Abstract
Proton concentration is a major factor in restricting life within definite boundaries. In general, life occurs in a neutral or slightly acidic environment, but fungi, bacteria, animals, and higher plants have nevertheless managed to conquer terrestrial and aqueous niches at extreme pH values. The pH extremes for cellular growth are around pH 1 and pH 11 (Souza et al. 1974; Langworthy 1978). Life therefore exists within the enormous H+ concentration range of 1010. During evolution, higher plants have adapted to the different soil conditions with which their root systems have been confronted. Acidophilic, neutrophilic, and acidophobic plant types have evolved. The pH of the soil water determines the availability of nutrients or heavy metals and thus also determines soil toxicity (Larcher 1980). Some important cultural plants tolerate only a very narrow soil pH range (e.g., Medicago sativa), whereas others are very tolerant (e.g., Secale cereale). The pH sensitivity of these plants seems to be either due to direct H+ effects on the roots, to mycorrhizal or rhizobial symbionts (Schubert 1987), or to indirect effects like the release of toxic heavy metals or aluminium from the ion-exchanging compounds in the soil solution (Ulrich 1981; Rehfuess 1981).
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Pfanz, H. (1995). Apoplastic and Symplastic Proton Concentrations and Their Significance for Metabolism. In: Schulze, ED., Caldwell, M.M. (eds) Ecophysiology of Photosynthesis. Springer Study Edition, vol 100. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-79354-7_5
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