Relationship between root cortical senescence and growth of wheat as influenced by mineral nutrition, Idriella bolleyi (Sprague) von Arx and pruning of leaves

Abstract

summarySevere deficiencies of nitrogen or calcium enhanced the rate of root cortical death (RCD) when wheat seedlings were grown in perlite in a glasshouse; less severe deficiencies had no effect on RCD even though they significantly reduced both root and shoot growth. Heavy pruning of leaves curtailed root growth but did not affect the rate of RCD in the presence or absence of the weakly pathogenic fungus, Idriella bolleyt (Sprague) von Arx. The results suggest that RCD is less responsive to environmental manipulations than is seedling growth, so RCD is unlikely to be part of a stress‐response mechanism in cereals whereby assimilates or mineral nutrients are mobilized or remobilized to growing tissues.