Lee O. Tiffin

Iron Chelates in Soybean Exudate

Soybean exudates contain iron compounds which can be separated electrophoretically into anodic bands and eluted with water. Chromatography of the water extracts separated iron from chelating agents which were identified as malic acid and malonic acid. Hence organic acids seem to function in the translocation of iron in plants.

Absorption of Iron from Iron Chelate by Sunflower Roots

Roots of decapitated sunflower plants absorbed iron from the ferric chelate of ethylenediamine di(o-hydroxyphenylacetic acid), leaving most of the acid in the nutrient solution. The chelating capacity of the nutrient solution increased as iron was absorbed by the plants. Most of the absorbed iron was found in the plant exudate.