Premium
Boron foliar fertilization of soybean and lychee: Effects of side of application and formulation adjuvants
Author(s) -
Will Silke,
Eichert Thomas,
Fernández Victoria,
Müller Torsten,
Römheld Volker
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of plant nutrition and soil science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.644
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1522-2624
pISSN - 1436-8730
DOI - 10.1002/jpln.201100107
Subject(s) - boric acid , chromosomal translocation , sorbitol , absorption (acoustics) , chemistry , boron , horticulture , botany , human fertilization , biology , agronomy , food science , materials science , biochemistry , organic chemistry , composite material , gene
Experiments to assess the rate of absorption and translocation of foliar‐applied, isotopically labeled boric acid (BA) were carried out with lychee ( Litchi chinensis Sonn.) and soybean ( Glycine max [L.] Merr.) plants. Boron (B) absorption and translocation within the plant, one week after treatment, was investigated after adding to the boric acid (BA solutions 0.5 mM CaCl 2 and/or 50 or 500 mM sorbitol). The contribution of stomata to the absorption process was assessed by applying the solutions either to the adaxial or to the abaxial leaf side. Both plant species differed greatly in total absorption rates. The adaxial leaf surface (lacking stomata) of lychee leaves was nearly impermeable, while the stomatous abaxial surface was permeable to BA solutions. In this species, no translocation of 10 B to other leaf parts and no effect of adjuvants in increasing 10 B absorption were recorded. In contrast, 10 B was absorbed both by adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces of soybean leaves. Boron concentrations measured in treated soybean leaves were sixfold higher after application to the abaxial as compared to the adaxial leaf surface. The addition of adjuvants significantly enhanced the rate of 10 B absorption, but not its translocation within the plant. Treatments containing 500 mM sorbitol led to increased 10 B absorption and enhanced acropetal 10 B movement, whereas adding only 50 mM sorbitol had no significant effect. Application of 0.5 mM CaCl 2 in combination with 500 mM sorbitol decreased the rate of 10 B absorption, compared to the performance of 500 mM sorbitol alone. Basipetal 10 B translocation was very limited. A distinct effect of B‐sorbitol complexes on B translocation apart from the pure adjuvant effect could not be discerned in this investigation.