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MUCILAGES AT THE ROOT SURFACE
Author(s) -
OADES J. M.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
journal of soil science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.244
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2389
pISSN - 0022-4588
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2389.1978.tb02025.x
Subject(s) - mucilage , polysaccharide , botany , chemistry , plant roots , biology , biochemistry
Summary The mucilaginous material, which forms a layer several microns thick around plant roots, contains a glucan, a polyuronide, and heterogeneous polysaccharides. An assessment is given of the effects of the mucilage on ion and water uptake by plants, on soil chemical and physical properties including aggregation, and as an energy source for microorganisms. It is concluded that these effects are important but that more chemical and physical studies of plant mucilage are required.