Four plant species (Zea mays, Lolium italicum, Phaseolus vulgaris, and Pisum sativum) were grown either with full nutrient supply or with calcium, potassium, or nitrogen deficiency. After 4–6 weeks the shoots were analysed for their content of K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, and Na+, of total anions, and of organic acids. The qualitative pattern of organic acid components, characteristic of each species, remained, with few exceptions, unchanged by deficiency treatments. Striking differences were detected in the total acid content and in the quantities of the respective main organic acid components, especially in potassium-deficient plants. These changes showed strong correlations with alterations of cation excess and demonstrate that aconitate in Zea mays, malonate in Phaseolus vulgaris, and citrate in Pisum sativum contribute to charge balance.
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Popp et al. (1981) studied this question.