Effects of Atmospheric Desiccation on the Subsequent Absorption of Nitrate and Phosphate and the Exudate of Detopped Tomato Root Systems

Removal of detopped tomato root systems from water for 1 hr caused a reduction in the subsequent absorption of phosphate when they were placed in nutrient solution. The treatment did not change the phosphate content or volume of the exudate. These data are compared with results usually obtained using plants or root systems in dry soil or in solutions of high osmolarity.