The Uptake and Effects of Calcium and Phosphate on Maturity, Lignification, and Peroxidase Activity of Wheat Internodes

Abstract

Wheat (cv. Gabo) was grown in a controlled environment and supplied with various levels of calcium and phosphate. Low levels of phosphate accelerated maturity irrespective of calcium concentrations, while high phosphate levels delayed maturity. The converse applied to calcium concentrations, and phosphate effects tended to dominate those of calcium. The maturity effects partly explain the lower lignin content of plants grown with high levels of phosphate observed by other workers.