• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.279-284
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• 2008

We investigated whether carboxylate exudation of Brassica pekinensis Rupr. was affected by nitrate deposition from simulated acid rain. A gas chromatographic (GC) analysis was employed for the determination of low molecular weight organic acids (LOA) in rhizosphere soils, bulk soil, roots and leaves of Brassica pekinensis Rupr.. Rhizosphere soils were collected after 8 weeks of plant growth by first removing the bulk soil from the root system and then by mechanical move off the rhizosphere soil that adhered to the root surface with soft brush. Soil and plant materials were simultaneously extracted with the mixture of methanol and sulfuric acid (100:7, v/v). Seven organic acids, oxalic, malonic, fumaric, succinic, maleic, L-malic and citric acid were identified and quantified by GC equipped with FID. Oxalic, L-malic, and citric acids were found in both the bulk and rhizosphere soils, while most LOAs were not detected in the control treatment. On the contrary, except maleic acid, all other organic acids were detected in the leaves and roots of cabbages treated with nitrate deposition.