Gradients in Mn accumulation and changes in plant form for potato plants affected by Mn toxicity

Abstract

The time-dependence of Mn accumulation was confirmed in potato foliage (Solanum tuberosum. L.cv. Norland) grown in solution culture. Older leaves grown at 0.61 mM Mn had substantially higher Mn concentrations than younger leaves and stem samples. Levels of Mn in older leaves increased steadily from 4000 µg g⁻¹ at one week to 8–10,000 µg g⁻¹ at 6 weeks, but were relatively constant in the emerging leaves. Even foliage grown at low Mn levels (0.01 mM Mn) had 4 fold gradients in Mn concentration from younger (40 µg g⁻¹) to older leaves (180 µg g⁻¹).

At 0.61 mM Mn, concentrations of 3–4000 µg g⁻¹ in the youngest fully-developed leaves did not bring about any decline in yield, and levels of up to 5000 µg g⁻¹ occurred in individual potato leaves before Mn toxicity symptoms were observed. Potato foliage grown at the high Mn had similar leaf numbers, but showed an increased stem length and smaller leaves than foliage grown at 0.01 mM Mn. In particular, the leaf area of the middle and lower leaf fractions were affected by the high Mn level.

The ability of rapidly growing plants to withstand high concentrations of Mn is discussed in relation to the pattern of dry matter and Mn accumulation shown by potato foliage.