Aluminium Distribution in Freeze-Dried Roots of Cabbage, Lettuce and Kikuyu Grass by Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Analysis

Abstract

The aluminium distribution in transverse sections of fractured and freeze-dried roots of cabbage, lettuce and kikuyu grass was studied by energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. The mean ratios of the integrated counts corresponding to Kα emission spectra for aluminium, phosphorus and silicon were recorded between aluminium and control treatments over three experiments. Peak-to-back- ground ratios (PA/B) were calculated and the aluminium ratios corrected for variations in the corresponding total silicon ratios.

Aluminium was found to be uniformly distributed along roots of the three species. The highest peaks (PA) and peak-to-background ratios, suggesting higher concentrations, were recorded in the epidermis followed by the cortex. Aluminium was recorded in the stele of all species and in the protoplasm of cortical cells, with smaller amounts in the protoplasm of xylem parenchyma cells for lettuce and kikuyu grass.

The distribution of aluminium supports the hypothesis that its entry to the stele can be achieved by transport both into meristematic cells and the symplasm via the cortex and hence bypassing the barrier at the endodermis. The latter evidence was supported by the presence of aluminium in the radial wall (and cytoplasm) of the endodermis for each species. There was a poor correlation between the distribution of aluminium and phosphorus.