Comparative studies on the active transport by excised roots of inbred and hybrid maize

Abstract

SUMMARYThe characteristics of ion active transport by excised roots of hybrid and inbred maize were evaluated in short-term uptake experiments with 35S-labelled sulphate. Hybrids showed a higher transport rate per unit of both dry matter and protein, in comparison with inbred lines.Vmax and Km were quite different for inbreds and hybrids, demonstrating an effect of crossing on the characteristics of the transport system. An effect on the transport system was also shown by better adaptation of the hybrids to low temperatures: the hybrid to inbred transport-rate ratio increased with the temperature decrease.