• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.298-303
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• 2010

In this work, the effects of $Cs^+$ on root growth of 2-day-old maize seedlings were scrutinized. CsCl (5 mM - 30 mM) decreased the fresh weight of the primary root and of the shoot above the coleoptilar node. The elongation growth of the primary root was also inhibited by CsCl. The CsCl-inhibited growth was partially restored by 60 mM KCl. Lineweaver-Burk plot of the reaction in the presence and absence of 60 mM KCl displayed competitive interaction of CsCl (at higher than 10 mM). However, the Reversal of the inhibition by 60 mM KCl did not follow the competitive relationship with 5 mM CsCl, indicating the presence of differential mechanisms of $K^+$ influence depending on the concentration of CsCl. The differential effects of CsCl dependent on the concentrations were also observed in the CsCl-evoked radial expansion of the subapical region of the root. In spite of the decrease in length of the root, shrinkage of the root apical meristem was not observed. CsCl above 10 mM induced the expression of ZmKUP1, indicating functional deficiency of $K^+$ due to competition with Cs. However, the expression of ZmKUP1 by 5 mM CsCl was unclear. Conclusively, exogenously applied $Cs^+$ decreased root elongation and fresh weight and caused radial expansion of the subapical region of the primary root in 2-day-old maize seedlings by complex mechanisms including competitive and noncompetitive interactions with $K^+$. Because the shrinkage of the root apical meristem was not observed, it is concluded that the effects of CsCl on maize root growth was mainly related to cell expansion.