Diagnosis of Premature Senescence of Cotton Using SPAD Value

Pengcheng Li,Aizhong Liu,Siping Zhang,Jingran Liu,Shuchun Mao,Miao Sun,Guoping Wang,Helin Dong,Yabing Li

doi:10.4236/as.2014.511107

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted in 2011 on an experimental farm at the Cotton Research Insti-tute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, China. We conducted experiments with a “SPAD-502” meter to quickly measure the relative value of chlorophyll content in the leaf blades of field cotton. Our goal was to seek a suitable leaf on a cotton plant to diagnose senescence status of crop plants at later stages of growth. We began by studying the dynamic change rule of the dis-tal-most four leaves of the cotton plant during the entire growth period with two early-maturing cultivars (CCRI 36, CCRI 50) and two mid-maturing cultivars (CCRI 41, SCRC 28). We also examined the effect of different nitrogen and potassium fertilizer rates on SPAD values of the leaves of SCRC 28. Our results suggest that SPAD values of the 1st distal stem leaves from two early cultivars can act as good indicators of senescence status in the plants, if they are measured between 10 d before the boll-opening stage and 10 d after boll opening stage. Differences of SPAD values of the 3rd distal stem leaves of two mid-maturing cultivars measured between about 15 d before the boll opening stage and 15 d after the boll opening stage can also be used to measure senescence status in these cotton cultivars. The conclusion can be used for cotton producer to manage N fertilizer better at later growth stage.

Highlights

Nitrogen (N) is the nutrient that most often limits crop production and the nutrient that requires the most ex-How to cite this paper: Li, P.C., Dong, H.L., Liu, A.Z., Liu, J.R., Sun, M., Wang, G.P., Zhang, S.P., Li, Y.B. and Mao, S.C. (2014) Diagnosis of Premature Senescence of Cotton Using SPAD Value
The emergence stage of CCRI 36 (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and CCRI 50 began on May 27, the flowering stage began on July 12, and the boll-opening stage began on August 23
We investigated the rule of SPAD values in cotton leaves of several cultivars during the whole growth period

Summary

Introduction

Nitrogen (N) is the nutrient that most often limits crop production and the nutrient that requires the most ex-How to cite this paper: Li, P.C., Dong, H.L., Liu, A.Z., Liu, J.R., Sun, M., Wang, G.P., Zhang, S.P., Li, Y.B. and Mao, S.C. (2014) Diagnosis of Premature Senescence of Cotton Using SPAD Value. Nitrogen (N) is the nutrient that most often limits crop production and the nutrient that requires the most ex-. (2014) Diagnosis of Premature Senescence of Cotton Using SPAD Value. Due to the detrimental effects of limited or excess N on cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), it is desirable to monitor crop N status so that management changes can be made in order to optimize yield and quality [1]. The leaves of cotton are the main organs for photosynthesis and chlorophyll is an important pigment by which chemical energy can be transformed to light energy [2]. There is a direct relationship between the chlorophyll content in leaves and the amount of photosynthesis occurring there. The solar radiation absorbed by a leaf blade is dependent on its chlorophyll content and so chlorophyll contents may be used as a gauge of the nutritional status and age of crop plants

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion