Abstract
The effect of ammonia uptake by one organ on the uptake of that nutrient by another organ was determined for the seagrass Zostera marina L. under laboratory conditions. Leafy shoots with roots attached were incubated in two-compartment chambers, with the roots in one compartment and the leaves in the other. Rates of ammonia uptake were compared when roots and leaves were supplied with ammonia separately and simultaneously. Root uptake of ammonia had no influence on the rate of ammonia uptake by leaves. However, leaf uptake of ammonia caused a 77% decrease in the maximum rate of ammonia uptake by roots. The Ks values for ammonia uptake by leaves and roots were 9.2 and 104 μM respectively, showing that leaves had a greater affinity for ammonia than roots.
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Communicated by S. K. Pierce, College Park
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Thursby, G.B., Harlin, M.M. Leaf-root interaction in the uptake of ammonia by Zostera marina . Marine Biology 72, 109–112 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00396910
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00396910