Abstract
This study depicts relations between magnesium (Mg) transport and re-translocation, photoassimilate partitioning, cation and ion concentrations, and finally root growth of potato under different Mg supplies. Potato plants were grown in a hydroponic culture system under different Mg regimes while investigating Mg concentrations, the expression of various Mg transporters, soluble sugars, and cations and anions in source and sink organs at different growth stages. Reports from literature about the impact of Mg deficiency on root growth are inconsistent. As Mg is known to be a phloem mobile nutrient, it is expected to be re-translocated under restricted availability of Mg from source to sink organs. Thus, we assume that plants can tolerate a slight Mg restriction without severe root growth reduction. However, under severe Mg deficiency, the process of Mg re-translocation is hampered, resulting in an impaired photoassimilate partitioning, and finally root growth. This might also explain the findings of studies claiming that Mg deficiency does not impair root growth as plants of these studies likely only suffered a slight Mg restriction. Finally, this study gives indications that an interruption of the process of Mg-re-translocation in early plant growth could be an indicator for growth reductions of the plant at a later growth stage.
Highlights
This study depicts relations between magnesium (Mg) transport and re-translocation, photoassimilate partitioning, cation and ion concentrations, and root growth of potato under different Mg supplies
The potato plants in the study by Koch, et al.[10] suffered from a deficient Mg supply starting from the first day of growth
Experiment 1 mainly intended to validate that Mg deficiency results in a restricted root growth in potato and to determine the Mg tissue concentrations that are accompanied by a restricted root growth
Summary
This study depicts relations between magnesium (Mg) transport and re-translocation, photoassimilate partitioning, cation and ion concentrations, and root growth of potato under different Mg supplies. Against the findings by Hermans and Verbruggen[7], Niu, et al.[8] and Niu, et al.[9], Gruber, et al.[4] showed significant root growth reductions in Mg-deficient Arabidopsis thaliana, as did Koch, et al.[10] in potato. It can be proposed that plants used in the studies of Hermans and Verbruggen[7], Niu, et al.[8], and Niu, et al.[9] were able to take up adequate Mg prior to the onset of the treatment, which was sufficient for proper root development Still, it seems to be unclear which Mg supply or Mg tissue concentration is accompanied by an impaired root growth.
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