Ion uptake and growth of wheat seedlings treated with nitrite at different pH values

Increasing concentrations of NaNO2 caused decreases in the uptake of K+, Na+ and SO4(2-) by wheat roots at pH 4. At pH 6 or 7, the detrimental effect was much less. The translocation of nutrients to the shoots was also impaired. The root growth was strongly inhibited by increasing NaNO2 concentrations, but the shoot development was little affected. At low pH, however, the inhibitory effect was much higher.