Inheritance and Physiology of Response to Low Boron in Red Beet (Beta vulgaris L.)1

Abstract

Abstract Genetic variation in foliar symptoms of B deficiency in the seedling stage of red beet was observed among inbred lines and commercial cultivars grown in sand culture in growth chambers. F1, F2 and backcross populations between the most susceptible and tolerant lines, tested at .001 ppm B, indicated that susceptibility was conditioned primarily by a single dominant gene. No linkage was established between this gene and the gene controlling red leaf color. The most susceptible line was inherently more vigorous than the most tolerant line but this relationship was not evident among the other inbreds and cultivars tested. Boron deficiency sumptoms on leaves of both tolerant and susceptible lines were significantly accentuated by reducing the Ca(NO3)2 content of the nutrient solution from 8 to 7 mEq/litre without altering B content. At both Ca levels the B content was greater in the tolerant than in the susceptible line. When supplied with adequate Ca but low B the susceptible line contained higher Ca, Na and P and lower Mg than the tolerant line.