Absorption and transport of Fe and Rb in rice cultivars differing in their Fe‐stress response: An analysis of the patterns of uptake in relation to the tolerance

Abstract

The absorption and transport of Fe and Rb were measured in excised roots and intact seedlings of several rice cultivars including those which showed Fe‐stress tolerance and susceptibility in the upland nursery conditions, to understand and correlate differences in their Fe‐stress tolerance characteristics.

Fe uptake is found to be reduced in Fe‐stress susceptible B‐36 rice eultivar under competition with Ca in the absorption medium. This difference in Fe uptake by a tolerant and susceptible cultivar could be used as a criterion for identification of Fe‐stress susceptible crop cultivars. It is found that considerable differences exist in Fe absorption and transport among cultivars, which however could not be correlated with their Fe‐stress tolerance. There are also wide differnces in Rb uptake patterns among cultivars.

Key words:

• Micronutrient
• Fe
• Rb
• Fe‐stress response
• rice cultivars