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Physiological response to potassium deficiency in three sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas [L.] Lam.) genotypes differing in potassium utilization efficiency

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Abstract

Potassium (K+) is an essential mineral element affecting plant growth and development. The aim of this study was to investigate the physiological response to K+ deficiency in three sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas [L.] Lam.) cultivars with differing K+ utilization efficiencies (KUE). The effects on plant growth status, physiological characteristics, leaf ultrastructure, and photosynthesis were examined. The results showed that K+ deficiency significantly decreased total biomass productivity, root yield, photosynthetic efficiency, and chlorophyll (Chl) content, while increased leaf sucrose and proline content of the three cultivars. K+ deficiency caused acute damage to chloroplast ultrastructure associated with leaf Chl biosynthesis and photosynthate accumulation, and also disturbed the protective enzymes involved in the antioxidative defense system. Compared with the other two cultivars, Xushu32 had higher root yield and better growth performance under K+ deficiency, which was mainly attributed to its high KUE and greater carbohydrate conversion and net photosynthetic efficiency. As a whole, these data suggest that greater tolerance to K+ deficiency among sweet potato genotypes is associated to the capability to mount a stronger physiological stress response during growth.

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Acknowledgments

This study was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31411 01083) and the Ministry of Agriculture of the People’s Republic of China with funds earmarked for the China Agriculture Research System (CARS-11-B-13) and the Special Fund for Agro-scientific Research in the Public Interest (201303039, 201503309). The results obtained in this study reflect only the authors’ view. The authors and corresponding affiliations are not liable for any damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein. The authors are grateful to Dr. Zhou Li (Xuzhou Medical College, Jiangsu province, P.R. China) for scanning chloroplast ultrastructure with a transmission electron microscope.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Agronomy, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China

    Zhong-Hou Tang, Zheng-Hui Liu & Yan-Feng Ding

  2. Sweetpotato Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xuzhou, 221121, China

    Zhong-Hou Tang, Ai-Jun Zhang, Meng Wei, Xiao-Guang Chen & Hong-Min Li

  3. Key Laboratory of Sweetpotato Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Xuzhou, 221121, China

    Zhong-Hou Tang, Ai-Jun Zhang, Meng Wei, Xiao-Guang Chen & Hong-Min Li

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  1. Zhong-Hou Tang
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Correspondence to Yan-Feng Ding.

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Communicated by W. Zhou.

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Tang, ZH., Zhang, AJ., Wei, M. et al. Physiological response to potassium deficiency in three sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas [L.] Lam.) genotypes differing in potassium utilization efficiency. Acta Physiol Plant 37, 184 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-015-1901-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-015-1901-0

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