Potassium starvation affects biomass partitioning and sink–source responses in three sweet potato genotypes with contrasting potassium-use efficiency
Jidong Wang A C , Guopeng Zhu B , Yue Dong A , Hui Zhang A , Zed Rengel C , Yuchun Ai A D and Yongchun Zhang A D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Scientific Observation and Experimental Station of Arable Land Conservation of Jiangsu Province, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing, 210014 Jiangsu, China.
B College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Hainan University, Haikou, 572008 Hainan, China.
C School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia.
D Corresponding authors. Email: Yuchunai@126.com; yczhang66@sina.com
Crop and Pasture Science 69(5) 506-514 https://doi.org/10.1071/CP17328
Submitted: 10 September 2017 Accepted: 27 February 2018 Published: 14 May 2018
Abstract
Rooted single leaves of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) produce and translocate photosynthates, thus representing an ideal model for characterising the source–sink relationships and responses to various environments. A hydroponics culture study was conducted with rooted single leaves of sweet potato to determine intraspecific variation in growth, biomass partitioning, and associated physiological changes in response to variable potassium (K) supply among genotypes Ji22 (low K-use efficiency), Nan88 (high K-uptake efficiency) and Xu28 (high K-use efficiency). Potassium deficiency suppressed biomass accumulation in blades, petioles and roots in all three genotypes. Root length of diameters <0.25 mm and 0.25–0.5 mm was significantly less for K-deficient than K-sufficient roots of all genotypes, but the difference was proportionally greater in the K-inefficient genotype Ji22 than the other two genotypes. Potassium deficiency also severely inhibited net photosynthesis of blades in Nan88 and Ji22, as well reducing photosynthate translocation, increasing starch, hexose and sucrose concentrations, and decreasing K concentration in blades. The genotypes varied in photosynthesis-related responses to the K deficiency. Xu28 had greater blade K concentration and net photosynthesis as well as stable maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (FV/FM, with FV = FM – F0) under K deficiency, possibly because of a better source–sink balance and more efficient translocation of photosynthates to roots and K to blade compared with genotypes Ji22 and Nan88. Impaired phloem loading during K deficiency was associated with a decline in photosynthetic rate and decreased carbohydrate supply from blades, resulting in restricted root growth.
Additional keywords: carbon assimilation, rooted single leaf, root growth.
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