Effects of excess soil manganese on stomatal function in two soybean cultivars

Abstract

Manganese tolerant ‘Lee’ and Mn sensitive ‘Forrest’ soybean cultivars were grown in a potting soil with no known Mn toxicity and in Loring soil treated with excess Mn. Manganese toxicity in Loring soil was induced by the addition of Mn at 0, 100, 200 and 400 ug g^‐1 as MnSO₄.H₂O. A preliminary experiment was conducted to determine the appropriate Mn stress levels for Lee and Forrest soybean cultivars in Loring soil. Because the Loring soil produced severe Mn toxicity in both cultivars, even with an intial pH of 4.9 and no added Mn, CaCO₃ (2 g kg^‐1 ) was added to Increase the pH to 6–6.3. Soil was analysed for extractable and water soluble Mn and plants for Mn, Ca and Fe.

A second experiment was conducted to determine the effect of Mn toxicity on stomatal function. The procedure was the same as in the first experiment except that the CaCO₃ treatment was 2.5 g kg^‐1 to raise soil pH to 6.2 ‐6.5. Plants were grown in a greenhouse for 10 days and then moved to a growth chamber before making stomatal conductance measurements. A steady state porometer (LI 1600) was used. Results indicated that Mn toxicity closed stomates and decreased transpiration rates. This effect was more pronounced in Mn sensitive Forrest than in Mn tolerant Lee.

Key words:

• Manganese toxicity
• Glycine max L.
• Forrest
• Lee
• stonatal conductance
• soil acidity
• steady state porometer
• differential Mn tolerance