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Genetic Control of Uptake and a Role of Boron in Tomato¹

ABSTRACT

Differential uptake of B by two tomato genotypes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) occurred both in soil and in solution culture. Boron deficiency developed in T3238 tomato grown on seven acid soils but not on five calcareous soils. The acid soils contained less, and the alkaline soils contained more, than 0.20 ppm hot-water-extractable B. T3238 tomato required several times as much hot-water-extractable B in a soil as Rutgers. With adequate B in the growth medium for uptake, T3238 utilized the transported B as well as did Rutgers. T3238 and Rutgers tomatoes can be used as indicator plants to test B availability in soils.

Boron deficiency symptoms developed in the apical meristem and in the developing leaf of T3238 tomato within 48 hours after the plants were transferred from solutions containing 0.52 mg/liter of B to those containing 0.07 mg/liter. Boron deficiency in apical meristematic tissue caused: (i) increase in cell size; (ii) nuclear enlargement; and (iii) tissue disintegration. In leaf tissue B deficiency caused: (i) necrosis and collapse of the upper epidermal and palisade cells; and (ii) accumulation of phenolic materials in these areas. Rutgers developed no deficiency symptoms under the same conditions.

¹ Contribution from the Plant Stress Lab., Agr. Res. Service, US Dep. of Agr., Beltsville, Md. 20705.

² Supv. Soil Scientist and Plant Physiologist, respectively.

Received for publication July 19, 1972. Accepted for publication September 1, 1972.