Differential Changes in Cell-Wall Content and Boron and Calcium Concentration in Newhall Navel Orange Grafted on Two Rootstocks Differing in Boron-Deficiency Responses

• Published in: Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis Vol. 46; no. 4; pp. 439 - 453
• Main Authors: Liu, Gui-Dong, Wang, Rui-Dong, Wu, Li-Shu, Peng, Shu-Ang, Wang, Yun-Hua, Jiang, Cun-Cang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia Taylor & Francis 21.02.2015; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: boron; Boron deficiency; calcium; cell wall; cell walls; citrange; Citroncirus webberi; Citrus sinensis; leaves; nutrient solutions; pectin; pectins; Poncirus trifoliata; rootstocks; trifoliate orange
• ISSN: 1532-2416; 0010-3624; 1532-2416; 1532-4133
• DOI: 10.1080/00103624.2014.997384

The study aimed to determine if the variability of the effect of boron (B) deficiency on Newhall navel orange grafted on trifoliate orange (deficient-B-sensitive) and on citrange (deficient-B-tolerant) can be explained on the basis of changes in cell-wall content and in cell-wall B and calcium (Ca) concentrations. The plants were cultured in the nutrient solution (with or without B) for 65 days. Boron deficiency increased the cell-wall content in old leaves (leaves from last season) of trifoliate orange but had no impact on citrange. Boron deficiency did not reduce B concentration in cell walls of old leaves of citrange-grafted plants but increased their Ca concentration. For trifoliate-orange-grafted plants, however, B deficiency decreased the B concentration in cell walls of old leaves and did not increase their Ca concentration. The changes of B and Ca concentrations between with and without B supply in pectin were in good agreement with the changes of those in cell walls. The relatively greater ability of citrange-grafted plants to maintain B and Ca in the cell wall may contribute to their tolerance to low external B.