INFLUENCE OF CHLORIDE ON THE UPTAKE AND TRANSLOCATION OF PHOSPHORUS IN POTATO

Both chloride (Cl) and sulphate (SO4) were found to impair the uptake of phosphorus (H2PO4)-P-32 through the roots of potato in a hydroponically conducted experiment. Radioactive phosphorus (P-32) was used as the marker. The presence of either Cl and SO4 alone in the nutrient solution made no difference on the impairment Both ions also inhibited the long-distance transport of P from roots to shoots. The inhibition by Cl was much greater than that by SO4, and increased with the concentration of Cl rising from 0 to 15.5 mM in solution.