Phosphorus uptake and active growth of Elodea canadensis Michx. and Elodea nuttallii (Planch.) St. John

Two related submerged freshwater macrophyte (Elodea nuttallii (Planch.) St. John and Elodea canadensis Michx.) were used in a combination of in-and outdoor experiments to compare growth rates and routes of phosphorus uptake, translocation and possible excretion. Elodea nuttalli had a higher growth rate than Elodea canadensis both in the field and under laboratory conditions. The uptake and translocation of phosphorus was studied using P-32 in a partitioned container. Roots and leaves were supplied with P-32 separately and simultaneously. Both macrophyte species were able to take up phosphorus both with leaves and roots. The uptake rate of P-32 by roots was higher in Elodea nuttallii when tracer was supplied to the root compartment only. Leaf uptake was stimulated by the supply of phosphate to both compartments, and the uptake was faster and reached a higher level than when the tracer was injected to the leaf compartment only. The P-32 uptake by either roots or leaves was translocated. Shoot-to-root translocation predominated over the reverse. There was no significant difference between both species in root uptake rates, but leaf uptake was significantly higher in Elodea canadensis. The two studied Elodea species do not have a strong preferential source of phosphorus. (C) 1998 IAWQ. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.