Diagnosing zinc deficiency in rapeseed and mustard by seed analysis

Abstract

Zinc (Zn) deficiency in crops, including rapeseed and mustard, is a widespread nutritional disorder especially in alkaline soils. However, plant analysis diagnostic criteria for interpreting Zn analysis in rapeseed and mustard are scarcely reported in the literature. Use of seeds for diagnosing Zn fertility status of soils has certain advantages over foliar analysis-ease of sampling, processing, and chemical analysis. Despite this, mature seeds of these species were hardly evaluated as an index tissue for this purpose. Our study determined Zn requirement in foliar tissues and also evaluated Zn composition of mature seeds as an index of Zn status of soils and plants. Zinc concentration in mature seeds of the test crops reflected the Zn status of the soil where plants were grown. In fact, the range of Zn concentration in grains was almost comparable with the ranges in foliar plant parts. Critical Zn concentration (mg/kg) in diagnostic plant parts of rapeseed was: whole shoots, 29; leaves, 33; and seeds, 29; while the Zn requirement of mustard was a little higher: whole shoots, 35; leaves, 41; and seeds, 33.

Quantifying the Residual Value of Zinc for Canola Production Due to Removal of Zinc in Shoots and Grain and Continued Reaction of Zinc With Soil

“…However, for unknown reasons, critical tissue test Zn values obtained for canola grain in this study (16 mg Zn kg −1 ) were lower than critical values obtained for canola grain derived by Rashid et al (1994) (29 mg Zn kg −1 ).…”

Seed Zinc of Soybean as an Indicator of Zinc Status of the Mother Plant

“…Yields of common bean (Moraghan and Grafton, 2003)and faba bean (Vicia faba L.) (Lewis and Hawthorne, 1996) mother plants were adversely affected by Zn deficiency when harvested seed contained less than about 20 and 14 mg Zn kg −1 , respectively. Critical seed [Zn] for rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) and mustard (Brassica juncea L.) were 29 and 33 mg Zn kg −1 , respectively (Rashid et al, 1994). The high critical value of 43 mg Zn kg −1 for soybean seed (Rashid and Fox, 1992) is in sharp contrast to those of the other listed crops.…”

Resposta da couve-da-Malásia (Brassica chinensis L. var. parachinensis (Bailey) Sinskaja) à deficiência nutricional

“…Resultado semelhante foi observado para sementes de 22 genótipos de canola e três de mostarda analisadas quanto à concentração de Zn, que variou de 35 a 52 mg kg -1 (GREWAL et al, 1997). Essa quantidade do nutriente encontrada nas sementes é capaz de suprir a necessidade da planta, uma vez que a concentração crítica do Zn, em folhas de canola e de mostarda, é de 33 e 41 mg kg -1 , respectivamente (RASHID et al, 1994).…”