• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.182-188
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• 1994

Similar to the $^{42}K$ uptake, $^{86}Rb$ uptake by the roots of Hordeum distichum grown in the hydroponic culture was negatively correlated with the concentration of K supplied previously, showing that $^{86}Rb$ can be used for the K-bioassay. $^{86}Rb$ having longer half life (18.86 day) than $^{42}K$ (12.36 hr) allowed the use of larger number of root samples. $^{86}Rb$ uptake of 3 years old Citrus unshiu Marc. grown in water culture decreased drastically with the increase of K concentration of the culture solution, thus demonstrating that the nutrition status of K for citrus trees can be diagnosed by K-bioassay using $^{86}Rb$ tracer. $^{86}Rb$ uptake by the excised roots of Hordeum distichum grown in the pot with different K fertilizations was well correlated with the exchangeable K in soil. The amount of exchangeable K in soil for the optimal plant growth can be determined by its relationship. $^{42}K$ and $^{86}Rb-uptake$ by the Hordeum distichum roots were markedly inhibited by $5{\times}10^{-3}\; M$ KCN in the bioassay solution, indicating that uptake is energy-dependent. There was no significant relationship between K content in citrus leaves and K concentration in the water-culture medium. It is concluded that K-bioassay is a potentially useful tool for determining of K requirement in citrus trees.