The Effect of Metabolism on the Transport of 15O-labelled Oxygen through Vicia Faba Roots

Summary The transport of oxygen through continuous gas spaces in the root of the seedling of Vicia faba was investigated, using coincidence-counting of labelled nitrogen-oxygen gas mixtures containing 19 per cent and 0·4 per cent oxygen. The observations indicate that, in diffusing to the elongating zone and the radiosensitive root meristem, a little oxygen is lost to the tissue. This loss occurs in the region of the cotyledon and hypocotyl.