204
SHORT COMMUN.CALION
Tatl: |, Comparative uptake of different radwenuclides by vean plants. Duration of treatment in labelled
nutraad solution 2 15 ays
Uptake
Radionuclide
mri
NOR
atop);
alep,
Sr
Lis.d. (p= 0-05)
Concentration factor Transport
Roo
index
% uf added
Shoots
Roots
Shoots
0-09
9-61
0-29
0-06
8-77
2:06
76:35
36-98
90-64
68-01
2-80
20-05
0-91
84-60
2-69
0-58
83-14
5-83
4185
1787
4246
3324
142
1217
0-12
20-62
0-32
0-09
75-82
—_
Radionuclide content/g plant tissue
*Concentration factors --— -- —-—— - -~-
Radionuclide content/ml nutrient solution.
t Transport index = Shoot
conter content| A
Total plant content
times greater. Further, the amount of radium
translocated to shoots is comparable to that of
strontium.
likely to be influenced by various factors which
transfer of ***Ra to shoots suggests that among
Acknowoledgement—The autbors are grateful to Dr.
The present evidence of relatively rapid
the nuclides examined here ™*Ra is likely to
make the major contribution to radioactivity
in aerial tissues of plants grown under condi-
tions where root absorption is the principal
route ofentry ofthe nuclides. In situations where
plant organs are subject to considerable atmospheric washout of “Rn daughter products,
however, higher concentrations of ™*Ph and
°Po than "*Ra may be obtained.
It has been reported by Marneorp ef al.,(%
Ersensup ¢f af. and Mistry ot al.that the
contribution of radium isotopes to the alpha
activity found in the stem, leaves and fruits of
plants growing in the uranium and thorium
tich
high
background radiation areas far
exceeds that of thorium isotopes. The present
findings from nutrient culture experiments are
compatible with the above reports.
When plants are grown in soil containing
uranium series nuclides theie accumulation in
roots is considerably lower than that in roots of
plants grown in labelled nutrient solution as a
result of the great affinity of these nuclides for
exchangesites on the soil.@.**19 Furthermore,
comparative uptake of the nuctides from soil is
control their availability in the soil. In future we
plan to examine the uptake of these radionuclides by plans from contrasting soil types.
A. R. Gopat-Avznaar for his encouragement and
interest.
“
Biology Division
Bhabha Atomic Research Contre
T. J. D’Souza
K. B. Misray
Trombay, Bombay, India
REFERENCES
1. D'Souza T. J. and Mrsray K. B. (1966) Prelininary studies on the absorption and translocation of *#*Po and ***Pb by plants. Pree. All India
Symp. Radioactis. Maetrel. Ratieand. Bombay,
381-40.
2. Emansup M., Pernzow H., Dusw R. T., Rosen
F. X., Keozt G. and Curren T. L. (1963)
Naturally occurring radionuclides in foods and
waters from the Brazilian aress of high radio-
activity, pp. 854-854. fe J. A. S. Apass and
W. M. Lowner (Eds.), The netwal radiation
ervironment. University ofChicago Prem, Chicago.
3. Giuree K. B. and Murray K. B. (1970) The effect
of chelating agents on the absorption of radigen
by plants, Plant ead Sel 32 (in prea).