The nutrient uptake kinetics by new roots of 1-year-old potted clonal apple rootstocks (M7, M9, M26, M27, MM106, and MM111) were determined by the ion depletion technique at the stable development stage of trees in August. The total roots of five of the rootstocks (except MM111) consisted of more than 60% feeder roots and less than 12% extension roots. MM111, the most vigorous rootstocks tested, had 60.7% feeder roots and 24.5% extension roots. Root: top ratio was negatively related to the growth inhibiting character of the rootstock. Nutrient uptake by excised new roots was found to fit into Michaelis-Menton kinetic model for all rootstocks tested. The kinetic characteristics (maximum uptake rate, Imax, apparent Michaelis-Menton constant, Km, and root absorption power, (α = Imax•1/Km) between rootstocks differed significantly. MM111 had the highest Imax for NH4+ absorption and M9 for NO3-. Root affinity to ions was highest with MM106 for NH4+ and with M26 for NO3-. Root absorption power (α = Imax•1/Km) was greatest in MM106 for NH4+ and M9 for NO3-. At this developmental stage the data suggest no relationship between nutrient uptake and dwarfing character of the rootstocks.
Complementarity in root architecture for nutrient uptake in ancient maize/bean and maize/bean/squash polycultures
