Effect of nickel concentration on tomato plant nutrition and dry matter yield

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of nickel (Ni) on the nutrition of tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum M. cv. Marmande). Dry matter weights of roots, shoots, and fruit were also studied. Plants, receiving 5, 15, and 30 mg Ni L^‐1, were grown in nutrient solution, and roots, stems plus branches, leaves, and fruit were analyzed at different developmental stages for essential nutrients. The presence of Ni in nutrient medium affected plant growth, decreasing dramatically dry matter yield compared to control plants. This plant reduction was likely due to the disturbances and imbalances of the different essential mineral elements. The general effect was a decrease in the absorption and accumulation of these nutrients. The nitrogen (N) content in the plant increased significantly with increasing Ni treatments, showing a synergetic effect between Ni and N. A positive interaction between Ni and potassium (K) was also found. In this way, high levels of Ni in solution caused an increase in K uptake and, however, a decrease in sodium (Na) absorption (antagonism Na/K). Since Ni is taken up as Ni²⁺, its absorption in high concentrations decreased significantly the uptake of other divalent cations, such as Mg²⁺, Fe²⁺, Mn²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Zn²⁺, with manganese (Mn) being the nutrient showing the highest restriction in the whole plant (roots and shoots).

Notes

Corresponding author.

E.P.S.O. Universidad Miguel Hernández.