Root-uptake of (14)C derived from acetic acid and (14)C transfer to rice edible parts.

Three types of culture experiments using paddy rice (Oryza sativa L.) were performed to examine root-uptake of (14)C in the form of acetic acid: double pot experiment (hydroponics), wet culture experiment (submerged sand medium), and chamber experiment (hydroponics and submerged sand medium). The (14)C radioactivity in the plant, mediums, and atmospheric carbon dioxide ((14)CO(2)) in the chamber were determined, and the distribution of (14)C in the plant was visualized using autoradiography. In the double pot experiment, the shoot of the plant and the lower root which was soaked in the culture solution had (14)C radioactivity, but the upper root which did not have contact with the solution had none. There were also (14)C radioactivity in the grains and roots in the wet culture experiment. Results of the chamber experiment showed that (14)CO(2) gas was released from the culture solution in both types of cultures. Results indicated that the (14)C-acetic acid absorbed by rice plant through its root would be very small. Most of the (14)C-acetic acid was transformed into gaseous forms either in the culture solution or rhizosphere. A relatively longer time would be needed to assimilate (14)C derived from acetic acid to grain parts after it was once absorbed by the shoot through the root. Availability of (14)C for the plant in sand culture was considered to be decreased compared with that for the plant in the hydroponics experiment. It was suggested that rice plant absorbed and assimilated (14)C through the plant roots not because of uptake of (14)C-acetic acid but because of uptake of (14)C in gaseous forms such as (14)CO(2).