Changes in nutrient allocation between roots and shoots of young maize plants during sulfate deprivation

Abstract

Hydroponically grown maize (Zea mays L.) plants were deprived of the external source of sulfate following an initial period of 13 d during which the sulfur (S) supply was sufficient. The amounts of dry mass (DM), water, sulfate, sulfur, nitrate, ammonium, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, boron, iron, copper, zinc, and manganese were monitored in the shoots and the roots for 10 d. The deprivation altered the nutritional balance between them, causing a 70% decrease of sulfate in shoots and roots after 2 d. At 10 d, 95% of sulfate had vanished in both shoots and roots. Total S remained rather constant in shoots or was slightly decreased in roots after 4 d. This coincided with a decrease of Fe in shoots after 4 d. The calculated decreases of S and Fe in –S shoots, up to 6 d were linearly correlated. Kinetic analysis of the changes revealed a sequence in their onset, and we distinguished early and late changes. Among the early changes, we highlight the following ones: (1) an increased amount of Cu in both shoots and roots at 2 d; Fe was 40% decreased in both shoots and roots at 2 d; (2) a decrease in transpiration rate by 35% after 2 d; (3) alterations in boron allocation; in –S shoots the % changes in S were linearly correlated with the corresponding % changes in B; (4) calcium content was not affected by the S deprivation in –S shoots, whilst it increased in –S root after d 2; (5) Mn and Mg decreased from the beginning and in a uniform fashion in both –S shoots and roots. Day 6 may be considered as the boundary between the early and late changes. The root fraction of DM increased progressively after 4 d. Changes in DM seemed to be similar to those of P. Changes of Zn also took place rather late. In –S shoots and for the time interval between 6 d and 10 d, linear correlations were found between the corresponding % changes of the pairs DM–S, DM–P, DM–N, DM–water, S–N, S–P, and N–P.

Gas Exchanges in the Leaves of Silage Maize Depending on the Forecrop and Maize Development Stage

“…A close relationship between Cl and LUE (0.80), A (0.77), and the yield of silage biomass (0.79) was proved. A significantly higher Narea was also noted after grassland, which indicated a positive correlation with Cl and A. Transpiration could be regulated by the root conductivity, which, in turn, is determined by nutrients [28]. After this forecrop, an increase in E was observed compared to the triticale and particularly the maize forecrops in both studied periods.…”

The mechanism of photosystem‐II inactivation during sulphur deprivation‐induced H2 production in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

“…On the other hand, the reason for the increase in the concentration of the other elements (Table ) cannot be easily explained; however, we note that transferring the cells to sulphur‐free media results in the increase in the expression of genes encoding phosphate transporters, for instance (Toepel et al ., ). A similar tendency in concentration changes was observed for Ca, Cu and Fe in the case of maize in a sulfate deprivation experiment (Bouranis et al ., ).…”

Revisiting Sulphur—The Once Neglected Nutrient: It’s Roles in Plant Growth, Metabolism, Stress Tolerance and Crop Production

“…One way for improving crop production and productivity is through modifying soil nutrient supply, among other strategies [2]. Sulphur, (S) macronutrient, essential for plant growth and development [3][4][5][6][7], has also been acknowledged for improving crop productivity [8][9][10][11][12][13], quality [14][15][16], and plants' abiotic stress responses [17][18][19][20][21][22]. Therefore, access to an adequate supply of S for plants throughout their development is necessary for Agriculture 2021, 11, 626 2 of 24 optimum crop performance [23].…”