Functional equilibrium: sense or nonsense?

DM distribution in shoots and roots of vegetative plants depending on various environmental conditions and experimental interventions is discussed. Because of the difficulties in maintaining conditions at a sufficiently constant level for some time, functional equilibria are not likely to exist during prolonged periods of time. From the responses occurring after transferring plants including perennial ryegrass and maize from one condition to another or after disturbance of existing relationships, it is demonstrated once more that nutritional control, i.e. functional control, of distribution is still the most reasonable interpretation of the observed reaction patterns. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)