Sodium‐induced calcium deficiency in sugar beet during substitution of potassium by sodium |
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Authors: | Abdul Wakeel Fathi Abd‐El‐Motagally Diedrich Steffens Sven Schubert |
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Affiliation: | Institute of Plant Nutrition, Interdisciplinary Research Center (IFZ), Justus Liebig University, Heinrich‐Buff‐Ring 26–32, 35392 Gie?en, Germany |
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Abstract: | Functions of sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) are closely associated. In some crops, Na+ is able to prevent or reduce considerably the occurrence of K+ deficiency. Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) is a natrophilic crop, and positive effects of Na+ applications on yield were observed when K+ was sufficiently supplied. However, it is not known which specific function of K+ can limit the growth of sugar beet when K+ is substituted by an equivalent amount of Na+. Therefore, K+ substitution by Na+ was investigated for sugar beet in hydroponics. Surprisingly, no K+‐deficiency symptoms were observed. However, calcium (Ca2+) concentrations in the leaves were significantly decreased. Moreover, Ca2+ uptake and translocation through xylem sap were reduced in Na+‐treated plants. It is concluded that Ca2+ uptake by roots and its translocation via xylem sap primarily limit the possibility of K+ substitution by Na+ in sugar beet nutrition. |
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Keywords: | Beta vulgaris sodium nutrition calcium uptake calcium translocation |
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