Radial Oxygen Loss from Roots: The Theoretical Basis for the Manipulation of Flux Data Obtained by the Cylindrical Platinum Electrode Technique

Abstract

Abstract A résumé is given of the cylindrical platinum electrode technique for measuring the rate of oxygen release from the submerged roots of intact plants. Methods are then described for manipulating the oxygen flux data to quantify the following root characteristics: total effective internal diffusional resistance, non‐metabolic (pore‐space) resistance, internal apical oxygen concentration, effective diffusion coefficient of internal transport and fractional porosity, and the respiratory contribution to internal transport. The diffusional resistance of the root wall is discussed and the method formerly suggested for converting low temperature flux data to the appropriate room temperature values (Armstrong 1971) is revised. Finally, suggestions are made for overcoming the difficulties encountered in using flux data for comparative work if the roots differ in their apical radii.