 

 organizers of the symposium, viz., plant-soil interrelations. That part 

 dealing with the soil as a medium for plant growth, is covered in earlier 

 discussions. Similarly, certain parts of the mineral nutrition of plants — 

 for example, essential elements — are presented elsewhere. In addition 

 to information on physico-chemical relations in soil and on the quali- 

 tative and quantitative supply of materials therefrom, knowledge of the 

 various aspects of the role which roots play in crop production is im- 

 portant. In particular, therefore, this discussion will present some infor- 

 mation now available on the nature of the process of inorganic solute 

 accumulation as well as pose problems for future investigation.* 



*A detailed complete survey of the field is impossible in the limited space of 

 this treatise. Here, a number of important aspects are discussed using illustrative 

 material less frequently summarized [compare Hoagland (28)]. The work of 

 several investigators is infrequently and only briefly quoted, since it is anticipated 

 that other authors in this monograph will discuss directly or indirectly in more 

 detail from their own studies and those of their colleagues (e.g., Lundegardh). 

 Most data presented herein are restricted to observations on roots. However, many 

 important researches on absorption have been performed with other tissues. For 

 these the reader is referred, for example, to the literature by Arisz, Brooks, Oster- 

 hout, Robertson, Steward, Stiles, and their associates. 



