The longevity and activity of the primary root of maize - Plant and Soil

The longevity of the main root cylinder and the laterals of the primary root of maize plants was determined under controlled greenhouse conditions by means of nuclear staining with acridine orange.

The cortex of the main root was found to be alive for the whole life-span of the plant, whereas the life-span of the root hairs was only 2 to 3 days as evidenced by electronmicroscopical examination of cell integrity. The onset of senescence of laterals was observed at the older part of the main root at the 6-leaf stage of the plant. Senescence of 1st and 2nd order laterals commenced near the root tip a few days after their protrusion and advanced towards the basal region of the root. In any root segment death of the cortex cells preceeded that of the stele. At the late grain filling stage all laterals along the main root exhibited advanced senescence, but stainable nuclei were seen in the root tissues of the basal part of 1^st order laterals (both cortex and stele) as well as of the 2^nd order laterals which emerged from that root segment.

The pattern of the dying of the root tissue is discussed with regard to the P-nutrition of the shoot system by the primary root.

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Authors and Affiliations

1. Department of Plant Physiology, University of Bayreuth, D-8580, Bayreuth, FRG

   A. Fusseder

Cite this article

Fusseder, A. The longevity and activity of the primary root of maize. Plant Soil 101, 257–265 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02370653

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• Received: 09 September 1986

• Revised: 15 November 1986

• Issue Date: September 1987

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02370653

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