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The Influence of Root Zone Temperature on the Growth and Contents of Phosphorus and Anthocyanin of Corn¹

ABSTRACT

In a greenhouse experiment corn plants were grown in sand cultures using a complete nutrient solution in which only the P level varied. Root zone temperatures of 15°, 20°, and 25°C. were used in this experiment. In addition, 2 weeks after emergence, a number of plants were subjected to a sudden change in root zone temperature. The dry weight yield and the P content of the tops and the roots and the anthocyanin content of the tops were determined at 2 and 3 weeks.

Low root zone temperature severely restricted the growth of young corn plants. High P levels never fully counteracted this harmful effect. It was likely that reduced P uptake at low root zone temperature was caused primarily by a depression in root growth, induced by the low root zone temperature. Anthocyanin synthesis was stimulated by both a low root zone temperature and a low P level in the nutrient solution indicating that purpling of corn is not necessarily an indication of P deficiency.

¹ Contribution from the Dept. of Agronomy, Cornell University as Agronomy paper No. 627. Presented before Div. S-4 Soil Science Society of America, Denver, Colo. Nov. 20, 1963. This work was supported in part by the Division of Agricultural Relations, Tennessee Valley Authority and was part of the Northeast Regional Climatology Project, N.E. 35.

² Former Graduate Assistant (now Agronomist FMC International, New York), Professor of Soil Science, and Head, Dept. of Agronomy, respectively.

Received for publication August 7, 1963. Accepted for publication March 3, 1964.