Summary
Potted poplars (strainsmarilandica, serotina andFlachslanden ofPopulus euramericana) which developed iron-deficiency symptoms (chlorosis of upper leaves, winter die-back of leader, flushing of lateral buds) were treated with a soil application of iron chelate to study the effect of iron nutrition upon CO2-uptake, iron and pigment content of leaves, and leaf size of a tree species. Foliar content of each iron, chlorophyll, β-carotene, lutein, and violaxanthin was significantly increased by the treatment. Chlorophyll b proved to be particularly sensitive to iron supply and the Qa/b was also significantly altered.
CO2-uptake increased in fertilized and non-fertilized leaves with increasing light up to 40,000 Lux, but fertilized leaves assimilated more CO2 than non-fertilized leaves, especially at light intensities from 5,000 Lux upwards. The assimilatory number was decreased by the iron application since larger amounts of chlorophyll were present in fertilized leaves. If CO2-uptake was based upon an area unit basis the fertilizer effect became distinct even at 500 Lux. Thus CO2-uptake is a quick, valuable measure of fertilizer responses.
In severe cases, iron deficiency also affects leaf size and thus indirectly reduces photosynthetic activity. A chelate application during the growing season will not affect the size of leaves already formed but may considerably increase the size of leaves formed subsequent to the treatment.
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Keller, T., Koch, W. The effect of iron chelate fertilization of poplar upon CO2-uptake, leaf size, and content of leaf pigments and iron. Plant Soil 20, 116–126 (1964). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01378103
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01378103