Pattern of accumulation of some major and trace elements in salt‐tolerant and salt‐sensitive lines of lentil under nitrogen deficiency

Abstract

The response of two lines of lentil (Lens culinaris), ILL 6796 (salt‐tolerant) and ILL 6778 (salt‐sensitive), to nitrogen (N) deficiency was examined under glasshouse conditions. Plants of the two lines were subjected to 56(control), 28, 14, and 7mgN L^‐1 in Rorison's nutrient solution. The ILL 6796 had significantly greater dry matters of shoots and roots, and seed yield than ILL 6778 at varying external N levels of the growth medium. Concentrations of N and P in different plant parts of the two lines generally decreased with decrease in N levels of the rooting medium. By contrast, an increase in leaf calcium (Ca²⁺) concentrations in both lines was observed with decreasing external N levels, although root Ca²⁺ concentrations decreased considerably and those of seed remained unaffected. An antagonistic effect between N and Ca²⁺ was observed in the leaves of both lines. Magnesium (Mg²⁺) in the leaves and roots of both lines generally decreased, whereas those of seed remained unaffected under N deficient regimes. Comparison of lines showed that ILL 6796 had greater N in the leaves and roots, and potassium (K⁺) in the roots than those of ILL 6778. By contrast, ILL 6778 accumulated significantly greater Mg²⁺ and zinc (Zn²⁺) in leaves and manganese (Mn²⁺) in seed than ILL 6796 at the lower N levels. Of the different trace elements analyzed only iron (Fe²⁺), Mn²⁺ and Zn²⁺ in seed of both lines slightly increased with decrease in N level of the growth medium. The concentrations of trace elements in different plant parts of both lines did not bear any relationship with the uptake of major nutrients under N deficient regimes. It is concluded that in lentil uptake of maj or nutrients such as N, P, K, Ca, and Mg was perturbed due to N deficiency, but in contrast, the uptake of trace elements Fe, Mn, Zn, and copper (Cu) in the leaves and roots remained unaffected except the leaf Zn²⁺ in ILL 6778.