Premium
Effects of shortage of calcium and other cations on 45 Ca mobility, growth and nutritional disorders of tomato plants ( Lycopersicon esculentum )
Author(s) -
Chiu TsaiFua,
Bould Cyril
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.2740271015
Subject(s) - lycopersicon , calcium , economic shortage , nutrient , micronutrient , chemistry , hydroponics , horticulture , botany , biology , linguistics , philosophy , organic chemistry , government (linguistics)
Calcium mobility in tomato plants grown in sand‐ and water‐cultures with little calcium and other cations was studied using 45 Ca as a tracer. Radioautographs and 45 Ca activity measurements of plant parts showed that 45 Ca was “fixed” near the base (root or stem) of plants grown in low‐Ca nutrient solutions, compared with plants grown with adequate Ca in which 45 Ca was readily translocated to the tops. When plants were grown with little Ca and other cations (i.e. low K, Mg and micronutrients), 45 Ca was also readily translocated to the tops. Calcium stress during the fruiting stage caused serious blossom‐end rot of fruits, indicating that Ca absorbed by plants before fruiting was not readily available subsequently for fruit development. Leaf total‐Ca is not a reliable index for predicting fruit‐Ca deficiency in tomatoes.