Abstract
Seed treatment is a low-cost and efficacious method to deliver a diversity of compounds to field crops. This study evaluated the uptake of seed-applied Cu by maize and the effect on seed vigor. The treatments were composed of a control (untreated seeds) and five dosages of Cu: 0.11, 0.22, 0.44, 0.88 and 1.76 mg Cu seed–1, applied as cuprous oxide and copper oxychloride formulations. Seedling emergence and the speed of seedling emergence were determined in three periods: 1, 60 and 120 days after Cu application. Evaluations of root and shoot dry mass, Cu tissue concentration and efficiencies of Cu uptake and incorporation were conducted with two-leaf stage maize plants. Seed-applied Cu reduces the speed of maize seedling emergence, while the final emergence percentage is not affected. Shoot dry mass tends to increase with the application of Cu, while there is no interference on root dry mass within the dosages tested. Cu tissue concentration of both roots and shoots increases as higher dosages of Cu are applied to seeds, with higher accumulation in roots. Cuprous oxide promotes higher uptake of Cu by maize roots compared to copper oxychloride.
Highlights
Copper is an essential element for plants, mainly for its participation in photosynthesis, respiration, carbon and nitrogen metabolisms, and protection against oxidative stress (Yruela, 2009)
Cultivation practices such as superficial liming may contribute to reduce the availability of Cu to field crops, by excessively elevating the soil pH at the surface level; this leads to a deficiency of cationic micronutrients, such as Cu, by early developing seedlings (Fageria & Stone, 2004)
This study evaluated the feasibility of using two non‐water‐soluble formulations containing Cu as maize seed treatment, considering nutritional and seed quality aspects
Summary
Copper is an essential element for plants, mainly for its participation in photosynthesis, respiration, carbon and nitrogen metabolisms, and protection against oxidative stress (Yruela, 2009). Root and shoot dry mass and Cu tissue concentration were evaluated with four replicates of 10 plants, cultivated in sand, in the same conditions described previously; in this test, only the dosages 0, 0.11, 0.44 and 1.76 mg Cu seed–1 were considered.
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