ENERGETIC ASPECT OF RADIAL WATER TRANSPORT ACROSS THE BEAN ROOT (PHASEOLUS-VULGARIS L)

This paper investigates a bean root (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) approximated to the one-membrane system. For the root of this plant treated in this way are given in Fiscus paper from 1986 the numerical values of the coefficients of filtration (L(p)BAR), reflection (sigmaBAR), and permeation (omegaBAR). The thermodynamic formalism of Kedem and Katchalsky (1958) and die method of quantitative analysis of osmotic - diffusive conversion of free energy (Kargol 1990) were applied. A number of energetic properties of the bean root were analyzed in relation to water transport through the radial duct and xylem rise (up to a certain height) on the basis of osmotically generated root pressure. The main achievement of this work (interesting from the physiological point of view) is the observation that the energetic efficiency of root connected with water transport ought not to depend on concentration C(o) of the medium solution in which this root is. This property refers to concentrations C(o) from the interval: 0<C(o)<11 [mole m-3].