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Mathematical Model of Plant Uptake and Translocation of Organic Chemicals: Development of the Model

Dep. of Soil Science, Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, OR 97331;

C. McFarlane

USEPA, Corvallis Environ. Res. Lab, Corvallis, OR 97333.

^* Corresponding author.

ABSTRACT

Uptake, translocation, and accumulation of organic chemicals by plants are influenced by plant characteristics, chemical properties, and environmental conditions. Experimental evaluation of plant contamination for the many xenobiotic chemicals now in use or being developed is impractical. A mathematical model was formulated which, when adequately tested, can be used to provide information about potential contamination. The model was formulated by defining a generic plant as a set of adjacent compartments representing the major pools involved in transport and accumulation of water and solutes. The model plant is divided into root, stem, and leaves and each is subdivided into two transport compartments (xylem and phloem) and a storage compartment. Chemical uptake is modeled from the soil solution to the root surface, through the apparent free space, endodermis into the xylem and throughout the plant. Values for the anatomical dimensions of the compartments and for physical and chemical coefficients were chosen from the literature. This article shows formulation of the mass balance equations, which lead to the complete system of equations that describe uptake. The solution gives chemical mass in each compartment as a function of time. The mathematical development yielded a well-defined concept of uptake, in-plant transport, and local accumulation of organic chemicals by plants.