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Absorption and Translocation of Chromium through the Surface of a Soybean Leaf¹

Although Cr is known to be important in animal metabolism, it does not readily translocate through the roots of most plants. The addition of Cr to plant leaves as a spray material is a possible method of increasing the Cr content of plants. The objective of this laboratory study was to determine if Cr would be absorbed by a plant leaf and translocated to other portions of the plant. A single drop containing radioactive ⁵¹Cr or ⁵⁹Fe (for comparison) as ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) was placed over the mid-rib of one leaf on a soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] plant. Absorption and translocation of the tagged Cr or Fe were followed by radioautographs while plants were growing and by counting separated plant parts at the end of the experiment. Both ⁵¹Cr and ⁵⁹Fe were absorbed through the surface of the soybean leaves and translocated throughout the plant, but only small amounts were translocated (4% of absorbed Cr). The absorption and translocation of Cr closely paralleled that of Fe. The results show that soybean plants will absorb Cr through their leaves and translocate it to other portions of the plant but the rate for these processes is relatively slow.

Key Words: Glycine max (L.) Merr. • ⁵¹Cr • ⁵⁹Fe • Cr absorption and translocation

² Former NSF High School Honors science student and professor, respectively, Crop and Soil Sci. Dep., Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, M1 48824. The Senior author wishes to acknowledge the NSF scholarship for the High School Honors Science Program under which this work was accomplished.

Received for publication July 20, 1979.