Starch Formation in Tobacco Plants Deficient in Potassium1

Abstract

Potassium is important in the growing of fine tobacco. Not only is it the nutrient removed from the soil in the greatest quantity, but it is essential for the vigorous growth of the plant (3). Potassium is also more important than any other element in producing good combustion of the dried leaf (1) and is necessary for choice aroma (5).This value of potassium to the finished tobacco product has a curiously paradoxical aspect, for it has long beeln assumed that much of the importance of this element to any plant lay in its relation to carbohydrate synthesis or translocation. But the type of tobacco grown in the Connecticut Valley is low in carbohydrates, especially starch. Consequently, there is a special interest in the problem of the relationship of potassium to the formation of starch in tobacco plants.It was the aim in this study, as in much recent work, to test the leaves soon after the effects of potassium deficiency had been definitely established but well before the plant had died from lack of this element. From preliminary trials with tobacco, it appeared that seedlings started in soil, transplanted to sand, and treated with a nutrient solution, could be grown normally with the usual elongation of the internodes; or that similar plants, treated in a like manner except for the absence of potassium, would show evidence of a lack of this element during the latter part of the vegetative period. Methods Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacurm, var. Rosenberg) 2 was germiniated and grown in quantity in sandy soil until the seedlings were about two inches tall with four small leaves, from 9 to 15 weeks depending upon the season.

Composition, Structure, and Ontogeny of Cortex and Pith of Tobacco Stem in Relation to Potassium and Nitrogen Deficiency

“…The behavior of the tissues of plants as independent entities in respect to nutrient deficiencies is illustrated by the above data. In the low potassium series the reduction in percentage dry weight of the pith and cortex is in contrast to the behavior of the leaves and the entire plants as reported by several investigators (Day, 1940;James, 1931;Jansen and Bartholomew, 1929 ;Warne, 1936) for various species, but is in accord with the behavior of the basal portion of the tomato stem as recorded by Nightingale et al (1930),…”

Comprehensive Transcriptome Analysis Uncovers Hub Long Non-coding RNAs Regulating Potassium Use Efficiency in Nicotiana tabacum

“…Previously, many studies on potassium starvation in tobacco were reported ( Lu et al, 2015 ; Hu et al, 2019 ). The result showed that low K + in fertilization would inhibit lateral root development ( Song et al, 2015 ), lower starch accumulation in leaves ( Day, 1940 ), and other symptoms. Transcriptomic research on tobacco leaves with potassium starvation treatment showed that the K + deficiency promotes the antioxidant activity and structural molecule activity significantly ( Lu et al, 2015 ; Li et al, 2016 ).…”

Dark Fire-Cured Tobacco Response to Potassium Rate and Application Method

“…Potassium is one of the essential nutrients required by tobacco (1,5), and tobacco takes up more potassium than any other nutrient (6). Tobacco is considered to be a luxury consumer of potassium, as it consumes this nutrient in excess of the physiological needs of the plant (1).…”

“…Tobacco is considered to be a luxury consumer of potassium, as it consumes this nutrient in excess of the physiological needs of the plant (1). Other research has shown that accumulation of fresh and dry weight was greater in tobacco plants that have adequate potassium compared to plants deprived of potassium (5), and burley tobacco market value increased with the application of potassium (2,9). Tobacco plants that are deprived of potassium will show deficiency symptoms including slight mottling and brownish yellow specks, usually near the margin on the tip of the leaf (6).…”