新型根系分泌物采样装置的介绍与应用

根系分泌物在土壤-植物养分循环和缓解植物环境胁迫方面具有重要作用。根系分泌物的收集是研究植物根系过程和相应机制的基础。通常所用的溶液收集法简单易操作,但由于人为扰动大,不能反应根系分泌物的真实情况。介绍了一种新型根系分泌物原位连续采样装置,该装置由根系生长箱和根系分泌物收集装置二部分组成。根系生长箱中土壤和根系之间由滤膜隔开,土壤中的营养元素可以透过滤膜供应植物生长,带有真空抽气泵的根系分泌物收集装置可以实现用去离子水原位淋洗根系、收集根系分泌物的目的。该收集装置外源葡萄糖加标回收率为89%±2%。小麦种植在根系生长箱中,在小麦生长42 d期间,用新型采样装置和溶液收集法分别收集了根系分泌物,研究了小麦根系分泌DOC能力随生长时间的变化。结果表明,收集方法不同,小麦根系分泌DOC能力随生长时间变化不同。在新型收集装置法中,小麦根系分泌DOC能力随着生长时间呈现降低的态势,而溶液收集法则呈现出上升的态势。新型采样装置能实现植物土壤生长条件下原位收集根系分泌物,采样中扰动小,为根系分泌物研究提供了较好的收集方法。但也存在设备复杂、采样流量不易控制等缺点,是今后需要改进的方向。     

低分子量有机酸对土壤磷释放动力学的影响

模拟植物在缺磷条件下,根系所分泌的有机酸种类和数量,用流动法研究了柠檬酸,苹果酸,草酸和酒石酸对土壤磷释放的影响。结果表明：有机酸能明显促进土壤中磷的释放,不同有机酸对石灰性土壤活化能力大小的次序为草酸≥柠檬酸〉苹果酸〉酒石酸;而对酸性土壤磷的释放量与Ｆｅ＋Ａｌ释放量之间呈极 相关,有机酸活化土壤磷能力大小的次序为柠檬酸〉草酸〉酒石酸〉苹果酸。     

低分子量有机酸对石灰性土壤磷吸附动力学的影响

根据植物在缺磷胁迫下,根系分泌的有机酸种类的数量,用流动法研究了柠檬酸、苹果酸、草酸和酒石酸对石灰性土壤磷吸附动力学的影响。结果表明：有机酸均能明显降低土壤对磷的吸附,不同有机酸降低磷吸附的能力大小的次序为草酸≥柠檬酸〉苹果酸≥酒石酸。     

籽粒苋不同富钾基因型根系分泌物中有机酸和氨基酸的变化特点

采用溶液培养试验研究了籽粒苋(Amaranthus.spp.)不同富钾基因型在不同供钾水平条件下3个不同生长时期内根系分泌物中氨基酸和有机酸的种类及含量变化情况。结果表明,1)籽粒苋根系分泌物中氨基酸和有机酸含量随着供钾水平的升高而降低,且富钾基因型始终大于一般基因型。在低钾胁迫时,根系分泌物中有10种氨基酸和5种有机酸出现,而在供钾正常时则缺少谷氨酸、甘氨酸、苯丙氨酸、草酸和柠檬酸等;酪氨酸、-氨基丁酸和丝氨酸的含量约占氨基酸分泌总量的一半以上;苹果酸含量约占有机酸分泌总量的60%以上。2)籽粒苋生长50d时,一般基因型氨基酸和有机酸的分泌总量较生长40d时迅速降低,而富钾基因型降低速度则相对较为平稳。在3个生长期内,酪氨酸、-氨基丁酸和丝氨酸均为两类基因型根系分泌物中的主要氨基酸种类,苹果酸则是主要的有机酸类型,其在氨基酸和有机酸分泌总量中所占相对比例均随生长期的延长而升高。3)籽粒苋根系分泌物处理后的土壤速效钾含量均高于清水对照处理,富钾基因型在低钾胁迫时的根系分泌物对土壤钾的活化作用明显大于一般基因型。     

续断菊与玉米间作的铅累积及根系低分子量有机酸分泌特征研究

为探明间作作物根系分泌低分子量有机酸对土壤重金属生物有效性的影响,采用矿区周边农田土壤进行室内盆栽试验,研究了云南本土超累积植物续断菊(Sonchus asper L. Hill)和玉米(Zea mays L.)间作下,植物生长、根系低分子量有机酸分泌量、根际土壤Pb提取形态以及植物Pb积累特点。结果表明:与单作相比,间作续断菊地上部和根部生物量、根长、根内径和根系体积均显著增加(P0.05);间作玉米根部生物量、根长、根内径和根系体积显著增加(P0.05)。柠檬酸、草酸是续断菊和玉米根系分泌的主要低分子量有机酸,间作导致续断菊根系低分子量有机酸的分泌量增加,玉米根系低分子量有机酸的分泌量降低。续断菊根际土壤生物有效态Pb含量增加85.2%(P0.05),而玉米根际土壤生物有效态Pb含量降低26.1%(P0.05)。续断菊体内Pb含量显著增加18.0%～43.2%(P0.05),富集系数提高26.0%,而转运系数降低42.0%;玉米地上部Pb含量显著降低24.3%(P0.05),转运系数降低43.1%。续断菊根系分泌的柠檬酸和草酸数量,均与土壤生物有效态Pb含量呈显著正相关,且土壤有效态Pb含量分别与续断菊地上部和根部的Pb含量呈显著正相关。表明间作增加了续断菊对Pb的吸收积累量,与间作体系植物根系分泌的低分子有机酸介导下的土壤有效态Pb含量增加密切相关。     

添加有机酸对土壤镉形态转化及苋菜镉积累的影响

植物根系分泌的低分子量有机酸能够与土壤中的镉形成镉–有机酸复合体,从而影响根际镉的移动性。本文通过添加有机酸对土壤镉形态转化的研究,阐明有机酸与镉生物积累的关系。采用盆栽试验及土壤培养等方法,研究了添加苹果酸、柠檬酸对赤红壤和黄棕壤中镉的形态转化以及超积累型苋菜天星米镉生物积累的影响。结果表明,与Cd 25 mg/kg处理比较,Cd 25 mg/kg＋苹果酸、Cd 25mg/kg＋柠檬酸处理对苋菜生物量未产生影响,但显著增加苋菜根系及地上部镉含量;添加苹果酸、柠檬酸处理显著降低土壤专性吸附态Cd含量,却显著增加了交换态Cd、碳酸盐结合态Cd和有机结合态Cd含量。说明添加苹果酸、柠檬酸还能够通过影响土壤镉形态转化而促进苋菜对镉的积累。     

温度和水土比对红壤吸附低分子量有机酸的影响

通过一次平衡法考察了温度和水土比对红壤吸附草酸、柠檬酸、酒石酸和苹果酸的影响。结果表明,有机酸的吸附量、最大吸附量（Sm）及吸附亲和力常数（K）均随温度的升高而增加,随着水土比的增加而降低。温度和水土比变化对有机酸吸附的影响程度因有机酸种类而异,影响程度大小与土壤对有机酸的吸附亲和力（K）大小顺序相反。45℃ 时,土壤对草酸、柠檬酸、酒石酸和苹果酸的吸附量分别是 25℃ 时的 1.19、1.22、1.24 和 1.28 倍;100:1 水土比条件下,草酸、柠檬酸、酒石酸和苹果酸的吸附量分别较 10:1 水土比条件下减少了 48.3%、54.9%、63.5% 和 76.1%。     

氮肥减施对玉米幼苗根系分泌物影响的根际代谢组学分析

植物根系分泌物的根际代谢组学分析有助于更好地理解土壤根际微域内植物根系与土壤和土壤生物之间化学信号交流的根际过程。本文采用核磁共振氢谱(~1H nuclear magnetic resonance,~1H NMR)技术,对基于不同施氮处理下[常规施氮(180 kg×hm~(-2))、80%常规氮量和55%常规氮量]土壤培养收集的玉米幼苗的根系土壤沥出液(soil leachate,SL)、根鞘土浸提液(rhizosheath soil,RS)和根系水培液(distilled water cultivation,DWC)内的根系分泌物进行检测,并结合多维统计分析对比了不同收集方法以及不同施氮量下玉米幼苗根系分泌物的不同。结果表明:3种不同方法收集的玉米幼苗根系分泌物的核磁共振氢谱谱图轮廓及主要标志物明显不同。其中SL法的谱图峰信号及检测到的根系分泌物数目少,而RS和DWC法的谱图峰信号较多且可检测到玉米幼苗根系分泌物中的糖、有机酸和氨基酸等组分。与常规施氮量比较,在85%施氮量下,玉米幼苗根系分泌物中的α-葡萄糖、苹果酸、亮氨酸、缬氨酸水平显著增加;而当施氮量减少到55%时,玉米幼苗根系分泌物水平不再显著增加并呈现下降趋势。上述根系分泌物的变化可能和玉米根系对土壤氮营养供应水平的适应性调节有关。采用~1H NMR技术,结合RS和DWC收集方法进行根际代谢组学分析,可为根际生态及根际氮素营养研究提供重要理论依据。     

氮素对不同大豆品种根系分泌物中有机酸的影响

采用室内溶液培养方法,分别研究了接种根瘤菌处理下,两种氮源和两种氮浓度对两个大豆品种根系分泌物中有机酸的影响。结果表明,合丰25号根系分泌的有机酸种类和数量无论苗期或花期,接种或不接种根瘤菌,均表现为硝态氮处理高于酰胺态氮处理,表明合丰25号大豆更喜硝态氮,硝态氮促进了有机酸的分泌。绥农10号在酰胺态氮下的有机酸种类和数量均高于硝态氮处理,表明其更喜酰胺态氮,酰胺态氮下根瘤菌的存在增加其根系分泌物中有机酸种类和数量。可见,大豆根系分泌物中有机酸的种类和数量因品种而异,因品种对氮源的喜好而变化;根瘤菌在不同程度上增强或减弱根系有机酸的分泌作用。柠檬酸受氮素供应浓度影响很大,当氮素供应浓度较低时,大豆根系分泌物中可检测到柠檬酸,供氮浓度升高则检测不到。     

施氮和干湿灌溉对水稻抽穗期根系分泌有机酸的影响

以水稻品种‘连粳7号’为试验材料进行盆栽试验,设置不施氮(0N,0 kg?hm-2)、中氮(MN,240 kg?hm-2)和高氮(HN,360 kg?hm-2)3种施氮水平及浅水层灌溉(0 k Pa)、轻度干湿交替灌溉(-20 k Pa)和重度干湿交替灌溉(-40 k Pa)3种灌溉方式,研究不同水氮处理对水稻抽穗期根系分泌有机酸总量和组分变化、氨基酸含量及水稻氮肥农学利用率与偏生产力的影响及其耦合效应,探索水氮耦合机理,为水稻氮素高效利用及根际生态提供理论及科学依据。结果表明:轻度干湿交替灌溉增加了水稻根系酒石酸、柠檬酸、草酸、苹果酸、琥珀酸、总有机酸、氨基酸分泌量,分别较浅水层灌溉增加13.2%、8.7%、27.3%、40.0%、6.7%、6.3%及6.4%,水稻氮肥农学利用效率及偏生产力分别增加4.1%及1.7%,显著提高根系分泌有机酸及氨基酸含量;重度干湿交替灌溉减少水稻根系酒石酸、柠檬酸、草酸、苹果酸、琥珀酸的分泌量,显著降低根系分泌有机酸总量、氨基酸含量及水稻的氮肥利用效率。同一水分条件下,施氮显著促进根系酒石酸、乙酸、苹果酸、琥珀酸的分泌,降低了草酸和柠檬酸的分泌量。根系分泌的酒石酸和琥珀酸含量在MN与HN间差异较小。分析表明,根系分泌有机酸总量、氨基酸、苹果酸及琥珀酸的供氮效应为正效应,轻度干湿交替灌溉效应及与供氮的耦合效应为正效应,而重度干湿交替灌溉效应及其与供氮的耦合效应则为负效应。根系分泌的柠檬酸、草酸与氮肥利用率呈显著与极显著正相关,乙酸与氮肥利用间呈显著负相关。结果表明通过轻度干湿交替灌溉与中等施氮调控发挥水肥耦合效应,可以促进水稻根系酒石酸、苹果酸、琥珀酸及氨基酸分泌,提高氮肥利用效率,从而促进水稻高产。     

Iron Mobilization and Mineralogical Alterations Induced by Iron-Deficient Cucumber Plants (Cucumis sativus L.) in a Calcareous Soil

Dicotyledons cope with ion (Fe) shortage by releasing low-molecular-weight organic compounds into the rhizosphere to mobilize Fe through reduction and complexation mechanisms. The effects induced by these root exudates on soil mineralogy and the connections between Fe mobilization and mineral weathering processes have not been completely clarified. In a batch experiment, we tested two different kinds of organic compounds commonly exuded by Fe-deficient plants, i.e., three organic acids (citrate, malate, and oxalate) and three flavonoids (rutin, quercetin, and genistein), alone or in combination, for their ability to mobilize Fe from a calcareous soil and modify its mineralogy. The effect of root exudates on soil mineralogy was assessed in vivo by cultivating Fe-deficient and Fe-sufficient cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus L.) in a RHIZOtest device. Mineralogical analyses were performed by X-ray powder diffraction. The batch experiment showed that citrate and, particularly, rutin (alone or combined with organic acids or genistein) promoted Fe mobilization from the soil. The combinations of rutin and organic acids modified the soil mineralogy by dissolving the amorphous fractions and promoting the formation of illite. These mineralogical alterations were significantly correlated with the amount of Fe mobilized from the soil. The RHIZOtest experiment revealed a drastic dissolution of amorphous components in the rhizosphere soil of Fe-deficient plants, possibly caused by the intense release of phenolics, amino acids, and organic acids, but without any formation of illite. Both batch and RHIZOtest experiments proved that exudates released by cucumber under Fe deficiency concurred to the rapid modification (on a day-scale) of the mineralogy of a calcareous soil.     

大豆根分泌物活化难溶性铝磷的研究

在酸性红壤上，土壤有效磷含量低，大部分磷以难溶性磷形式存在，这是影响作物生产的重要限制因素之一。作物根分泌物活化难溶性磷的能力对改善其磷素营养具有重要意义。本文系统研究了大豆根分泌物对难溶性铝磷的活化效果，同时运用阴、阳离子交换树脂将根分泌物分成阴离子组分、中性组分和阳离子组分，活化结果表明．阴离子组分对铝磷的活化量显著高于中性组分和阳离子组分。运用分子膜把根分泌物分成大于8K、8～3．5K、3．5～1K和小于1K组分．发现对铝磷活化量最大的组分为小于1K根分泌物组分。另外．小于1K阴离子组分对铝磷的活化量为缺磷13．2mg／pot，供磷可达9．3mg／pot，分别占总根分泌物活化量的71％和57％。运用离子色谱仪对小于1K阴离子组分根分泌物测定表明，供磷和缺磷处理．根系均能分泌少量的柠檬酸和苹果酸，约占铝处理的10％～20％，但处理之间差异不显著。上述研究表明．除有机酸影响难溶性铝磷活化之外，根分泌物中可能还存在其它物质对铝磷活化有促进作用，相关研究正在深入进行之中。     

Root Exudates of Rice Cultivars Affect Rhizospheric Phosphorus Dynamics in Soils with Different Phosphorus Statuses

Exudation of organic acids by the roots of three rice cultivars grown in three soils of different phosphorus (P) statuses, and their impacts on the rhizospheric P dynamics and P uptake by the rice plants, were investigated. Quantum root exudates from all the rice cultivars were significantly greater at 21 days after transplantation than at panicle initiation or flowering stages. Malic acid was the most predominant organic acid present in the rice root exudates (10.3 to 89.5 μmol plant^?1 d^?1), followed by tartaric, citric, and acetic acids. Greater exudation of organic acids from rice grown in P-deficient soil by all the rice cultivars suggested response of rice plant to P stress. Results indicate that the release of organic acids in the root exudates of rice plants can extract P from strongly adsorbed soil P fraction, thereby increasing native soil P utilization efficiency and ensuring adequate P nutrition for the growing rice plants.     

利用高能液相色谱测定根际分泌物中的有机酸: Ⅲ.干扰因子的影响

A solution culture experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of collection time and interfering ions on separation and determination of low-molecular-weight organic acids in root exudates of soybean using the method for directly collecting root exudates.The suitable cooection time of root exudates and the interferiung ions affecting organic acid determination were determined.The method for removing the interfering ions was established and analyzed.The release amount of root exudates increased with the increase of collection time from 0 to 120min but decreased with increasing of collection time from 120to 240min.The maximum exuding amounts of organic acids were observed in root exudates at the collection time of 120min.There was a significant difference of organic acid components between the treatments of collection time of 120min and 240min,Citric acid was founnd only in the treatment of 120min collection time,NO3^- was the main interfering ion in organic acid determination and had the same retention time as oxalic acid.Anion exchange resin(SAX)properly treated by HPLC(high performance liquid chromatography)solvent could remove NO3^- anion in sample solution of root exudates,thus enhancing the recoveries of organic acids in root exudates.There was no significant effect of the chemicals added into sample solution such as H3PO4,SAX and KNO3 on the retention time of organic acids.     

Extraction of Soil Organic Nitrogen by Organic Acids and Role in Mineralization of Nitrogen in Soil

The solubilization of organic nitrogen (Norg) in soil was examined by using organic acids often present in root exudates. The organic acids tested were classified into two groups depending on their solubilizing ability for Norg in a soil sample. Oxalate, malonate, tartarate, citrate and malate could dissolve Norg by increasing their concentrations, while succinate and glutarate could not dissolve Norg even when their concentrations were increased. The amount of organic N extracted with oxalate, malonate, tartarate, citrate and malate showed a strong correlation with the sum of the amounts of Al and Fe in the extracts. Therefore, it was assumed that the solubilizing ability may be attributed to the structure of these organic acids that can form stable chelate compounds with Al and Fe (oxalate, malonate, tartarate, citrate and malate). Furthermore, the amount of 20 mM cit-rate-extractable Norg (CEON), which was the highest among the organic acids tested, showed a strong correlation with both that of 67 mM phosphate buffer, which is now being widely used as an index for estimating soil N availability in Japan, and N mineralized using an incubation method in 46 soil samples belonging to different soil types. These results suggested that CEON might be an important constituent of mineralizable Norg in soil. Therefore, organic acids secreted by crops play a role in the solubilization of available Norg surrounding the crop rhizosphere.     

利用高能液相色谱测定根际分泌物中的有机酸: Ⅲ.干扰因子的影响

Methods for determining niene low molecular-weight oragnic acids in root exudates were developed by using reversed-phase high performance liquied chromatography with UV (ultraviolet) detection at 214 nm. The mobile phase was 18 mmol L^-1 kH2PO4 adjusted to pH 2.25 with phosporic acid nd the flow rate was 0.3 mL min^-1,The analytical column was a reversed-phase silica based C-18 column( shim-pack CLC-ODS).The root exudates were collected through submerging the whole root system into aerated deionized water for 2 hours ,The filtered exudate solutions were concentrated to dryness by rotary evaporation at 40℃,dissolved in 10 mL mobile phase.The chromatoraphic conditions of organic acid determination were analyzed.The results showed that there was a high selectivity and sensitivity in the organic acid determination by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography.Coefficients of variation for organic acied determination were lower than 10% except lactic acid .The recoveries were consistently between 80.1% to 108.3% .Detection limits were approximately 0.05 to 4.5 mg L^-1 for organic acids except succinic acid with the detection limit of 7.0 mg L^-1 .Phosphorus deficiency may contribute to the release of organic acids in soybean root exudates especially malic,lactic and citric acids.     

Cadmium Impact on Root Exudates of Sorghum and Maize Plants: A Speciation Study

ABSTRACT

The effect of cadmium (Cd) on root exudates of sorghum and maize was investigated in order to get further insight into the mechanisms of plant tolerance to Cd. Plants were grown hydroponically and supplemented with: 0, 0.5, and 5.0 mg Cd L^{? 1}. Hydroponic solutions containing exudates were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results showed different exudation patterns by sorghum and maize with cadmium supply. While sorghum enhanced malate exudation over the entire range of applied Cd in the uptake solutions, maize increased mainly citrate. Moreover, malate concentration exuded in sorghum rhizosphere presented higher values than citrate (from maize). With the aid of the HYPERQUAD speciation program, a significant decrease in the bioavailable Cd (free Cd plus Cd chloro-complexes) was found due to the increase of Cd organic complexation in the hydroponic solution. Furthermore, similar metal organic complex concentrations were obtained for both plants, which turned the maize and sorghum overall detoxification process equivalent. Exudation of malate and citrate should contribute to tolerance mechanisms of these plants, reducing deleterious effects of free Cd on root growth. These findings support the idea that the metal-binding capabilities of root exudates may be an important mechanism for stabilizing metals in soil.     

Interactive effects of organic acids in the rhizosphere

Organic acids released into the rhizosphere may perform many beneficial functions to the plant including metal detoxification and enhancement of nutrient acquisition. Typically, these organic acids are studied in isolation; however, roots simultaneously exude a cocktail of organic acids and other substances, and their combined impact on rhizosphere processes may be quite different. It has been hypothesized that some exudates may play secondary roles (e.g. inhibitors of microbial activity, blockage of sorption sites), which might enhance the longevity and nutrient-mobilization capacity of others. Here we investigated how the decomposition, sorption and P-solubilizing effects of citrate, malate and oxalate are affected by the presence of malonate and shikimate. We found that in a range of agricultural soils the decomposition of citrate, malate and oxalate was rapid, but not influenced by the presence of large quantities of shikimate or malonate. This suggests that the individual organic acids are taken up by different transport mechanisms or components of the microbial community. At large concentrations, malonate decreased sorption of citrate, malate and oxalate on the soil, whilst shikimate had little effect. The capacity of citrate, malate and oxalate to desorb P was significantly greater in cocktails containing malonate compared with the single organic acid; no effect was seen with shikimate. We conclude that neither malonate nor shikimate at realistic concentrations will significantly affect the biodegradation of citrate, malate or oxalate in the rhizosphere, and while malonate did enhance P desorption, this effect is additive rather than synergistic. Overall, we found little evidence that malonate and shikimate act as secondary regulators of citrate, malate and oxalate behavior in soil.     

Root exudation of sugars,amino acids,and organic acids by maize as affected by nitrogen,phosphorus, potassium,and iron deficiency

Root exudates play a major role in the mobilization of sparingly soluble nutrients in the rhizosphere. Since the amount and composition of major metabolites in root exudates from one plant species have not yet been systematically compared under different nutrient deficiencies, relations between exudation patterns and the type of nutrient being deficient remain poorly understood. Comparing root exudates from axenically grown maize plants exposed to N, K, P, or Fe deficiency showed a higher release of glutamate, glucose, ribitol, and citrate from Fe‐deficient plants, while P deficiency stimulated the release of γ‐aminobutyric acid and carbohydrates. Potassium‐starved plants released less sugars, in particular glycerol, ribitol, fructose, and maltose, while under N deficiency lower amounts of amino acids were found in root exudates. Principal‐component analysis revealed a clear separation in the variation of the root‐exudate composition between Fe or P deficiency versus N or K deficiency in the first principal component, which explained 46% of the variation in the data. In addition, a negative correlation was found between the amounts of sugars, organic and amino acids released under deficiency of a certain nutrient and the diffusion coefficient of the respective nutrient in soils. We thus hypothesize that the release of dominant root exudates such as sugars, amino acids, and organic acids by roots may reflect an ancient strategy to cope with limiting nutrient supply.     

Low molecular weight organic acids released from roots of durum wheat and flax into sterile nutrient solutions

Knowledge of the composition and quantity of organic substances released from roots of different plant species is necessary for understanding the chemical and biological processes in the rhizosphere. The present study was undertaken to quantify low molecular weight organic acids (LMWOAs) released from roots of five cultivars/lines of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum var. durum L.): Kyle, Sceptre, DT618, DT627, and DT637 and four cultivars/ lines of flax (Linum usitatissiumum L.): Somme, Flanders, AC Emerson, and YSED 2. Plants were grown in sterile nutrient solution cultures and amounts of organic acids exuded by roots were analyzed by gas chromatography. The LMWOAs varied significantly among both durum wheat and flax cultivars and oxalic, malonic, fumaric, succinic, acetic, malic, citric and tartaric acids were detected in root exudates of both species. Generally, oxalic and acetic acids were predominant in durum wheat exudates and oxalic, acetic and malic acids were predominant in flax root exudates. High oxalic acid concentrations occurred in root exudates of durum wheat cultivars DT627 and DT637, and flax cultivar YSED 2. Compared with the other durum wheat cultivars, Kyle released the lowest total amount of LMWOAs, whereas among the flax cultivars, YSED 2 had the highest total amount of acids secreted from roots. The data showed that the release of LMWOAs from roots was cultivar dependent. The results provide valuable background information for studying the role of root exudates in soil‐plant relationships.