PHYTIC ACID REPRESENTS 10 TO 15-PERCENT OF TOTAL PHOSPHORUS IN ALFALFA ROOT AND CROWN

Phytic acid, myo-inositol 1,2,3,4,5,6 hexakisphosphate, the major storage form of phosphorus (P) in seeds, comprises 60 to 90% of total seed P. Phytic acid has also been observed in other vegetative and reproductive tissue including roots although no studies to date have unequivocally demonstrated that phytic acid is indeed present in roots. Three methods (ferric precipitation, ion-exchange chromatography, and high voltage paper electrophoresis) were used to demonstrate that phytic acid is a P-containing compound within the root and crown tissue of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Phytic acid P was found to represent from 10 to 15% of total root and crown P.