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The Effect of Period of Calcium Supply and Mobility of Calcium in the Plant on Peanut Fruit Filling
Author(s) -
Brady N. C.
Publication year - 1948
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1948.036159950012000c0079x
Subject(s) - citation , library science , state (computer science) , period (music) , history , political science , computer science , art , algorithm , aesthetics
I THE past few years considerable information has been obtained concerning the effects of supplying nutrients to developing peanut fruits (i, 2,, 4). Experiments have shown that in a.ddition to supplying mineral elements to the roots, the nutrient requirements of the fruits must be considered in any balanced soil fertility program with peanuts. Burkhart and Collins (2) obtained the first direct evidence that mineral elements may enter the plant through the developing gynophores. Other workers (i), in isolating the specific effect of various cations and anions, have shown that a supply of calcium to the developing fruits is essential for maximum kernel development. In fact, peanut fruits are so sensitive to a supply of calcium that this plant has been used with considerable success to measure the release of calcium from various soil colloids (5, 6). Since calcium is so essential for proper fruit formation, it is a matter of considerable importance to determine the stage of fruit development at which a supply of this element is most effective. It is possible that a supply of calcium for a relatively short period during the growth of the fruit may be as effective in promoting well-filled fruit as a continuous supply of this ion. Of particular importance in considering the role of calcium in peanut nutrition is the movement of this ion within the plant. The presence of crystals of some calcium compound, usually referred to as calcium oxalate, in certain cells of the vegetative portion of the plant has long been known. In greenhouse studies with peanuts, Burkhart found that some of these • crystals disappeared from the lower leaves under conditions of very low calcium supply. His observations indicated that calcium may not be entirely immobile in the peanut plant but may be remobilized if the calcium supply is depleted. The purpose of the present study was two fold, viz., (a) to determine the stage of fruit development at which calcium was most beneficial to the peanut plant, and (b) to determine, by means of fruit quality and chemical composition measurements, the extent of movement of calcium from one side of the plant to the other. 'MATERIALS AND METHODS