engleski

Manganese and zinc concentrations in maize genotypes grown on soils differing in acidity

Drought and soil acidity are two major abiotic stress factors limiting maize production world wide generating imbalances of manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) status in plant. This study was conducted to determine effects of drought stress on Mn and Zn status in maize genotypes when grown on acid and non-acid soils and to find out how the Mn and Zn status affects the changes in grain yield caused by drought stress and soil acidity. 17 genotypes were grown at two locations differing in soil acidity in Eastern Croatia in 2003 and 2004. Positive values of an aridity index indicated drought stress in 2003. Genotypes had on acid soil much higher Mn and Zn concentrations than on non- acid soil: more than two times higher for Zn in both seasons ; and about 6 times in normal and about 9 times in dry season for Mn. It demonstrates that drought combined with soil acidity led to additional excessive accumulation of Mn in maize plants. However, variation exists among maize genotypes for Mn accumulation on soils differing acidity when drought occurred. Some genotypes can even similarly accumulate Mn irrespective of drought on acid soil. The Mn and Zn status affects no discernible changes in grain yield caused by drought stress and/or soil acidity.

drought stress ; genotypic variation ; grain yield ; maize ; manganese ; soil acidity ; zinc

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