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Abstract
The main objective of this work was to determine whether nitrogen-use efficiency was affected by the application of different forms (iodide vs iodate) and dosages (20, 40 and 80 µM) of iodine, to ascertain the influence of this trace element in a biofortification programme in lettuce plants. The parameters analysed were root and shoot biomass, nitrate concentration, and organic and total nitrogen as well as those defining nitrogen-use efficiency in plants: total nitrogen content, total nitrogen accumulation, nitrogen-uptake efficiency and nitrogen-utilization efficiency. In addition to decreasing shoot biomass, iodide treatments reduced leaf levels of nitrates, organic nitrogen, and total nitrogen content. Iodate treatments did not affect the concentration of nitrogen in its different forms. The application of iodide caused total nitrogen accumulation and nitrogen-uptake efficiency to decrease, iodate application improved the latter. Both iodide and iodate applications significantly improved nitrogen-utilization efficiency in comparison to the control. The results obtained show that iodate application rates of 40 µM or lower significantly improved all nitrogen parameters analysed, making it possible to increase lettuce productivity and quality.
Acknowledgements
This work was financed by the PAI programme (Plan Andaluz de Investigación, Grupo de Investigación AGR161) and by a grant from the FPU of the Mininterio de Educación y Ciencia awarded to BBL.
