title: Interactions of rubidium, sodium, and potassium on the nutrition of sugar beet plants.
abstract: The effect of Rb on the growth and the development of sugar beet plants (Beta vulgaris, var. MS NB1 x NB4) depends on the Rb concentration, the K supply, and the relative abundance of Na. Rubidium added either to a low or high K solution with or without added Na increased leaf blade size greatly, possibly through an effect on phytohormones or through a "partitioning effect" on the distribution of carbohydrates, with top growth favored over storage roots.Sodium increased the growth of sugar beet plants when they were either K-deficient or adequately supplied with K. Sodium or Rb added to a high K solution increased the sucrose percentage and total sucrose of the storage roots significantly. Sodium and Rb supplied simultaneously to the nutrient solution resulted in synergetic effects only at low K supply.Potassium was translocated in mature leaves from the petiole to the blade when Na was added to a low K solution, or when Rb was added either to a low or a high K solution. Rb + K had little to no effect on Na redistribution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Soils and Plant Nutrition, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: El-Sheikh
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ulrich