TY - JOUR
T1 - Potassium and storage root development
T2 - focusing on photosynthesis, metabolites and soluble carbohydrates in cassava
AU - Omondi, John Okoth
AU - Lazarovitch, Naftali
AU - Rachmilevitch, Shimon
AU - Kukew, Titaya
AU - Yermiyahu, Uri
AU - Yasuor, Hagai
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Scandinavian Plant Physiology Society
PY - 2020/6/1
Y1 - 2020/6/1
N2 - The linkage between K and the development of storage roots in root crops is partially understood, hence this experiment determined some of the mechanisms involved in cassava. The effects of 10, 40, 70, 100, 150 and 200 mg K l−1 fertigation on photosynthetic attributes, soluble carbohydrates, starch, metabolites, growth and yield were studied in a greenhouse. Storage root yield, number of storage roots, stomatal conductance and net photosynthesis reached maximum at 150 mg K l−1. However, soluble carbohydrates and starch in the leaves significantly declined with an increasing concentration of K solution, similarly to the trend of glycerol in the leaves. Conversely, malic acid, citric acid and propionic acid gradually increased reaching maximum at 150, 150 and 70 mg K l−1 respectively. Combined, these results suggest that sugars were transported from the leaves to a stronger sink – the bulking storage roots. This and the increase of intermediate metabolites of tricarboxylic acid cycle provided the energy required for the bulking process and the development of the storage roots. Although the measured parameters indirectly link K to storage root development, they nonetheless form a basis for studies on direct interactions.
AB - The linkage between K and the development of storage roots in root crops is partially understood, hence this experiment determined some of the mechanisms involved in cassava. The effects of 10, 40, 70, 100, 150 and 200 mg K l−1 fertigation on photosynthetic attributes, soluble carbohydrates, starch, metabolites, growth and yield were studied in a greenhouse. Storage root yield, number of storage roots, stomatal conductance and net photosynthesis reached maximum at 150 mg K l−1. However, soluble carbohydrates and starch in the leaves significantly declined with an increasing concentration of K solution, similarly to the trend of glycerol in the leaves. Conversely, malic acid, citric acid and propionic acid gradually increased reaching maximum at 150, 150 and 70 mg K l−1 respectively. Combined, these results suggest that sugars were transported from the leaves to a stronger sink – the bulking storage roots. This and the increase of intermediate metabolites of tricarboxylic acid cycle provided the energy required for the bulking process and the development of the storage roots. Although the measured parameters indirectly link K to storage root development, they nonetheless form a basis for studies on direct interactions.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85078678646&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/ppl.13060
DO - 10.1111/ppl.13060
M3 - Article
C2 - 31837027
AN - SCOPUS:85078678646
SN - 0031-9317
VL - 169
SP - 169
EP - 178
JO - Physiologia Plantarum
JF - Physiologia Plantarum
IS - 2
ER -