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Title: Effect of zinc deficiency on the accumulation of boron and other mineral nutrients in barley. [Hordeum vulgare]

Journal Article · · Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6015212

The hypothesis that Zn deficiency enhances the accumulation of B in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) was tested in plants grown in nutrient solutions containing varying concentrations of B. Mean daily B uptake rates in 3-week-old seedlings supplied no Zn (-Zn treatment) were from 2 to 2.5 times higher as in plants supplied 2 ..mu..M Zn(+Zn treatment). These effects were observed after only 7 d growth without added Zn. During this time, Zn in grain reserves and contaminant-Zn were still adequate to maintain all plants with an internal tissue Zn concentration well above the critical tissue concentration (about 15 mg kg/sup -1/ Zn on a dry weight basis), and no yield response to Zn supplementation occurred. The effects of Zn on B uptake, therefore, support the concept that Zn performs a protective role at the external surfaces of, or in, root-cell membranes. When the concentration of B in the nutrient solution was extremely high (e.g., 3000 ..mu..M), this protective effect of Zn disappeared and plants in all treatments developed B toxicity symptoms and accumulated high B concentrations. Other nutrients were also accumulated under Zn deprivation - namely, P, NO/sub 3/, S, Ca, Mg, K, and Cu, but not Fe. Higher concentrations of P in the nutrient solution resulted in higher uptake rates of all ions, especially in the -Zn plants. A similar but smaller effect of added P on ion uptake occurred in +Zn plants.

Research Organization:
USDA-ARS, Ithaca, NY
OSTI ID:
6015212
Journal Information:
Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States), Vol. 51:3
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English