Induction of in vivo root ferric chelate reductase activity in fruit tree rootstock

Abstract

A method has been developed to consistently induce increases in root ferric chelate reductase activity in the fruit tree rootstock GF 677 (Prunus amygdalopersica) grown under iron (Fe) deficiency. Clonal GF 677 plants were grown hydroponically in a growth chamber with 0 or 90 μM Fe(III)‐EDTA. Root ferric chelate reductase activity was measured in vivo using BPDS. Plants grown without Fe developed visible symptoms of chlorosis and had lower root ferric chelate reductase activities than those grown with Fe. Root ferric chelate reductase activities were 0.1–1.9 and 0.6–5.3 nmol of Fe reduced per gram of fresh mass and minute, respectively, in Fe‐deficient and sufficient plants. However, when plants grown without Fe for several days were resupplied with 180 μM of Fe(III)‐EDTA, FC‐R activities increased within 1 day. The FC‐R values after Fe resupply were 20‐fold higher than those found in Fe‐deficient plants and 5‐fold higher than those found in the Fe‐sufficient controls. After three days of the Fe treatments the FC‐R activities had decreased again to the control values. The reduction of Fe was localized at the subapical root zone. In the conditions used we have found no decreases of the nutrient solution pH values, indicating that this type of response is not strong enough to be detected in peach tree rootstocks. Also, no major changes in root morphology have been found in response to Fe deficiency. This ferric chelate reductase induction protocol may be used in screening assays to select rootstock genotypes tolerant to Fe chlorosis.