A novel interaction of magnesium translocation with the supply of phosphorus to roots of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.)*

Abstract

Abstract. The role of phosphorus (P) in leaf magnesium (Mg) concentrations and photosynthesis was investigated in field and glasshouse experiments with grapevine (Vitis vinifera L., cvs. Chenin blane. Chardonnay, and Carignane). In the field, leaves of vines growing on soil with low available P exhibited symptoms of Mg deficiency and had low P and Mg concentrations. The rate of photosynthesis for leaves of untreated control vines was approximately 0.7 nmol CO2 cm 2 s 1. When P fertilizer was applied to the soil, Mg deficiency symptoms were eliminated, and leaf P and Mg concentrations increased to above critical levels. When Mg was applied as a foliar spray, leaf Mg increased to above critical levels, but leaf P did not change significantly. In both experiments, the rate of photosynthesis increased to greater than 1.0 nmol CO2 cm 2 s 1 after nutrient applications. Thus, under low soil P conditions, leaf photosynthesis was limited by leaf Mg concentrations. In glasshouse experiments in which vines were grown with and without P for three seasons, Mg accumulated in large roots of ‐ P vines to approximately twice the concentration found in roots of + P vines. Analysis of the xylem exudate from detopped plants showed that Mg concentration in xylem sap of + P vines was twice as great as that in ‐ P vines. When P was supplied to ‐ P vines, the concentration of Mg increased to the concentration of + P vines within 2 days. The results show that the translocation of Mg from roots to shoots of grapevine is dependent upon P supply to the roots and suggest that Mg translocation is more sensitive than uptake to P supply.