Different iron‐manganese relationships in two flax cultivars

Abstract

Manganese content of flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) is greatly affected by Fe supply. Two flax cultivars, Clark and Culbert, were grown on a Calciaquoll under greenhouse conditions to compare their responses to FeEDDHA. Although the Mn concentrations of both Clark and Culbert were greatly reduced by FeEDDHA, the performance of the two cultivars varied as follows: (i) Culbert accumulated less Mn in tops, especially leaves, than did Clark, but the relative differences between cultivars were larger in the presence of the chelate; (ii) Culbert accumulated more Fe than Clark, particularly in young plants at low soil temperatures; (iii) necrotic spots were present on lower leaves of Culbert, but not of Clark, containing high levels of Mn in the absence of the chelate; (iv) a decrease in soil temperature appreciably lowered Mn concentrations in Clark but not in Culbert; and (v) FeEDDHA reduced Mn concentration of Culbert, but not of Clark, to such an extent that an apparent Mn deficiency was induced in Culbert grown at a soil temperature of 24°C. The influence of genotype should be considered when Fe‐Mn interactions in flax are studied.

Key words:

• Calcareous soil
• FeEDDHA
• Fe‐Mn balance
• Genotype‐nutrient interactions
• Linum usitatissimum L
• Mn deficiency
• Mn toxicity
• Soil temperature