Nutrient deficiency symptoms and boron uptake mechanisms of rice

Abstract

There is little agreement on the leaf and shoot boron (B) requirement of rice (Oryza saliva L.) and the optimum hydroponic solution B concentration for rice. Questions on the mechanism of B uptake active or passive are also unresolved. We grew rice in hydroponic solutions in a growth chamber for six weeks with B at 0, 0.05, 0.2, 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 μM. Transpirational flow, dry matter yields and tissue B were determined. Results indicated that B deficiency occurred when there was <7.3 mg kg^‐1 B in the flag leaves, <3.6 mg kg^‐1 B in shoots, and <0.2 μM B in the nutrient solutions. Boron additions increased dry matter and plant height. Typical B‐deficiency symptoms were a light color or chlorosis on almost all of the youngest leaves and stems, an unthriftiness, leaf tip burn, and pale bands 2–3 mm wide on leaves, particularly on the moderately B‐deficient plants. Whitish and twisted new leaf tips occurred at >0.05 μM B. A mass balance analysis that compared the total mass of B in the plant versus B provided via transpirational flow showed that at high hydroponic B supply, passive uptake and active excretion of B, or, active blockage of B may have occurred, for > 10‐fold differences existed between the B mass in plant and B mass that could be provided via transpirational flow. Thus, B uptake was against a concentration gradient and high B supply, and as other evidence indicated, at low B supply.

Notes

Approved for publication by the Director of the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station as Manuscript No. 98–09–0041.