This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Eskew, D. L. Articles by Norvell, W. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Eskew, D. L. Articles by Norvell, W. A. Agricola Articles by Eskew, D. L. Articles by Norvell, W. A.

Articles

Nickel in Higher Plants

Further Evidence for an Essential Role

United States Plant, Soil and Nutrition Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, Department of Agronomy, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853

Soybeans (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) grown in Ni-deficient nutrient solutions accumulated toxic urea concentrations which resulted in necrosis of their leaflet tips, a characteristic of Ni deficiency. Estimates of the Ni requirement of a plant were made by using seeds produced with different initial Ni contents. When compared to soybeans grown from seeds containing 2.5 nanograms Ni, plants grown from seeds containing 13 nanograms Ni had a significantly reduced incidence of leaflet tip necrosis. Plants grown from seeds containing 160 nanograms Ni produced leaves with almost no leaflet tip necrosis symptoms. Neither Al, Cd, Sn, nor V were able to substitute for Ni.

In other experiments, a small excess of EDTA was included in the nutrient solution in addition to that needed to chelate micronutrient metals. Under these conditions, nodulated nitrogen-fixing soybeans had a high incidence of leaflet tip necrosis, even when 1 micromolar NiEDTA was supplied. However, in nutrient solutions containing inorganic sources of N, 1 micromolar NiEDTA almost completely prevented leaflet tip necrosis, although no significant increase in leaf urease activity was observed. Cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp) grown in Ni-deficient nutrient solutions containing NO₃ and NH₄ also developed leaflet tip necrosis, which was analogous to that produced in soybeans, and 1 micromolar NiEDTA additions prevented these symptoms.

These findings further support our contention that Ni is an essential element for higher plants.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. Bai, C. C. Reilly, and B. W. Wood Nickel Deficiency Disrupts Metabolism of Ureides, Amino Acids, and Organic Acids of Young Pecan Foliage Plant Physiology, February 1, 2006; 140(2): 433 - 443. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]