Concentration Dependent Uptake of Copper by Barley Roots

The time course of the uptake of copper by excised barley roots ( Hordeum distichum L.) after 24 h shows other characteristics than after 2 h. A further investigation of the concentration dependent uptake of copper by intact roots and kinetic analysis demonstrates a biphasic pattern for 2 h uptake periods, and possibly monophasic behaviour for uptake periods of 20 min and 24 h. Plasmolysis data of cortex cells of barley roots indicate that concentrations above 80 μM Cu are unphysiological with regard to longer uptake periods.