Abstract
Subterranean pods of ‘Shulamit’ peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) absorb water and nutrients from the pegging zone. Therefore high concentrations of inorganic salts such as NaCI in the pegging zone may influence pod development. A greenhouse study was conducted to determine the levels of NaCI in the pegging and rooting zones that inhibit pod development and caused seed damage. Plants were grown in containers that had separate compartments for pegging media of sand and rooting media of solution culture. Different levels of NaCI were either present in the pegging zone, the rooting zone, or both zones. Application of 35 mM NaCI to only the pegging zone caused dark areas on the inner faces of the cotyledons of seed in mature pods but did not significantly affect the weight of the individual seed. Higher levels (70 and 105 mM NaCI) caused additional symptoms of seed damage prior to pod maturity and much lower seed weight, but did not affect pod area at the plane of dehiscence. Pod Na and CI had similar, linear relationships with pegging zone NaCI. Pod Ca was correlated negatively with pegging zone NaCI. Application of NaCI to both zones inhibited pod growth and promoted vegetative growth (in comparison to plants that only received NaCI in the rooting zone). Concentrations less than 40 mM NaCl in the rooting zone caused lower weights of individual pods and seed. Also plants with less than 40 mM NaCI in the rooting zone produced less vegetative weight and an increased percentage of small, immature pods was observed. Rooting zone NaCI did not result in symptoms of seed damage, as did pegging zone NaCl.
Published Version
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