Calcium Nutrition Research Articles

Calcium nutrition of higher plants.

Despite low intra-cellular requirements for Ca in the higher plants, Ca deficiency has been recorded in agricultural and horticultural plants during recent years. Because of insufficient selective and active uptake of Ca and its slow translocation, a high Ca concentration at the root surfaces is essential. The Ca requirement also increases when the supply of other nutrients, particularly cations increases. The use of inorganic fertilizers containing Ca should therefore receive more consideration. 56 references. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)

Die Differenzierung von Kristallidioblasten im Dunkeln und bei Hemmung der Glykolsäureoxidase

The epidermal cells of the leaves of jackbean, Canavalia ensiformis DC, partly differentiate into very specialized idioblasts. Each idioblast contains one crystal of calcium oxalate. Structure, development and the influence of calcium nutrition on the differentiation of these cells have been described earlier: Frank, 1965, 1967, 1969 a; Frank and Jensen, 1970; Frank, 1972). The two opposite leaflets of the trifoliate leaves of the young plant provide good material for comparisons. One of those leaflets got darkened. It then grows much slower than its opposite control leaflet but the number of crystals and specialized crystal cells per mm2 leaf area remains the same. Even though glycolic acid, presumably the precursor of oxalic acid, is an early product of photosynthesis, stopping of photosynthesis appears not to inhibit oxalate biosynthesis more than the general metabolism. Bisufite and α-hydroxysulfonates are known as inhibitors of glycolic acid oxidase the key enzyme of oxalate biosynthesis. Sodium bisulfite and α-hydroxy 2-pyridinemethane sulfonate were fed to intact plants. With both inhibitors the number of crystals per mm2 leaf area was greatly reduced. The number of idioblasts corresponded to the number of crystals. There were no idioblasts without crystals and no crystals outside idioblasts. Thus there seems to be a causal relationship between the metabolism of oxalic acid and the development of crystal cells. If the synthesis of the acid is inhibited less epidermal cells are differentiated into idioblasts. Die Blattepidermen der Jackbohne, Canavalia ensiformis DC, enthalten ausgeprägte Idioblasten mit Kristallen aus Calciumoxalat. Eine Seitenfieder des 3teiligen 3. Blattes der Jungpflanzen wurde verdunkelt. Diese Fieder blieb im Vergleich zur gegenständigen Kon-trollfieder im Wachstum stark zurück, bildete aber, bezogen auf mm2 Blattfläche, ebenso viele Kristalle und spezialisierte Kristallzellen wie die Kontrolle. Obwohl Glykolsäure, der wahrscheinliche Vorläufer des Oxalats, ein frühes Photosyntheseprodukt ist, wird die Biosynthese der Oxalsäure offenbar durch Ausschaltung der Photosynthese nicht stärker gehemmt als der allgemeine Stoffwechsel. Die Hemmstoffe der Glykolsäureoxidase, Natriumhydrogensulfit und 2 Pyridyl-hydroxy-methansulfosäure wurden intakten Pflanzen gefüttert. Die Zahl der Kristalle und ebenso der Idioblasten pro mm2 Blattfläche wurde dadurch stark herabgesetzt. Danach läßt sich vermuten, daß eine kausale Beziehung zwischen Oxalatbiosynthese und Idioblastendifferenzie-rung besteht.

Absorption of magnesium and its influence on the uptake of phosphorus, potassium, and calcium by intact groundnut plants

In this investigation absorption characteristics of magnesium were investigated by intact groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) plants from dilute nutrient solutions over an extended period of 39 days of growth. A magnesium concentration of about 120 μM was found to be the saturation concentration above which the magnesium flux was more or less constant. The maximum sensitivity to concentration change in the nutrient solution in the derivative curve for growth occurred sooner than the maximum sensitivity for the uptake. Magnesium suppressed the uptake of potassium and calcium, but the uptake of phosphorus was independent of magnesium concentration. This inhibiting effect of magnesium on the absorption of potassium and calcium may be important in the potassium and calcium nutrition of groundnut plants. re]19730426

Influence of nutrition on the development of Helminthosporium red leaf spot on Seaside bentgrass, Agrostis palustris

Seaside bentgrass ( Agrostis palustris Huds.) was grown in silica sand and subjected to different nutritional regimes by modifying standard Hoagland's solution (1 H). Thirty-five-day-old plants were inoculated with an aqueous spore suspension of Helminthosporium erythrospilum Drechs. Disease severity ratings were based on the percentage of blighted plants per container. Disease severity for bentgrass plants grown under 0·1 H and low nitrogen was significantly lower than controls (1 H). Plants grown under 3 H, high nitrogen, low and high phosphorus, low potassium or low calcium nutrition were more prone to foliar blighting than were controls. Foliar analyses were made prior to inoculation for N, P, K, Ca, Mg, reducing and total carbohydrates, total phenols and ortho-dihydroxyphenols. There was a significant correlation between nitrogen content and blighting. Significant inverse correlations were found between disease severity and foliar content of reducing and total carbohydrates, total phenols and ortho-dihydroxyphenols. This study indicates, that of the nutrient elements studied, nitrogen appears to exert the most influence on diseases severity.

Calcium Nutrition of Peach and Prune Relative to Growth, Fruiting, and Fruit Quality1,2

Abstract ‘Redhaven’ peach and ‘Stanley’ prune trees budded on dwarfing Prunus besseyi Bailey rootstocks were grown and fruited in greenhouse sand culture under 2, 90, 180 (control), 270, and 400 ppm Ca to study growth, fruiting, and fruit quality, 1970-72. Peach fruits were smaller, greener, and firmer and had less soluble solids and red blush at 2 and 90 ppm than at higher concentrations, and had poorer flavor at 2 ppm. Peach leaf Ca increased and fruit Ca decreased (except at 2 ppm) as Ca treatment levels increased. Optimum peach fruit quality was obtained when the Ca supply was 180 to 270 ppm and leaf Ca was above 2.00% dry weight. Prunes were little affected by Ca treatments, except that at 2 ppm most fruits dropped after fruit set and the few that remained were smaller and misshapen. Calcium accumulated to a higher level at a given treatment in prune leaves than in peach leaves.

Interrelationships between Potassium, Calcium, and Magnesium Nutrition of Zea mays L.

Interrelationships between Potassium, Calcium, and Magnesium Nutrition of Zea mays L.

The effect of calcium supply on bur set and seed formation in subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.)

In a glasshouse experiment subterranean clover plants were grown in soil at various levels of calcium nutrition. The developing burs were buried in separate soil containers to which no nutrients, calcium sulphate, calcium carbonate, or potassium sulphate were applied. When subterranean clover was growing in soil low in calcium, top yield was little affected; but bur and seed formation were greatly reduced. However, when the reflexed flowers were buried in soil to which a calcium salt had been added, bur and seed yield increases of up to 500% were obtained The increase in seed yield resulted from a greater percentage of flowers forming bur, more seed per bur, heavier seed, and less rotten seed. Similar results were obtained in a second glasshouse experiment in which a different soil was used to grow the clover. The beneficial effect of calcium ions around the developing bur was independent of the associated anions, or of the soil pH; nor could it be produced by the substitution of potassium or magnesium for calcium. It seems likely that commercial seed yields and subterranean clover persistence in many areas may be reduced by calcium deficiency in apparently lush healthy pastures. The similarity of this disorder to calcium deficiency in peanuts suggests that other crop and pasture species forming buried seed may also be especially susceptible.

Response of Rice to Nitrogen and Calcium Nutrition

AbstractThe influence of N and of Ca nutrition on growth and chemical composition of ‘Nova 66’ rice (Oryza sativa L.) was studied in the greenhouse. Rice plants were grown in soil supplied with four levels each of N (0, 100, 200, and 300 ppm) and Ca (0, 400, 800, and 1,200 ppm) fertilizer. The soil was submerged throughout the experiment.Significant N × Ca interactions were obtained for both grain yield and straw weight. The interactions for grain yield revealed that yield increased as rate of N fertilizer increased, and increases were greatest when Ca levels increased simultaneously. In contrast, interactions for straw weight showed that N increased weight but the increases were lessened in the presence of Ca. Total dry weight (grain + straw) was significantly increased by N but was only slightly affected by Ca. Thus Ca increased grain yield, decreased straw weight, and markedly increased the grain:straw ratio.Nitrogen content (g/pot) and Ca concentration of grain were greatly enhanced by both N and Ca fertilization. Greatest contents were obtained at the highest levels of N and Ca. In contrast, Ca lowered concentration of N (%) in both grain and straw and N content (g/pot) of straw. Total N contents (straw + grain) were also slightly lower in the presence of Ca. The reductions in N concentration and content increased with increasing Ca added. Evidence indicated that the effect of Ca may have been largely indirect, through its effect on K accumulation. The inhibiting effect of Ca was overcome partially when N fertilizer level was increased.

The influence of sodium on the calcium nutrition of excised cotton roots

Growth of excised cotton roots increased with increasing substrate Ca from 0.025 to 0.8 mM, although in most cases no significant increase was obtained above 0.2 mM. The sodium effect was more complex and indicated that there were two positive relationships between the Na level and root elongation.

Vitamin D: new findings on its metabolism and its role in calcium nutrition.

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Calcium nutrition of the tomato as influenced by total salts and ammonium nutrition

Calcium deficiency in tomatoes was induced by adding ammonia nitrogen to the rooting medium. Ammonia was found to inhibit the absorption of calcium by the plant. When total soil nutrient concentration was varied, but the ratio of calcium to other ions held constant, blossom-end rot incidence was inversely related to the calcium level in fruits but was not necessarily associated with low calcium levels in leaves or whole plants. In the presence of high total salts, the incidence of the disorder could not be explained by a reduction in calcium content of whole plants and factors affecting distribution of the calcium within the plant were involved. The physiological disorder pith rot is described and evidence presented suggesting it is caused by a deficiency of calcium. Ammonia increased the incidence of the disorder but was not essential for its occurrence. In field trials on a red loam soil, ammonium sulphate reduced the pH values from 6.0 to 4.7, which prevented nitrification and induced pith rot and blossom-end rot through an accumulation of ammonia nitrogen. Calcium foliar sprays were able to offset yield reductions that were induced by moderate fertilizing with ammonium sulphate even where blossom-end rot did not occur. High total plant calcium was associated with reduced fruit yields.

Calcium nutrition of white rose potato in relation to growth and leaf minerals

Abstract White Rose potato plants were grown in nutrient solutions containing Ca from 0 to 20 meq/l. After 32 days of growth, 16 plant parts were taken for analysis. The critical level for the immature to the recently matured leaf was determined to be about 0.15% Ca for the petiole and the blade tissues at the breaking point of the transition zone. Ca concentrations of petioles and blades (dry basis) increased with leaf age with the greatest increase in the blade tissues. The petioles of recently matured leaves under severe Ca deficiency were higher in Na, Mg, and PO4‐P, lower in N03‐N and about the same in K concentration in comparison with non‐deficient petioles while the corresponding blades did not differ appreciably. Calcium deficiency has no major effect on the uptake of these minerals since all values were in the adequate range.

Interaction Between Calcium Level and Nitrogen Source on Growth and 45ca Distribution In Subterranean Clover

Using either ammonium or nitrate as the nitrogen sources, dry matter yields were highest from plants grown on a normal calcium nutrition, whereas plants supplied with urea grew best at low calcium level. When ammonium and nitrate were added together, yields were independent of the calcium concentration in the substrate. Plants fed solely ammonium nitrogen made extremely poor growth.

Factors affecting fruit-setting and seed production in Spencer sweet peas,Lathyrus odoratusL.

SummarySweet peas grown outdoors in pot culture demonstrated a significantly higher fruit-setting rate when high NPKCa levels were maintained in the compost during the flowering period. Doubling the volume of water added to a compost consisting of 75% grit and 25% loam did not reduce the fruit-setting rate. However, with plants in pots a “high-watering” treatment associated with high NPK nutrition increased the succulence, the amount of growth and flower abortion. Low calcium nutrition checked pollen development and reduced fruit-setting.Culture solutions at different osmotic concentrations (achieved by adding sodium sulphate to a nutrient solution) were used to test their effect on the fertility of summer-flowering sweet peas. Flower fertility was equally high whether plants were grown in 0·5 or in 1·8 “atmosphere” solutions.

PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES IN ULTRASTRUCTURE: EFFECTS OF VICTORIN ON OAT ROOTS

Cells in the interior of susceptible oat roots treated with the disease‐inducing agent victorin exhibit many of the ultrastructural features which characterize the epidermal or outermost root cap cells of untreated roots. An increase in electron density of cell walls fixed in permanganate is the first effect of victorin seen in the root interior. Other early victorin‐induced changes are formation of enlarged, densely stained vesicles by the Golgi apparatus and organization of the endoplasmic reticulum into roughly parallel profiles. All of these features are characteristic of untreated epidermal cells. Victorin also induces the formation of large numbers of lomasome‐like wall lesions and causes a marked increase in the number of nearly spherical, membrane‐bounded structures tentatively identified as spherosomes. Similar lomasome‐ and spherosome‐like structures are much more abundant in the outermost cells of the root cap than in other regions of untreated roots. This suggests that these structures may be characteristic of cells destined to undergo disintegration. Victorin‐induced lesions appear to arise within the cell wall as the result of an activation of wall‐degrading enzymes. An early change which makes the unit structure of the plasma membrane visible over extended areas may account for victorin‐induced changes in permeability. Disrupted plasma membranes and swollen mitochondria are found only in cells heavily damaged by victorin. Many of the effects of victorin resemble those of calcium deficiency and calcium is known to suppress victorin‐induced disease symptoms. This suggests that calcium nutrition may play a role in the pathological changes induced by victorin.

Specific Ion Effects of Certain Excess Soluble Salts on the Growth and Development of Glasshouse Tomatoes Grown in Nutrient Culture

SummaryTwo experiments studying the specificion effects of certain excess soluble salts are described. The first of these compared the specific ion effects of the salts used, and the second examined the importance of calcium deficiency as a specificion effect of these salts. Interference in the calcium nutrition of the tomato plant was a major specificion effect of the cations potassium and magnesium. The sodium ion exhibited this tendency to a lesser extent. Specificion effects of anions were also observed. The chloride ion produced greater depressions in vegetative growth than the nitrate ion; the sulphate ion depressed both vegetative growth and yield of fruit more than the chloride ion.Blossom-end rot symptoms were completely controlled in the second experiment by regular applications of calcium chloride sprays.

Response of Tomato Fruiting to Hydrogen Fluoride as Influenced by Calcium Nutrition

Two varieties of tomatoes grown at 40 to 200 ppm calcium were continuously fumigated with HF throughout flowering and fruit development. Fruit size was directly related to the level of calcium nutrition, and within each calcium treatment the fruits on plants subjected to HF at about 6 μg F/m3 were smaller than those on unfumigated plants. The smaller fruit size was associated with partial or complete seedlessness, suggesting that calcium plays an essential role in fertilization with which fluoride may interfere. Fluoride injury to the tomato foliage was most severe at the lowest calcium level. Treatment with HF at about 8 μg F/m3 produced some injury to tomato foliage but had no apparent effect on fruiting. Evidently fluoride can affect plant fruiting, but considering the severity of the HF treatments required, effects on tomato fruiting probably are of little practical significance. The relationship between fluoride injury and calcium nutrition suggests interference with calcium metabolism as a mechanism of fluoride injury to plants.

A Culturing Unit to Evaluate Sodic Influence on Calcium Nutrition of Alfalfa

AbstractA culturing unit was constructed whereby the influence of exchangeabe sodium on the growth and mineral uptake of established alfalfa (Medicago sativa) could be determined. Two compartments, separated by a membrane through which roots could penetrate, were placed one above another. The top compartment contained a calcareous nonsodic soil to which Ca45CO3 was added. The lower compartment contained complete nutrient solution.Following the establishment of the plants in the nonsodic soil and complete nutrient solution, four levels of exchangeable Na percentage, 0.9, 14.9, 35.4, and 54.9, were established by adding solutions of Na2CO3 to the soil. The yield and Ca content of leaves was reduced by the sodic influence even though sufficient Ca was available to the plant through the nutrient solution. This decreased Ca uptake was compensated for by greater uptake of Mg.

Calcium nutrition in relation to the occurrence of internal browning in Brussels sprouts

Brussels sprouts, cv. Long Island, grown in sand cultures supplied with either normal or low-calcium nutrient solutions, were used to study the relationship between internal browning of sprouts and the calcium regime of the plants. The interaction of ammonium, magnesium, and potassium ions with calcium nutrition, and the susceptibility of four locally selected strains of Brussels sprouts to the disorder, were also investigated. No symptoms, in either the sprouts or the growing points, were found in plants grown under normal calcium nutrition, but each of the low-calcium treatments, irrespective of other cations, induced a significant amount of internal browning in sprouts. The incidence was greatest in the low-calcium high-magnesium, and least in the low-calcium high-ammonium treatments. Calcium deficiency symptoms of the growing points were most severe in the low-calcium high-magnesium treatment, and only this treatment significantly reduced plant yield. Internal browning occurred in the four strains when grown under the low-calcium high-magnesium treatment. Two strains (Bepi and original early) were more severely affected and developed symptoms earlier than the other two (Sartori and mid-season). However, the Sartori strain was the only one in which low calcium nutrition reduced yield. The calcium content in the sprouts decreased from the wrapper to the meristematic region. In leaves, the calcium content was highest in the leaf margin in all strains except mid-season. Low calcium nutrition greatly reduced the calcium content in sprouts and leaves.

Participation of ascorbate oxidase in the respiration ofCucurbita roots

Askorbinoxydasa byla studována jako jedna z terminálních oxydas v kořenech sedmidenních kultur tykve (Cucurbita pepo L.) ve vztahu k výživě vápníkem, jak je její množství a kvalita ovlivněna Ca-deficiencí. Autor došel k závěrům: 1. V kořenechCucurbita pepo L., sorta „Kabačky”, byla dokázána askorbinoxydasa. Identifikaci jsme provedli podle substrátu oxydace, citlivosti enzymu vůči 10−4 DIECA; možnost interference jiných oxydasových systémů byla při sledování oxydační reakce vyloučena použitím acetonového preparátu. 2. Stanovili jsme závislost aktivity enzymu na pH, teplotě, na koncentraci substrátu a prověřili jsme stechiometrii reakce (na 1 mol. kys. askorbové připadá 1/2 mol. O2). 3. Porovnali jsme aktivitu enzymu u kultur, pěstovaných na plném živném roztoku („NS”) a na Ca-deficientním („-Ca”) a změny aktivity během vývoje kultur. Přepočteno na čerstvou váhu je u var. “-Ca” aktivita průkazně vyšší (cca dvojnásobná) než u var. „NS”, v obou případech dostačující k tomu, aby kryla spotřebu O2 intaktními kořeny. Kvalitativní rozdíly u enzymu obou variant nebyly zjištěny. 4. Na oxydaci kyseliny askorbové v kořenech se může podílet také cytochromoxydasa. Účast polyfenoloxydasy nebyla prokázána. Prostřednictvím kyseliny askorbové může askorbinoxydasa oxydovat vodík-SH— skupin cysteinu. 5. Přidání kyseliny askorbové ke kořenovým špičkám působí podstatný vzestup QO2 (o 70 až 90%), není tedy v intaktních buňkách při endogenní respiraci aktivita systémů oxydace kyseliny askorbové plně vytížena.