Abstract
Leaf early senescence caused by nutrition deficiency is one of the major limitation reasons in the world crop production. Potassium (K) is one of important nutrient elements in crop growth, which modifies dozens of enzyme activations and controls stomatal movement of photosynthesis. The yield and quality of maize (Zea Mays L.) have been limited due to K deficiency in plough layer soil. However, the mechanism of K deficiency tolerance is not fully understood in maize. In this study, two inbred lines, 099 (tolerance to potassium deficiency) and 835 (sensitive to potassium deficiency) were carried out to investigate the variations of chlorophyll content, photosynthetic and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters related with senescence under different K+ concentrations in maize at seedling stage. The results showed that the Chlorophyll a, b and (a + b) of 835 were significantly decreased under different K deficiency treatments, whereas those of 099 were remained normal. In addition, 099 showed a lower stomatal restriction and higher electronic transition capacity under different K deficiency treatments. The variations of F0, Fv/Fm, ΦPSⅡ, qP and NPQ in 835 were largely higher than those in 099. These results indicated that the inbred line 099 tolerance to K deficiency could keep chlorophyll content to maintain photosynthesis and to alleviate the injury of PSII under K deficiency condition. This study should contribute to explaining the physiological mechanism tolerance nutrition deficiency and improving breeding program in maize.
Highlights
Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important cereal crops world-wide as well as an important source of feed, fibre, and biofuel
Potassium (K) as one of the essential nutrients for crop plays an important role in crop growth and development, metabolism and yield formation process [1] [2]
It has been proposed that screening maize genotypes efficient use of potassium and clarifying the physiological mechanism of tolerance to potassium deficiency can reduce the use of expensive K fertilizers in agriculture [7]-[9]
Summary
Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important cereal crops world-wide as well as an important source of feed, fibre, and biofuel. Potassium (K) as one of the essential nutrients for crop plays an important role in crop growth and development, metabolism and yield formation process [1] [2]. Because of long-term agricultural production of existing cultivated land, there is about 60% of massive arable land potassium deficiency, which inhibit crop yield and quality improvement [3] [4]. The price of K fertilizers has been rapidly increased with rising energy prices, which lead to increased input in crop production. It has been proposed that screening maize genotypes efficient use of potassium and clarifying the physiological mechanism of tolerance to potassium deficiency can reduce the use of expensive K fertilizers in agriculture [7]-[9]
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