A Method For Determining the Carbon Dioxide Production of Sterile and Nonsterile Root Systems

NUMEROUS investigations have demonstrated the presence of an abundant microflora on or at the surface of normal plant roots growing in the soil (6). These studies have been concerned mainly with the effect of plants upon the microorganisms and their activity while relatively few have dealt with effects of the microorganisms upon the plant. The fact that the latter phase of the problem has not received greater attention is probably due to the relatively difficult techniques involved in the growing of plants with controlled microbiological conditions about the roots.