engleski

Maize (Zea mays L.) root system morphology as affected by suboptimal iron availability

Root development does not follow predetermined model, on the contrary it is highly plastic process which adapts to environmental conditions. The main environmental condition that affects root growth is the bioavailability of nutrients. In most soils, iron (Fe) is present in large quantities, but mainly in forms that are scarcely available to plants. The aim of this experiment was to determine the influence of suboptimal iron availability on morphological characteristics of maize (Zea mays L.) root system. Experiment was set out in growth chambers as randomized complete block. Plants, maize hybrid Pajdaš, were grown for four weeks, in the nutrient solutions with three different iron concentrations (25, 50 and 100 µM L-1 Fe-EDTA) and in control solution (without Fe). For determination of root morphological characteristics (total root length, total root surface area, and total root volume) plant roots were scanned and analyzed 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after planting (DAP), using WinRhizo software. Measurement time had significant impact on all root morphological characteristics, and as it was expected, the highest values, when averaged across all treatments, were determined at 28 DAP, 1769.0 cm, 321.3 cm2 and 4.72 cm3 for the total root length, surface area, and volume, respectively. Significant differences between plants grown in Fe treatments and in control solution were found at 14, 21, and 28 DAP for total root length and surface area, and at 21 and 28 DAP for root volume. No statistical differences among plants grown in Fe treatments, across all measurement times, were determined for total root surface area and volume, while significantly higher total root length were determined at 21 DAP, between plants grown in 100 (1821.9 cm) and 25 µM L-1 Fe-EDTA (1488.7 cm), and at 28 DAP, when compared plants grown in 100 (2354.1 cm) to 25 (2053.0 cm) and 50 µM L-1 Fe-EDTA (2118.8 cm).

maize; iron deficiency; root length; root volume; root surface area

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