Influence of short-term macronutrient deprivation in maize on photosynthetic characteristics, transpiration and pigment content

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 9; no. 1; pp. 14181 - 12
• Main Authors: Sitko, Krzysztof, Gieroń, Żaneta, Szopiński, Michał, Zieleźnik-Rusinowska, Paulina, Rusinowski, Szymon, Pogrzeba, Marta, Daszkowska-Golec, Agata, Kalaji, Hazem M., Małkowski, Eugeniusz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 02.10.2019; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 631/449/1734; 631/449/1736; 631/449/2661; Anthocyanins; Calcium - metabolism; Chlorophyll; Chlorophyll - metabolism; Conductance; Corn; Humanities and Social Sciences; Magnesium - metabolism; multidisciplinary; Nutrients - deficiency; Nutrients - metabolism; Phosphorus - metabolism; Photosynthesis; Photosystem II; Pigments; Plant Transpiration; Potassium - metabolism; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Short term; Stomata; Stomatal conductance; Transpiration; Zea mays - metabolism
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-50579-1

The aim of the research was to compare the impact of short-term deprivation of selected macronutrients (Ca, K, Mg and P) on the photosynthetic characteristics, transpiration and pigment content in maize. The strongest inhibition of photosynthesis was caused by a deprivation of Mg, which was visible as a decrease in the photosynthetic and transpiration rates, stomatal conductance, photosystem II (PSII) performance, chlorophyll and flavonol content with a simultaneously increased content of anthocyanins. In the K-deprived plants, a decrease in the photosynthetic rate was observed. However, the transpiration rate and stomatal conductance did not differ significantly compared with the control. In the K-deprived plants, a decrease in chlorophyll and an increase in the anthocyanin content were also observed. We showed that Ca starvation resulted in a decrease in the photosynthetic and transpiration rates, stomatal conductance and PSII performance, while the pigment content was not significantly different compared with the control. In the case of P-deprived plants, we observed a decrease in the photosynthetic and transpiration rates. Interestingly, the inhibition of stomatal conductance was the strongest in the P-deprived plants compared with all of the investigated elements. However, the performance of PSII was not significantly affected by P starvation compared with the control. Our results present for the first time a comprehensive analysis of the effect of short-term macronutrient deprivation on photosynthesis and transpiration in maize plants.