C. J. Asher

pH optima for crop growth: Results of a flowing solution culture experiment with six species

SummaryGinger, cassava, maize, wheat, french bean and tomato were grown for periods up to six weeks in continuously flowing nutrient solutions at seven constant pH values ranging from 3.3 to 8.5. All species achieved maximum or near-maximum growth in the pH range 5.5 to 6.5. However, there were substantial differences in the ability of species to grow outside this range. Ginger and cassava were the most tolerant species to low solution pH, while ginger and tomato were the only species to show no yield depression at the highest solution pH. Roots of all species at pH 3.3 and some species at pH 4.0 exhibited symptoms of hydrogen ion injury. In addition, the concentrations of magnesium in the tops of all six species, of nitrogen in the tops of tomato and cassava, and of manganese in the tops of maize at these pH values were inadequate for optimal growth. Growth depression at high solution pH was associated with iron deficiency in maize and wheat and with nitrogen and/or copper deficiency in cassava.The relevance of the present results to crop growth under field conditions is discussed. The complex interplay of plant and soil characteristics militates against precise definition of an optimum pH range for the growth of a particular crop unless the soil is also specified.

Trace metal phytotoxicity in solution culture: a review

Solution culture has been used extensively to determine the phytotoxic effects of trace metals. A review of the literature from 1975 to 2009 was carried out to evaluate the effects of As(V), Cd(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Hg(II), Mn(II), Ni(II), Pb(II), and Zn(II) on plants grown in solution. A total of 119 studies was selected using criteria that allowed a valid comparison of the results; reported toxic concentrations varied by five orders of magnitude. Across a range of plant species and experimental conditions, the phytotoxicity of the trace metals followed the trend (from most to least toxic): Pb approximately Hg >Cu >Cd approximately As >Co approximately Ni approximately Zn >Mn, with median toxic concentrations of (muM): 0.30 Pb, 0.47 Hg, 2.0 Cu, 5.0 Cd, 9.0 As, 17 Co, 19 Ni, 25 Zn, and 46 Mn. For phytotoxicity studies in solution culture, we suggest (i) plants should be grown in a dilute solution which mimics the soil solution, or that, at a minimum, contains Ca and B, (ii) solution pH should be monitored and reported (as should the concentrations of the trace metal of interest), (iii) assessment should be made of the influence of pH on solution composition and ion speciation, and (iv) both the period of exposure to the trace metal and the plant variable measured should be appropriate. Observing these criteria will potentially lead to reliable data on the relationship between growth depression and the concentration of the toxic metal in solution.

Influence of phosphate status on phosphate uptake kinetics of maize (Zea mays) and soybean (Glycine max).

To obtain plants of different P status, maize and soybean seedlings were grown for several weeks in flowing nutrient solution culture with P concentrations ranging from 0.03–100 µmol P L-1 kept constant within treatments. P uptake kinetics of the roots were then determined with intact plants in short-term experiments by monitoring P depletion of a 3.5 L volume of nutrient solution in contact with the roots. Results show maximum influx, Imax, 5-fold higher in plants which had been raised in solution of low compared with high P concentration. Because P concentrations in the plants were increased with increase in external P concentration, Imax was negatively related to % P in shoots. Michaelis constants, Km, were also increased with increased pretreatment P concentration, only slightly with soybean, but by a factor of 3 with maize. The minimum P concentration, Cmin, where net influx equals zero, was found between 0.06 and 0.3 µmol L-1 with a tendency to increase with pretreatment P concentration. Filtration of solutions at the end of the depletion experiment showed that part of the external P was associated with solid particles.It was concluded that plants markedly adapt P uptake kinetics to their P status, essentially by the increase of Imax, when internal P concentration decreases. Changes of Km and Cmin were of minor importance.

Role of Trichomes in Sunflower Tolerance to Manganese Toxicity

SummaryIn comparison with other crop species, sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) has been found to be very tolerant of high manganese (Mn) concentrations in nutrient solution. Furthermore, sunflower was able to accumulate high Mn concentrations in plant tops without apparent detrimental effect on growth. The first symptom of excess Mn supply (c. 30μM Mn in solution) was the appearance of small, dark-brown to black spots (<0.5 mm in diameter) on lower stems and on petioles and blades of the lower leaves. The spots were not necrotic and were visibly associated with the trichomes on these plant parts. Electron microprobe techniques demonstrated an accumulation of Mn in and around the trichomes. A compartmentation mechanism is suggested whereby sunflower is able to tolerate high Mn concentrations in its tissues through localization of Mn in a metabolically inactive form.At Mn concentrations approximately 6 times higher than that required to produce the small, dark spots, the upper recently-expanded leaves developed a veinal chlorosis and severe leaf crinkling of the interveinal areas. Dark brown lesions (>2 mm in size) developed on the lower leaves, especially along the veins. A concentration of 2205 μg Mn g−1 in the tops was associated with a 10% reduction in plant dry matter yield.

Rare earth elements and plant growth: I. Effects of lanthanum and cerium on root elongation of corn and mungbean.

Abstract Root elongation of corn (Zea mays cv. Hycorn 82) and mungbean (Vigna radiata cv. Berken) seedlings was measured in dilute complete nutrient solutions to which varying amounts of lanthanum (La) or cerium (Ce) had been added. The nutrient solutions were aged for 9 d prior to conducting the root elongation experiments and solution samples ultra‐filtered to 0.025 μm before chemical analyses for La or Ce, and phosphorus (P). Concentrations of La up to 10 μM and concentrations of Ce up to 8 μM remained in solution in the presence of 5 μM P at pH 4.5, but substantial losses of these elements and P occurred at pH 5.5. The relative root elongation of both plant species decreased with increasing concentrations of La or Ce in solution. Mungbean was much more sensitive than corn. Cerium was more toxic than La to mungbean, the concentrations associated with a 50% reduction in root elongation being 0.9 μM Ce and 3.1 μM La. Lanthanum was more toxic to corn than Ce, the concentrations corresponding to a 50% redu...

Zinc deficiency in rice

SummaryZinc deficiency of rice is widespread throughout Asia on neutral to alkaline calcareous soils which contain more than 1 percent organic matter. Incidence of the deficiency appears more closely related to zinc availability than to total zinc content of the soil, and spontaneous recoveries of affected crops are common.Results of the present study indicate that transient peaks in the concentration of bicarbonate and possibly of organic acids in the soil solution following soil submergence may induce temporary zinc deficiencies. In laboratory experiments with a known problem soil, bicarbonate concentration reached a peak of 42 mM 5 weeks after soil submergence, and the concentration of organic acids peaked at approximately 10 me/l after 4 weeks. Addition of cellulose to the soil raised bicarbonate concentrations substantially and organic acid concentrations slightly.Solution culture studies with the variety IR8 showed that with a bicarbonate concentration of only 15 mM, transport of zinc to the shoots was reduced by more than 70 per cent. Under neutral to alkaline conditions, acetic acid at 10 me/l produced only slight reductions in zinc uptake and transport to the shoots. However at pH 4.5 the same concentrations of acetic acid reduced uptake by more than 90 per cent.Delaying planting for 12 weeks after soil submergence to allow bicarbonate (and organic acid) concentrations to fall increased zinc uptake from three soils by from 53 to 84 per cent.

An evaluation of aluminum indices to predict aluminum toxicity to plants grown in nutrient solutions

Abstract Difficulty has been experienced in establishing a suitable aluminum (Al) index to predict Al toxicity to plants grown in nutrient solutions with a wide range of properties. In the present study, relationships were evaluated between root length and (i) concentration of total Al, (ii) concentration of monomeric Al, and (iii) the sum of the activities of monomeric Al species (SaAl mono) in solution. Results are reported for soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). Total Al concentration in solution, comprising polymeric and monomeric Al species, was a poor index of Al toxicity, confirming the hypothesis that only monomeric Al is toxic to root growth. In solutions with widely differing composition, the concentration of monomeric Al also proved unsatisfactory due to ionic strength effects on the activities of monomeric Al species. SaAl mono was the best index of Al toxicity, accounting for 72 ...

In vitro evidence of aluminum effects on solution movement through root cell walls

Abstract Little is known about the primary effects of aluminum (Al) in reducing root growth. However, the sorption of Al by the root cell wall, particularly by calcium (Ca) pectate, has been suggested as being important in the expression of Al toxicity in plants. To overcome problems arising from the close proximity of root cell components that may react with Al, a synthetic Ca pectate membrane was prepared as a model system for Al studies. Solution containing 1 mM Ca (as CaCl2) was passed through the membrane, and the flow rate measured. Solution containing 29 μM Al (as AlCl3) and 1 mM Ca reduced solution flow rate by > 80% from c. 3.5 to c. 0.6 mL/min within 2 min, with a further slight decline over the next 4 min. The Al concentration in solution proximate to the inlet side of the membrane decreased to 15 μM within 10 min, and only 3 μM Al was measured in solution that had passed through the membrane. These results suggest that an important primary effect of toxic Al is a reduction in water movement in...

Factors affecting aluminium sorption by calcium pectate

Extracellular processes, particularly the adsorption of aluminium (Al) by pectate in the cell wall, have been proposed as important in the expression of Al toxicity to plant roots. In vitro studies were conducted on the effects of Al concentration (generally ≤ 32 μM), calcium (Ca) concentration (0.05 to 10 mM) and pH (3.2 to 5.4) on Al sorption by Ca pectate. There was a rapid reaction between Al and Ca pectate, there being no difference in Al remaining in solution after reaction times of 1 to 16 min, and only a slight decrease after 24 h. Increased Al concentration in solution increased linearly the sorption of Al by Ca pectate, with 70 to 84% of the Al originally in solution sorbed with ≤32 μM Al. In contrast, Al sorption decreased with increased Ca concentration in solution, and as pH decreased from 5.4 to 3.2. Only ≤30% of the sorbed Al was desorbed after 1 h by 1 mM CaCl2, 10 mM CaCl2 or 1 mM HCl. The amount of Al desorbed increased with a desorption period of 5 h, particularly with 1 mM HCl. These studies suggest that Al sorbed by Ca pectate in root cell walls is in equilibrium with Al in solution, and that Al toxicity is associated with the strong binding between Al and Ca pectate external to the cytoplasm.

Effects of aluminium on nodulation of two Stylosanthes species grown in nutrient solution

SummaryEffects of three solution aluminium concentrations (0, 25 and 100 μM) on nodulation ofStylosanthes hamata andStylosanthes scabra inoculated with Rhizobium CB 756 were studied using nutrient solution culture. Aluminium strongly affected nodulation by delaying nodule appearance and reducing the number and dry weight of nodules in both species. The effects of aluminium toxicity on nodulation were more pronounced inStylosanthes scabra than inStylosanthes hamata. These effects of aluminium on nodulation occurred before any significant effect of aluminium on top growth, root growth or root elongation. A plant transfer experiment suggested that aluminium interfered with root infection and/or nodule initiation in both species. The detrimental effect of aluminium on nodulation appeared to be associated with a reduction in lateral root density, thus decreasing the potential number of sites for root infection and nodule formation.