Staining with 0.05% neutral red reduces nutrient uptake by wheat roots

A number of studies have used a 0.05% solution of neutral red to stain live roots so that short term root growth could be measured. These studies, which used a 5 or 10 min staining time, report no effects of the stain on plant properties such as growth, respiration, or nitrate uptake. This paper reports on two experiments conducted to determine whether this staining technique, with a 15 min stain time, affected macronutrient uptake of 6- and 7-week-old wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plants grown in solution culture.