The Alleviation of Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms in Changbai Larch (Larix olgensis) Seedlings by the Application of Exogenous Organic Acids

Abstract

Exogenous organic acids are beneficial in protecting plants from the stress of heavy metal toxins (e.g., Pb) in soils. This work focuses on the potential role of organic acids in protecting Changbai larch (Larix olgensis) seedlings from the stress of growing in nutrient deficient soil. The seedlings were planted in a nutrient rich or deficient soil (A 1 horizon of a Haplic Cambisol without organic acid as the nutrient rich control, or fully-mixed A 1 + B horizons in a proportion of 1:2 as deficient) in pots in a greenhouse. In A 1 + B horizons the seedlings were treated daily with concentrations of oxalic or citric acid (OA or CA) at a rate approximately equivalent to 0, 0.04, 0.2, 1.0, or 2.0 mmol·kg −1 of soil for 10, 20, and 30 days. Nutrient deficiency stressed the seedlings as indicated by lipid peroxidation and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in leaves significantly increasing, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, proline, photosynthetic pigment contents, and chlorophyll fluorescence (F v /F m) decreasing. The stress increased in controls over the application periods. When nutrient deficient plants were exposed to an organic acid (especially 5.0 or 10.0 mmol·L −1 for 20 days), the stress as indicated by the physiological parameters was reversed, and survival rate of seedlings, and biomass of root, stem, and leaf significantly increased; CA was more effective than OA. The results demonstrate that exogenous organic acids alleviate nutrient deficiency-induced oxidative injuries and improve the tolerance of L. olgensis seedlings to nutrient deficiency.

Nutrient Content and Growth Responses of Sugar Beet Plants Grown under Salinity Condition to Citric Acid and Algal Extract

“…This effect can be triggered by the stimulation of protein content and antioxidant components. In spite of the effect of organic acid concentration on leaf potassium % and iron ppm, also, although the effect of organic acid concentration on leaf potassium and iron was significant, the impact on leaf magnesium % was not a strongly decreasing trend as observed in roots (Song et al, 2016).…”

Assessment of the Effect of Glycine, Oxalic Acid and Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium (NPK) Fertilizer as Nutrient Supplement Using Phosphate and Oxalic Acid as Indices

“…This study evaluated the nutrient availability in soils treated with low molecular weight organic acid and amino acid -glycine and oxalic in comparison with standard fertilizer -NPK using oxalic acid and phosphate as indices. Several studies have established that plants excrete organic acids as adaptive response in nutrient deficient environment [1][2][3]5,7,16,17].…”

“…of the study, it can be inferred that the addition of oxalic acid and glycine to soil can be recommended as beneficial nutrient supplement [3].…”

“…Organic and amino acids are an important class of organic compounds common in soil rhizosphere which are exuded by plants as an adaptive response to counter nutrient deficiencies [1,2]. Organic acids have been known to alleviate and improve nutrient tolerance deficiencies, mobilize and transport nutrients, regulate physiological process such as decrease in lipid peroxidation, improve antioxidant enzyme activity and increase contents for osmotic regulation [3,4]. The transformation of phosphorus are promoted by low molecular weight organic acids [5].…”