Mineral Uptake Article Index for
Mineral
Website Links For
Mineral
 

Information About

Mineral Uptake




Mineral Nutrient Concentration in roots may be 10,000 times more than in surrounding soil.
During transport throughout a plant, minerals can exit (NO3), Phosphate (HPO4) and Potassium Ions (K+); all have difficulty crossing a charged Plasma Membrane .

It has long been known plants expend Energy to actively take up and concentrate mineral ions. Proton pump hydrolyzes ATP to transport H+ ions out of cell; this sets up an electrochemical gradient that causes positive ions to flow into cells.
Negative ions are carried across the plasma membrane in conjunction with H+ ions as H+ ions diffuse down their concentration gradient.


REFERENCES

  • [http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/R/Roots.html Roots and Mineral Uptake (2005)]



SEE ALSO