| Abstract Detail
Mineral Nutrition Yu, Futong [1], Pitchay, Dharmalingam [2], Frantz, Jonathan [3], Heckathorn, Scott A. [4], Gray, John [5]. Boron Stress and Boron Tissue Distribution in Arabidopsis thaliana and Pelargonium X Hortorum. The micronutrient boron is essential for plant growth and development. Deficient or excessive levels of this micronutrient result in the formation of growth defects that reduce yield in crop plants and result in discarding of horticultural plants. To study the responses of plants to altered boron supply, we developed a hydroponic system for Arabidopsis thaliana in which a healthy root system can be maintained. We describe this hydroponic system and how it may be easily adapted for screening of nutrient uptake mutants in this model plant species. Using this system, we report the symptoms that develop in Arabidopsis in response to excess or deficient levels of boron. Arabidopsis plants deprived of boron (0.3 ?M) exhibit stunted flower development and reduced silique growth due to the reduced fertility and reduced seed set of the flowers. Plants exposed to excess levels of boron (1 or 3 mM) exhibited a chlorosis of the leaves and also a reduced fecundity. In order to understand the general requirements for boron during plant growth, we determined the levels of boron in different root and aerial tissues over a period of four weeks. Our results will provide a better basis for the comparison of our boron study with various crop plant species (see also Poster by Ying Deng et al., at this meeting). We performed a comparison between the uptake and distribution of boron in Arabidopsis and the horticultural species Pelargonium X hortorum (cultivars – “Nittany Lion Red” and “Patriot Peach”) which is the leading bedding plant produced in midwest greenhouses. We will report on the comparison of requirements for boron between these two dicot species. Our findings are of general relevance to growers that encounter water supplies with high or low levels of this important micronutrient.
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1 - University of Toledo, Biological Sciences, Mailstop 601, 2801 West Bancroft Street, Toledo, OH, 43606, USA
2 - Raker and Sons Inc. Litchfield, MI
3 - University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, U. S. Dept. Of Agriculture –Agricultural Research Services
4 - University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, Environmental Sciences
5 - University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, Biological Sciences
Keywords:
boron
micronutrient
Mineral nutrition
nutrient deficiency
Pelargonium.
Presentation Type: Plant Biology Abstract
Session: P
Location: Exhibit Hall (Northeast, Southwest & Southeast)/Hilton
Date: Sunday, July 8th, 2007
Time: 8:00 AM
Number: P11025
Abstract ID:1973 |
