Vanadium Uptake by Plants: Absorption Kinetics and the Effects of pH, Metabolic Inhibitors, and Other Anions and Cations.

The kinetics of vanadium absorption by excised barley (Hordeum vulgare L., cv. Eire) roots were investigated with respect to ionic species of V in solution, time and concentration dependence, Ca sensitivity, and interaction with various anions, cations, and pH levels. The role of metabolism in V absorption was also studied using anaerobic treatment (N(2) gas) and chemical inhibitors (NaN(3), KCN, or 2,4-dinitrophenol). Approximately one-third of the labeled V initially taken up by excised roots was desorbed to a constant level after 45 min in unlabeled V solutions. The rate of absorption of labeled V from 5 mum NH(4)VO(3) solutions containing 0.5 mm CaSO(4) was constant for at least 3 hours. Omission of Ca resulted in a 72% reduction in V uptake when compared to controls with 0.5 mm CaSO(4). The rate of uptake of V was highest at pH 4 but dropped to a very low level at pH 10. It was relatively constant between the pH levels of 5 and 8 at which the VO(3) (-) ion is the predominant ionic species in solution. The rate of absorption of V was followed as a function of concentrations from 0.5 to 100 mum NH(4)VO(3). It was found to be a linear function of concentration and did not follow saturation kinetics. Absorption experiments carried out with labeled V from either N(a)VO(3) or NH(4)VO(3) sources gave similar results. No anion studied (i.e. HPO(4) (2-), HAsO(4) (2-), MoO(4) (2-), SeO(4) (2-), SeO(3) (2-), CrO(4) (2-), BO(3) (3-), No(3) (-), and Cl(-)) interfered appreciably (i.e. less than 30% inhibition) with the absorption of labeled V. Anaerobic treatment of absorption solution with N(2) gas did not inhibit V absorption by excised roots. The results obtained using chemical inhibitors were not consistent. It was concluded that V is not actively absorbed by excised barley roots.