Abstract
Hydroponics were used to study the impact of acidity on growth, nutritive properties and metabolic changes in kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum Hochst). Four treatments (pH 6.0, 5.0, 4.0, and 3.0) were compared for effects on biomass, leaf and root length, crude protein, amino acid content and key enzymes of sugar metabolism. Reduction in biomass, root and leaf length, amino acid contents, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and pyruvate kinase (PK) content was observed only at pH 3.0, in association with increased leaf proline content. Kikuyu grass is able to grow normally under mild acidity (down to at least pH 4.0).
References
Adams, F.: Nutritional imbalances and constraint to plant growth on acid soils.-J. Plant Nutr. 4: 81-87, 1981.
Andrew, C.S.: Effect of calcium, pH and nitrogen on the growth and chemical composition of some tropical and temperate pasture legumes. I. Nodulation and growth.-Aust. J. agr. Res. 27: 611-623, 1976.
Bergmeyer, H.U., Grassl, M., Walter, H.-E.: Enzymes.-In: Bergmeyer, H.U., Bergmeyer, J., Grassl, M. (ed.): Methods of Enzymatic Analysis. Pp. 126-328. Verlag Chemie, Weinheim 1983.
Butler, G.W., Bailey, R.W. (ed.): Chemistry and Biochemistry of Herbage.-Academic Press, London 1973.
Dale, A.B., Read, J.W.: Irrigation of Kikuyu Pastures.-Kikuyu Research Report, NSW Department of Agriculture, Kikuyu 1975.
Delauney, E.F., Verma, D.P.S.: Proline biosynthesis and osmoregulation in plants.-Plant J. 4: 215-223, 1993.
Delhaize, E., Ryan, P.R.: Aluminium toxicity and tolerance in plants.-Plant Physiol. 107: 315-317, 1995.
Doelhert, D.C., Kuo, T.M., Felker, F.C.: Enzymes of sucrose and hexose metabolism in developing kernels of two inbreds of maize.-Plant Physiol. 86: 1013-1019, 1988.
Fageria, N.K., Baligar, V.C., Wright, R.J.: Growth and nutrient concentrations of alfalfa and common bean as influenced by soil acidity.-Plant Soil 119: 331-333, 1989.
Huber, S.C., Akazawa, T.: A novel sucrose synthase pathway for sucrose degradation in cultured sycamore cells.-Plant Physiol. 81: 1008-1013, 1986.
Mahler, R.L., McDole, R.E.: Effect of soil pH on crop yield in Northern Idaho.-Agron. J. 79: 751-755, 1987.
Marais, J.P., Figenschou, D.L., de Figueredo, M.: Effect of nutrient calcium on the cell wall composition and digestibility of kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum Hochst).-Grassland Soc. South Afr. 9: 72-75, 1992.
Martillotti, F., Antongiovanni, M., Rizzi, L., Santi, G., Bittante, G. (ed.): Metodi di Analisi per la Valutazione degli Alimenti d'Impiego Zootecnico. [Methods of Feed Analysis.].-IPRA, Roma 1987.
Mears, P.E.: Kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) as a pasture grass.-Trop. Grassl. 4: 139-152, 1970.
Miles, N.: Nutrition of intensive pastures in the summer rainfall areas of Southern Africa.-J. Grassl. Soc. South Afr. 8: 39-48, 1991.
Nelson, D.W., Sommers, L.E.: Total nitrogen analysis of soil and plant tissues.-J. Assoc. Off. Anal. Chem. 63: 770-778, 1980.
Nowotny, I., Schwanz, J., Rothe, G.M.: Influence of soil acidification and liming on selected enzymes of the carbohydrate metabolism and the contents of two major organic acids of mycorrhizal roots of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.]Karst.).-Plant Soil 199: 41-51, 1998.
Podestá, E.E., Plaxton, W.C.: Regulation of cytosolyc carbon metabolism in germinating Ricinus communis cotyledons. I. Developmental profiles for the activity, concentration and molecular structure of the pyrophosphate and ATP-dependent phosphofructokinases, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and pyruvate kinase.-Planta 194: 374-380, 1994.
Rumball, P.J.: The performance of several sub-tropical grasses in the northland and hill pastures.-New Zeal. J. Agr. 34: 375-382, 1991.
Russell, J.S.: Comparative salt tolerance of some tropical and temperate legumes and tropical grasses.-Aust. J. exp. Agr. anim. Husb. 16: 103-109, 1976.
Russel, J.S., Webb, H.R.: Climatic range of grasses and legumes used in pastures.-J. aust. Inst. agr. Sci. 42: 156-163, 1976.
Shankar, N., Khan, S.R., Srivastava, H.S.: The response of nitrate reductase activity and nitrate assimilation in maize roots to growth regulators at acidic pH.-Biol. Plant. 44: 599-601, 2001.
Shubert, E., Mengel, K., Schubert, S.: Soil pH and calcium effect on nitrogen fixation and growth of broad bean.-Agron. J. 82: 969-972, 1990b.
Shubert, E., Schubert, S., Mengel, K.: Effect of low pH of the root medium on proton release, growth, and nutrient uptake of field beans (Vicia faba).-Plant Soil 124: 239-244, 1990a.
Skerman, P.J., Riveros, F.: FAO Plant Production and Protection Series.-FAO & UN, Rome 1990.
Tsai, C.Y., Salamini, F., Nelson, O.E.: Enzyme of carbohydrate metabolism in developing endosperm of maize.-Plant Physiol. 46: 299-306, 1970.
Van Beusichem, M.L.: Nutrient absorption by pea plants during dinitrogen fixation. 2. Effects of ambiental acidity and temperature.-Neth. J. agr. Sci. 30: 85-97, 1982.
Von Uexkull, H., Mutert, E.: Global extent, development and economic impact of acid soils.-Plant Soil 171: 1-15, 1995.
Walker, R.P., Trevanion, S.J., Leegod, R.C.: Phosphoenol-pyruvate carboxykinase from higher plants: purification from cucumber and evidence of rapid proteolytic cleavage in extracts a range of plant tissues.-Planta 196: 58-63, 1995.
Whiteman, P.C.: Tropical Pasture Science.-Oxford University Press, Oxford 1990.
Wilkinson, R.E., Duncan, R.R.: Sorghum seedling growth as influenced by H+, Ca2+ and Mn2+ concentrations.-J. Plant Nutr. 12: 1379-1394, 1989.
Wingler, A., Walker, R.P., Chen, Z.-H., Leegood, R.C.: Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase is involved in the decarboxylation of aspartate in the bundle sheath of maize.-Plant Physiol. 120: 539-545, 1999.
Yan, F., Schubert, S., Mengel, K.: Effect of low root medium pH on net proton release, root respiration, and root growth of corn (Zea mays L.) and broad bean (Vicia faba L.).-Plant Physiol. 99: 415-421, 1992.
Zhu, Y. J., Komor, E., Moore, P. H.: Sucrose accumulation in the sugarcane stem is regulated by the difference between the activities of soluble acid invertase and sucrose phosphate synthase.-Plant Physiol. 115: 609-616, 1997.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sidari, M., Panuccio, M. & Muscolo, A. Influence of Acidity on Growth and Biochemistry of Pennisetum clandestinum . Biologia Plantarum 48, 133–136 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:BIOP.0000024290.38546.8a
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:BIOP.0000024290.38546.8a