SOME EFFECTS OF A HIGH PARTIAL PRESSURE ON THE DIFFERENTIAL ABSORPTION OF CARBON DIOXIDE BY ROOTS, STEMS AND LEAVES

Treating Centennial sweetpotato roots, Norgold Russet potato tubers and Yellow Granex onion bulbs with an atmosphere of approximately 80% carbon dioxide (CO₂) and 20% oxygen (O₂) resulted in rapid CO₂ absorption by the root, stem and leaf tissue of these plant organs. The initial rates of absorption were 152, 295 and 79 ml of CO₂/kg/hr for sweetpotato roots, potato tubers and onion bulbs. The initially high rates of absorption declined in a linear fashion over a one hour treatment period.