VARIATION IN THE DIFFERENTIAL LEAF ABSORPTION OF A HIGH-MOLECULAR-WEIGHT PHOSPHATE BY PLANTS OF DIFFERING CYTOPLASMS OF THREE CORN (ZEA MAYS) INBREDS
The absorption of foliarly applied tripolyphosphate is significantly greater in two different cytoplasmically male-sterile lines (Tcms and Ccms) of Zea mays L. than in isolines having normal (N) cytoplasm. A third cytoplasmic male-sterile (Scms) does not differ from the normal isoline in its absorption of foliarly applied tripolyphosphate. In none of the three comparisons of each of the cytoplasmic male-sterile lines and its normal isoline is there a difference in orthophosphate absorption, nor do any of the lines show a difference in the translocation of either source of phosphorus (P) inside the plant 10 days after application. The differential uptake of the large molecular P compound is not a property of all cytoplasmic male steriles, indicating that all cytoplasmic male steriles, do not have similar membrane permeability properties. Differences were found in the rate of absorption among lines for foliarly applied phosphates.